GOLDEN Bay Holiday Village in Westward Ho! is urging walkers to participate in the South West Coast Path Challenge next month (October 2018) to help support and raise money for the trail.
The luxury holiday village is hoping as many of its guests and local residents will hit the path in October.
Chris Hall, who co-owns the business with his family including wife Mary and children Amy and Alex, said: “The South West Coast Path is on our village’s doorstep and is a big attraction in the area. Nine million people every year use the path to experience nature and adventure, as well as to enhance their mental and physical well-being.
“It is Britain’s longest national trail for walkers, and runners, and the path can be joined from any beach anywhere in the South West including our Blue Flag beach here on our doorstep in Westward Ho! There are stretches that are perfect for all ages and abilities.
“The path, which takes in some superb coastline, is 630 miles long in total and the heritage, wildlife, geology and scenery along the way are truly inspirational. Here you can join the path with ease from our site and do as little or as much of it as you wish during your stay.”
In October, the National Trust and the South West Coast Path Association is asking people to show some love for the path. The goal is to get as many people out on to the trail as possible during the month and the team at Golden Bay are supporting the initiative.
“Keeping the coastline accessible requires continual work for both organisations and this year they would like to raise £40,000 in honour of the path’s 40th birthday. They are hosting walking or running events throughout October and are also inviting people to head to the path themselves. Anyone who uses the path during October is being invited to donate or fundraise for its future, so that current and future generations can benefit from this beautiful coastal landscape.”
Events taking place along the path in October include night-hikes and history and nature walks, as well as trail running challenges and foraging strolls. Further details can be found at www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/events/challenge/.
The South West Coast Path Association works to secure a means of reaching the sea and hidden beaches. It educates explorers of all ages and backgrounds on how to get the most from the path, while also providing a safe corridor where plants and wildlife can flourish, ultimately ensuring exploring wild, beautiful coastal landscapes is free and easy for all.
“But, due to ever increasing pressure on budgets, additional funds need to be raised to protect the path. Add to that increasingly extreme weather battering the coast, brought about by climate change, erosion issues, the finite lifespan of essential infrastructure like bridges, way-markers and steps, and you can see why it costs £1,000 per mile per year, just to keep the 630-mile trail open.
“As well as the organised events planned in October, the South West Coast Path Association and National Trust hope people will raise £40 each from sponsored walks or just with individual donation, a pound for each year the path has been in existence.
Golden Bay offers luxury accommodation for those wishing to escape the humdrum of day-to-day life and to unwind in a truly tranquil location with stunning scenery all around.
It is located on the breath-taking North Devon coast, which is in the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covering 171 km2 of coastal landscape from Marsland Mouth on the Cornish border to Combe Martin on the edge of Exmoor. It includes the Hartland Heritage Coast, the North Devon Heritage Coast and Braunton Burrows.
“We provide various sized seaside homes to suit all budgets while listening to the waves crashing on the shore, it’s truly magical and breath-taking here every month of the year.”
Prices start at £360 a week for a two-bed beach cottage in October.
Golden Bay recently unveiled a set of new luxury holiday homes uniquely available for all-year-round use. The multi-million-pound Lighthouse View properties are spacious and modern and have three bedrooms, as well as sea views.
These holiday homes, which can accommodate six people, are available to be rented by holidaymakers for breaks from £811 per week in October and are also on the market for buy-to-let opportunities for £195,000 each with a 999-year lease.
For more information about Golden Bay Holiday Village, please call 01237 474161, email info@goldenbayholidays.co.uk, visit www.goldenbayholidays.co.uk or log on to www.facebook.com/GoldenBayHols/ or follow @GoldenBayHols.
