On Saturday 5 May, Mr John Griffiths A.M. the Welsh Environment Minister formally launched the opening of the All Wales Coast Path. At 850 miles long this path is claimed to be the first coastal path in the world that completely follows a nation's coastline.

The path was launched simultaneously at three separate venues in Wales - Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Flint, with speeches and events by politicians and senior officers from countryside organisations in Wales. BMC were represented at the main launch in Cardiff by BMC volunteer and past Access Committee Chair, Ian McMorrin, while in the north, at Flint Castle, the BMC had a small stand and display, manned by BMC Access Officer Elfyn Jones and the current Access & Conservation Committee Chair Roger Bennion. 

The path will provide a continuous walking route around the whole of Wales – from the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south.

It will be as near to the coast as legally and physically practicable, whilst fully taking into account the needs of health and safety, land management and conservation.

The Welsh Government’s commitment to delivering the Wales Coast Path has the following key objectives:

1. To encourage and enable the public, both locals and visitors, to enjoy the coastline of Wales.

2. To encourage and enable more people to enjoy physical recreation at the coast, thus helping in efforts to become a fitter, healthier nation.

3. To make coastal access a 'flagship' tourism product, thus bringing economic benefit to coastal communities.

However, with the razzmatazz of the launch completed, the BMC and other access groups want to ensure that the Welsh Government sticks to its pledge to continue to improve access to the Welsh coast. The funding for the current coast path project ends in April 2013, but there are still large gaps where the route detours inland by up to two miles. Some of these detours are due to the topography, such as large estuaries, but there are also many gaps due to some private landowners and estates being unwilling to negotiate or accept a public right of way along their land. 

While the BMC fully supports and congratulates the Welsh Government and local authorities in Wales for its achievements to date, we would like to see a greater commitment to protect access for recreation to the coastal zone. Some of the very best sea cliff climbing in the UK is found on the Welsh coast, but while this path creates a linear route around the coast it does nothing to protect or create a right of access to these iconic world class venues, which is legally only available by permission or tolerance of the landowner. 

« Back