Wales Coast Path: The World's First Full National Coast Path

Mike Erskine
25th April 2012

Next weekend is going to be a big couple of days in Wales’ history as the Wales Coast Path is officially launched, the first continuous path along a national coastline in the world, a full 870 miles from just outside Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south east. 


For last few months I have been helping out Ramblers Cymru in preparing the Big Welsh Coastal Walk a celebratory mass scale walking event all around Wales. Here’s a quick snapshot of what is going on over the weekend of 5th-7th May, it’s looking pretty epic so far: 

 - Over 100 organised walks (pretty much everywhere), by Ramblers Cymru, National Trust, Wales Wildlife Trust, Turning Point, Scouts, Girl Guides and various other walking groups and clubs. 


 - 3 major launch events in Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Flint, which will involve entertainment, music, dancing and a festival atmosphere. 


 - An S4C documentary, with a couple of helicopters about on 5th May. 


 = Wales Coast Path Bird Race a mass participation bird watch spotting as many species as possible in 24hrs. 


 - A huge coast path clean up by Keep Wales Tidy this weekend in preparation for the launch. 


 - A giant sand art drawing of Wales at Whitesands beach courtesy of us here at TYF.


-  And the end of one epic 1027 mile marathon around Wales (DragonRun1027) and the start of another (WalkWales1027). 


The coast path has been a long time in the making and in some places is still a work in progress, but the 5th May marks the achievement of what can happen when government, third sector and communities come together. Things can happen quickly in Wales when we put our heads together. So let’s enjoy the first full coast path in history, get your walking shoes on, grab your camera and head to the coast on the bank holiday weekend of 5-7th May, getting out onto the coast path and enjoying what Wales has to offer is what it’s all about.


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