A National Trail for our Island Nation

TheCase

forCoast

The Ramblers

The Case for Coast: A nationaltrail for our island nation

The Wales Coast Path opened last year, puttingWales on the map as a new global touristdestination. People in Scotland can already enjoythe entire Scottish coast, thanks to the LandReform Act 2003. Once completed, the EnglandCoast Path will connect with these coastlines tocreate a path like nowhere else in the world.

The England Coast Path is an inspirationalproject that will open up our entirecoastline for everyone to enjoy.

It will create a 3,000 mile path around our country.The path will connect the white cliffs of Dover withthe secret coves of Cornwall, the fishing villagesof North Yorkshire with the wide-open landscapesof Norfolk and Suffolk.

From short strolls along promenades to lung-busting hikes over hills, it will provide a wealth ofopportunities to get out there, smell the salt in theair and stretch your legs.

But it won’t just be walkers that will benefit fromthis inspirational project. It’s a legacy for the entirenation. It will:

� boost economic growth, generating millions of pounds for a fraction of investment

� breathe new life into coastal communities, some of which are amongst the mostdeprived in the country

� connect people with their local environment,helping people experience the natural worldaround them

� improve health and wellbeing, offeringpeople new opportunities to unwind and get active

� reconnect people with their heritage,allowing us to strengthen our identity asan island nation

This is an inspirational project whichwill increase tourism and boost

coastal economies, connect communitiesand create more opportunities for people toenjoy all the benefits and simplepleasures of being by the seaside.

Benedict Southworth, Ramblers CEO

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The Case for Coast A National Trail for our Island Nation

Oh we do like to bebeside the seaside!Being by the sea is one of life’s simple pleasures.We all have memories of playing on the beach aschildren: going for a paddle, hunting for crabs inrock pools, building sandcastles and runningaround on the sand. The coast instils a kind ofcalm in many of us, helping us to unwind. As anation we certainly do love to be beside theseaside.

Despite this over a third of our coastline remains out ofbounds.1 The Marine and Coastal Access Act, whichpassed into law in 2009, changed this, providing forthe creation of a complete path around England’scoast, as well as access to all beaches and foreshores.This law guarantees that, when complete, the path will‘roll back’ on to the land immediately behind it shouldcoastal erosion occur.

At the time, it was hoped the new coast path would becompleted within a decade. Yet – four years on, onlyone 20 mile stretch (Rufus Castle on Portland toLulworth Cove), has been opened. Next spring seesthe opening of a further two sections from Allonby toWhitehaven in Cumbria and Hartlepool to Sunderlandin the north east. Beyond that, for the remaining 2,900miles of coast path, the future remains uncertain.

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The Ramblers is callingon the Government to:

� Commit to funding the coast path project through to completion.

� Publish a full timetable for completion.

� Include the Isle of Wight in the final coast path.

Coast Path Progress 2

� Whitehaven

Allonby �� Hartlepool

� Sunderland

Weybourne �

Hopton-on-Sea�

Ramsgate �

Camber �

� Brean DownMinehead �

Lyme Regis �� Lulworth

Portland�

� Open

� Due to open next year

� Finalising the route

� Planning the route

What about theIsle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight isn’tincluded in the project,along with all otherislands which cannotbe reached by foot atlow tide.

The Ramblers hascampaigned to get theisland incorporatedinto the coast path,receiving backing fromthe Chamber ofCommerce and Isle ofWight Council .

Folkestone �

Sea Palling �

� Silecroft � Speeton

The Ramblers

Boosting economic growth

In 2012 visitors to England’s outdoors spent £21billion.3 This figure is increasing as outdooractivity continues to remain a growth sector(now contributing 1.65 % of total GDP4). Clearly,investing in walking more than pays for itself,and particularly in projects which generate vitalnew sources of income for rural communities.

Coast paths have a special appeal, drawing in walkersfrom far afield, as well as overseas tourists. The WalesCoast Path, opened in spring 2012, cost £16 million toconstruct yet generated twice that (£32 million) intourist spending in its first year.5

The England Coast Path will bring similar benefits and boost economic growth in England. Costing just£1 a metre to construct (costing an estimated £4.5million over 20 years),6 it is projected to bring in millionsmore than this, directly benefitting hard-pressed local economies.

One of thechallenges the

Isle of Wight has is thatthe south east ofEngland is seen as thewealthiest part of theUK. In reality we areone of the poorestwards in the UK and our youthunemployment rate is about 24 per cent.

The biggest business by far is tourism –with close to 2.4m visits made to the islandlast year.

Walking is very much part of what we offer to visitors. We have a walking festival everyyear that attracts tens of thousands of peopleand we have people coming throughout therest of year too.

You can walk around the island, but about athird of the route comes inland – sometimesit’s a couple of miles.

We hope that the Isle of Wight willbe part of the England Coast Path. Simon Dabell, Chair, Visit Isle of Wight

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South West Coast Path in 2011 7

� 6 million visitors

� £386.6 million generated for the South West’s economy

� Supported 9,000 jobs

The cost per metre: 8

Coast Path:

£1Motorway:

£18,000

The Case for Coast A National Trail for our Island Nation

Breathing new life intocoastal communities England’s coastal communities are amongst themost deprived in the country.9 They includeMargate, Great Yarmouth and Skegness, townswhich once thrived on their status as holidaydestinations. As times changed, packageholidays and cheap flights opened up overseasholidays; many once-popular seaside townswere left behind.

The England Coast Path will bring new hope to suchcommunities. As a year-round activity, walkingsupports local businesses beyond the traditional‘bucket and spade’ summer months. Thesebusinesses include not only B&Bs and hotels butcafés, pubs and others which cater to the food trade.

Walkers spend over half their money on food anddrink.10 From Norfolk samphire and Whitstable oystersto Blackpool rock and Grimsby fish and chips, visitorswill sample a variety of unique local coastal specialitiesbefore walking those calories off on the coast path.

Most of ourguests come to

us for short breaks of acouple of nights andwalking is one of themain things they dowhen they are here.What we have to offeris a whole range of things to do and walking isvery much part of that mix.

Our aim as a tourism business here on theSuffolk coast is to try to make this more of ayear-round destination, and walking is verymuch part of the area’s out-of-season appeal.

Winter days can be some of the best days ofthe year. There’s nothing better than goingout for a good walk then coming back to sit infront of a fire and have a good meal.

What we’re about is providing a really highquality destination and the English CoastPath will make a contribution to that.Tim Rowan-Robinson, Managing Director,Thorpeness and Aldeburgh Hotels Ltd, Suffolk

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Every £1 spent by walkers:

54p

14p

9p

6p

4p

13p

Food and Drink

Travel

Admission fees

Souvenirs

Equipment

Other

Many seaside towns and villageshave suffered decades of economic

decline... We need to invest in coastaltowns to help their economies grow.Department for Communities and Local Government 11

How accessible is your local coastline?

North East

� Accessible

� Inaccessible

6733

7030

61 39

68 32

63 3776

24

5644

Yorkshire &The Humber

North West

EastMidlands

East of England

South EastSouth West

The Ramblers

Connecting people with nature

As people adopt increasingly busy lifestyles,concerns have arisen about an emerging ‘naturedeficit disorder’, where people feel disconnectedfrom the natural world around them.12

In seeking to reconnect people with nature theGovernment is exploring opportunities which allowpeople, particularly children, to reacquaint themselveswith the world around them and experience wildlife andopen spaces for themselves.

By providing access to England’s entire coastline theEngland coast path will benefit not just city dwellersand office-bound workers but also those living incoastal communities themselves. Many peoplecurrently find they cannot access their nearby beachesand cliffs; others find that where coastal paths areavailable they often make for an unpleasantexperience, running alongside dangerous roads orsuddenly turning inland and away from the sea.

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Our coast wasa coalfield, and

that had a massiveimpact on theenvironment. Peoplecame here onbusiness, but nobodycame for a daytrip –that was unheard of.

Thanks to the work that’s been done to clearup the legacy of industry, people arerediscovering the Durham coast.

At the moment there’s public access to someof the coast, but not all of it. The EnglandCoast Path will change all that. For example, it will link Sunderland to Seaham, the nexttown to the south, and go through formercolliery villages.

Those communities are really excited by itbecause they will get access to the coastwhere they have never had it before. In thepast there wasn’t that connection becausethe coast had been trashed – people turnedtheir backs on it.

That attitude is changing. Where people dohave access they’re getting involved. It’sallowing us to get children in touch with thenatural environment close to home, which issomething their parents and grandparentsjust didn’t have.

So much comes from something as simple as a path. For me, its local impact is soimportant. Some of the more deprived wards of the city of Sunderland are going toget reconnected to the coastand that is a huge benefit.

Niall Benson, Durham Heritage Coast Officer

Total: 2,748 miles

1,827 921

The Case for Coast A National Trail for our Island Nation

Improving healthand well-beingVictorians believed there was something in thesea air that was a cure for many maladies,sending the sick to the coast to recuperate.

Today, physical inactivity is one of Britain’s biggestkillers.13 Walking is the easiest way to get active,improve your health and boost well-being. Be it asimple stroll or a lengthy trek, walking helps you relaxand can even help improve your outlook on life. Studiesshow walking can reduce depression by 30%, and thatbeing by the coast is particularly good for you. Anyonewho has visited the coast can appreciate the calmingeffects of being by the sea and most of us returnfeeling relaxed and revitalised.14

The England Coast Path will be both a prevention anda cure for many modern-day illnesses, creatingnumerous new walking opportunities to inspire peopleto get active and stay healthy. The Victorians were rightabout the coast and health – there is definitelysomething in the sea air!

I have two part-time jobs and work 46 hours a week, so if I can find just a

couple of hours on a Sunday to go walking,that just makes my weekend.

Last weekend we all went camping withsome friends up on the Cumbria coast andhad a lovely time. We were just five minutesfrom the beach.

We went for one walk that must have beenabout six miles altogether and Alfie had noproblem with it. I think it helped that we were on the beach and there was sand and rockpools.

We went through some dunes and founda river and the water was crystal clear; it was so peaceful. We all stood for agesthrowing stones into the water. It was the sort of day that brings your childhood back,that reminds you of a time before you had amortgage. Nobody really wants to grow up,do they?

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Regular walking willreduce your risk of: 15

� Coronorary heart diseaseand stroke 20–35%

� Type 2 diabetes 35–50%

� Colon cancer 30–50%

� Breast cancer 20%

� Hip fracture 36–68%

� Depression 20–30%

� Alzheimer’s disease 60%

We’re not that far from Blackpool or fromSouthport, but there aren’t really that manyplaces that you can go to along theLancashire coast. If there was a coast pathwe’d definitely use it, it would be brilliant.

To know that there was somewhere new togo to as a family would be great. Somewherewe could take a picnic, have awalk and really make a day of it.

Paula Armstrong, Mum to Alfie age 4, Lancashire

The Ramblers

Rediscovering ournational heritageWe are an island nation, and our coastline helpsdefine our very identity. From Shakespearedefining our island as a “precious stone set in thesilver sea”16 to the White Cliffs of Dover sustainingmorale during World War Two, our coastline sitsat the heart of what it means to be English.

The England Coast Path will create a new National Trail which will celebrate this identity and for the first time join together England’s many coastal delights with Scotland’s and Wales’ in one continuous patharound Britain.

Just about everyone has a vision of a cherished seaside that they carry with them. Whether that’s afavourite West Country fishing village or a Victorianseaside resort, we celebrate the diversity of our coast,the regional identities it has helped to form and the pride it inspires. There’s the eeriness of Dungeness, salt marshes in Suffolk, Durham’s former coalfields,sand-dunes in Formby, the chalk cliffs of Sussex,Dorset’s Jurassic coast, wide open skies in Norfolk,Cornish caves, Northumberland castles... to name just a few!

I willnever

tire of walkingour fabulouscoastline.There’s a walk tomatch everymood andevery season – the SevenSisters in Sussexis one of my all-timefavourites.

As a nation,we’re defined byour coastline –it’s hard to police, full of secret coves andisolated beaches. The coastline reflects thecontinuous battle to remain independent –from ancient castles and forts to World WarTwo defences.

We’re proud of our sailors and fishermen,with a rich tradition of seaside fun for allclasses. Our coastal communities define whyEngland is so special – from the stylishRegency terraces of Brighton and Hove tohumble fishing villages like Staithes.

Walking this coastline gives a unique insightinto our past and our future, and it isappalling that around a third of it is out ofbounds. The creation of a coastal route that’sopen to all is my dream and one thegovernment should grasp – creating a Coastalpath for England is not only good for tourism,it delivers vital access for everyoneto enjoy our heritage.

Janet Street-Porter, writer and broadcaster

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What a wonderful thing: to walkthe entire length of a country's

coastline, to trace its every nook, cranny,cliff-face, indent and estuary. How betterto truly appreciate the shape –and soul – of a nation? Lonely Planet on the Wales Coast Path 17

The Case for Coast A National Trail for our Island Nation

References1 Natural England, Coastal Access Audit Report, 2007 2 Natural England, Coastal Access Audit Report, 2007 3 Natural England, Monitoring Engagement of the NaturalEnvironment, 2012 report

4 Britain on Foot, Everyone’s Walking About it, 2013 5 Economic Impact on Wales Coast Path Visitor Spending 2012 6 Hansard, 9 Nov 2011 : Column 329W, Richard Benyon MP“Between 2009-2013, £239,000 will be spent opening 240kms of coast.”

7 South West Research Company Ltd for the South West Coast PathTeam, South West Coast Path – Monitoring and EvaluationProgramme, 2013.

8 Department for Transport Cost of operating the Highways Agency’smotorway and A road network per vehicle mile, 2011

9 The Centre for Social Justice, Turning the Tide, social justice in fiveseaside towns, 2013

10 Natural England, Monitoring Engagement of the NaturalEnvironment, 2012 report

11 Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)website, ‘Supporting economic development projects in coastaland seaside areas’

12 Richard Louey, Last Child in the Woods, 200513 The Lancet, Effect of Physical Inactivity, 201214 Natural England, Monitoring Engagement of the NaturalEnvironment:

15 Walking for Health, The Case for Walking for Health, 201216 Richard III, William Shakespeare17 ‘Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2012’, Lonely Planet

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Mr Beard

Adam Berry

Colin Bennett

Andrea Biggs

Stephen Bingley

Mr Bodey

Rosemary Boyle

Stephen Brice

Michael Browne

Mr Bull

Roger Buse

Phil Catterall

Mr Cheesman

Peter Clappison

Philip Colbourne

Alan Coleman

Mr Collett

Mrs Collins

Jonathan Combe

Mr Constance

Ron Crofts

Diane Crouch

Paul Cullen-James

Marion Davies

Mr Dawson

Jos De Vries

Mr Dear

René Dee

Roy Denney

Chris Devrell

Mrs Dick

Gordon Evans

Helen Everett

Peter Fischer

Tom Fisher

Mr Fishwick

Mr Forster

Bronwyn Franklin

Rodger Garratt

Ian Gasper

Karen Gillett

Ian Golightly

Ralph Gordon

David Graimes

Gillian Grattan

Robert Gregory

Michael Hancocks

Dr Hardy

David Harrison

Michael Hawkes

Judith Hible

June Hicks

Ken Holmes

Mr Hughes

Paul Humpoletz

Sally Ingle

Rita James

Mr Jolly

Arnold Kirk

Kenilworth Footpath Preservation Society

Geoff Knight

Lynne Knight

Amanda Knopp

Malcolm Lawrence

This report wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of:

The Ramblers

Acknowledgements

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Peter Lee-Smith

Jane Lindsay

David Lonsdale

Raphael Lytton

Alan Marsden

Tom Marshall

Peter Matthews

Kenneth McQueen

Charles Milward

Gerald Moss

Barry Muir

Beatrice Murray

Angela Nicholas

David Nolan

Caroline O'Neill-Dakad

Mike Marjie Page

John Parker

Mr Payne

Jack Pettersen

Jane Plant

Mr J Plume

Albert Podesta

Jane Pohorely

Mr Powell

Ms Pratt

Mr Pritchard

Mr Quennell

Mr Roberts

Yuri Rodrigues

Mr Secker

Mr Sharp

Graham Simpson

Ms Smith

Peter Smith

Jeff Smith

Graham Sommerville-Wilson

Malcolm Sproston

John Stanworth

Ian Stewart

Mr Stockwell

Stephen Taylor

Shane Taylor

Adrian Teale

Thackray

Mrs Thompson

Mary Van Altena

Gary Van Vuuren

Keith Wadd

Phil Wadey

Nick Wakelam

Peter Wallis

William Watt

Teejay Watts

Waveney Ramblers

Lesley Wheatley

Ken Whetter

Peter Whitestone

John Wightman

Philip Williams

Ms Wilson

Nuala Wright

Mr Wrightson

Mr Yearwood

The Case for Coast A National Trail for our Island Nation

Contact usFor more information about the Ramblers and the One Coast For All Campaign:Call 020 7339 8500Email ramblers@ramblers.org.ukVisit www.ramblers.org.uk

The Ramblers’ is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a companylimited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House,87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.