The South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA) is a

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

charitable incorporated organisation A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is a corporate form of business designed for (and only available to) charitable organisations in England and Wales, similar to (but with important differences from) a Scottish Charitable Incorporat ...

(before 2015 a

registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definition of a ch ...

) which exists to promote the interests of users of the

South West Coast Path The South West Coast Path is England's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Because it rises a ...

, the longest

National Trail National Trails are long distance footpaths and bridleways in England and Wales. They are administered by Natural England, a statutory agency of the UK government, and Natural Resources Wales (successor body to the Countryside Council for Wa ...

in Britain at 630 miles (1014 km). South West Coast Path sculpture - geograph

The Objects of the SWCPA as set out in its constitution are: The SWCPA was founded in 1973 as the South West Way Association and renamed in 1999 when the path itself was renamed. In September 2015 it changed its status to become a

Charitable incorporated organisation A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is a corporate form of business designed for (and only available to) charitable organisations in England and Wales, similar to (but with important differences from) a Scottish Charitable Incorporat ...

. it had 6,679 personal members, who receive twice-yearly newsletters and an annual guide to the path (available for sale to non-members), and 503 business members. Over the years the SWCPA has worked with local authorities and the

National Trust The National Trust, formally the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, is a charity and membership organisation for heritage conservation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, there is a separate and ...

to improve the alignment and condition of the path. It contributed funds towards the sculptures erected at

Minehead Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It lies on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, north-west of the county town of Taunton, from the boundary with the county of Devon and in proximity of the Exmoor National P ...

and

Poole Poole () is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Counc ...

to mark the ends of the path, and a half-way marker.

Publications

* (new edition published in January every year; free to members) * (describes route from Poole to Minehead; available fro
the Association
*

References

External links

* * ''While registered as a charity, from 1974 onwards'' * ''After registration as a

on 4 September 2015'' Hiking organizations Charities based in Devon {{UK-charity-stub

Publications

See also

References

External links