Looking out to sea from the North Devon Coast

The South West Coast Path is one of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. For information about the other members of the National Trail family visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk

Natural England creates National Trails and is their primary funder: www.naturalengland.org.uk It also has much wider responsibilities in the countryside - see under wildlife.

The following organisations manage the South West Coast Path via their Countryside and Ranger services, and also provide services to manage the landscape, wildlife and heritage:
Cornwall County Council www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment
Devon County Council www.devon.gov.uk
Dorset County Council www.dorsetforyou.com/
Exmoor National Park Authority www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Plymouth City Council www.plymouth.gov.uk
Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust www.countryside-trust.org.uk
Defence Estates (MOD) www.defence-estates.mod.uk

The National Trust owes approximately one third of the land through which the Coast Path passes, and manages the National Trail, on behalf of the relevant local authority, in these instances. The Trust manages its land for the benefit of the landscape, wildlife and heritage:
The National Trust (Wessex Region) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
The National Trust (Devon & Cornwall Region) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

These organisations represent many of the landowners and farmers that own the land through which the Coast Path passes:
Country Land & Business Association www.cla.org.uk
National Farmers Union www.nfu.org.uk

The South West Protected Landscapes Forum is the umbrella body for the most prized places of natural beauty – the AONBs and National Parks - in the region: www.southwestlandscapes.org.uk

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are designated solely for their landscape qualities. The Coast Path passes through five AONBs:
Cornwall AONB www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk
Dorset AONB www.dorsetaonb.org.uk
East Devon AONB www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk
North Devon AONB www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk
South Devon AONB www.southdevonaonb.org.uk

Natural England is the government’s advisor on nature conservation and manages National Nature Reserves and Site of Special Scientific Interest. It also provides agri-environment grants to landowners and farmers: www.naturalengland.org.uk

The Rural Development Service (DEFRA) provides agri-environment grants to landowners and farmers: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/rds/sw

The following are membership organisations that promote the interest of wildlife.
County Wildlife Trusts www.wildlifetrusts.org
Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds www.rspb.org.uk/england/southwest

Both of these projects co-ordinate data about sightings of sea mammals:
Seaquest South West www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature/marine/seaquest
Durlston Marine Project www.durlstonmarineproject.co.uk

North Devon has always been one of the finest unspoilt locations in the UK and is now home to Britain's first new style world class UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, where conservation and sustainable development go hand in hand: www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk

English Heritage is responsible for maintaining and caring for the historic environment of England. It owns five properties around the Coast Path, which are open to the public: www.english-heritage.org.uk/southwest

Some of the mining landscapes of Cornwall and west Devon were inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006 and the South West Coast Path takes in six of the coastal areas that form part of it – the St Agnes Mining District, Portreath Harbour, the ports of Hayle and Charlestown, the St Just Mining District and Trewavas.
www.cornish-mining.org.uk
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1215

The Jurassic Coast is England’s first natural World Heritage Site, which stretches from Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Purbeck, Dorset and gives a unique insight into the Earth Sciences:
www.jurassiccoast.com

The English Riviera Geopark is one of only six geoparks in the UK. Torbay has a unique geological heritage and the geopark takes in 32 separate sites covering 400 million years of earth history: www.englishrivierageopark.org.uk

The Arts Council is the national development agency for the arts in England: www.artscouncil.org.uk

West Country acoustic duo, Show of Hands, recorded their CD, ‘The Path’ to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the South West Coast Path: www.showofhands.co.uk

Both of these organisations promote food and drink from the south west:
Devon Food Links www.devonfoodlinks.org.uk
Taste of the West www.foodtrails.co.uk

For Coast Path safety advice please read our safety page:

These organisations promote coastal safety and provide rescue services:
Maritime & Coastguard Agency www.mcga.gov.uk
RNLI www.rnli.org.uk

This website outlines the beach safety code: www.beachsafety.org.uk

For all information on accommodation, events and attractions within South West England: www.visitsouthwest.co.uk

For all UK public transport information: www.traveline.info

These are all membership organisations representing people who enjoy walking. Their websites include general information and events:
South West Coast Path Association www.swcp.org.uk
Ramblers’ Association www.ramblers.org.uk
Long Distance Walkers’ Association www.ldwa.org.uk

The Youth Hostels’ Association is a membership organisation providing simple hostel accommodation. There are many Youth Hostels along the South West Coast Path: www.yha.org.uk