630 Miles - An Audio Journey

We are delighted to share our final podcast in our series that was created in 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the South West Coast Path. In this episode our podcast host, Rachel Hadley-Leonard chats with Bob Mark, a trustee at the Association, and previous Chair, about the fascinating history and heritage that can be discovered along the Path, and some of the incredible events that have helped shape its very existence. Tune in and discover the smuggling origins of our coast path. If you're interested in discovering more, Bob Mark has also written a series of history blogs that you can read on our blogsite https://blog.southwestcoastpath.org.uk

Celebrated author, Raynor Winn, joins Rachel to talk about the upcoming screen adaptation of her Sunday Times best-seller, The Salt Path, and the evocative and beautiful collaboration with The Gigpsanner Big Band that has created 'Saltlines', a project that combines prose and folk music with a focus on the coastline of the south west.About Raynor WinnSince travelling the South West Coast Path, Raynor Winn has become a regular long-distance walker and writes about nature, homelessness and the health benefits of walking. She is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Salt Path, The Wild Silence and Landlines. She won the Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize in 2019 and has been shortlisted for numerous other awards including the Costa, the Wainwright and the Stanfords Travel Writing awards. Raynor is also a prolific speaker. Her latest title, LANDLINES, was a number 1 Sunday Times bestseller in both hardback and paperback. The film adaptation of the 85-week Sunday Times Bestseller, THE SALT PATH, will be released in 2024 and stars Gillian Anderson as Raynor and Jason Isaacs as Moth.In 2022 Raynor collaborated with folk-roots supergroup The Gigspanner Big Band to create Saltlines, a prose and music collaboration. Thought-provoking compositions by Raynor were written with songs and tunes curated from collections by Cecil Sharp and Sabine Baring-Gould, and the archive held at Cecil Sharp House, home of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The show enjoyed a debut tour in 2022 around the South West Coast Path, and expanded its reach during 2023 with a tour of the North. 

"discovering the south west coast path was like finding a gateway to another world"Critically acclaimed author, Katherine May, joins Rachel to chat about her journey along the South West Coast Path and the healing power of the path. Chatting through her transformative time on the Path, Katherine also talks about winter and suggests tools we can all use to help us through the darker months.About Katherine MayKatherine May is an internationally bestselling author and podcaster living in Whitstable, UK. Her most recent book, Enchantment became an instant New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. Her internationally bestselling hybrid memoir Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times was adapted as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week, and was shortlisted for the Porchlight and Barnes and Noble Book of the Year. The Electricity of Every Living Thing, her memoir of a midlife autism diagnosis was adapted as an audio drama by Audible. Katherine’s podcast, How We Live Now, ranks in the top 1% worldwide, and she has been a guest presenter for On Being’s The Future of Hope series. Katherine lives with her husband, son, two cats and a dog. She loves walking, sea-swimming and pickling slightly unappealing things.

In this episode Rachel chats with Lorna Sherriff, National Trails Officer, about the work she does improving, caring for and protecting the Path. Lorna discusses the importance of the Trails Partnership in ensuring the South West Coast Path meets the National Trail set of standards as well as introducing the Coast Path Connectors Project which is connecting new audiences to the health and wellbeing benefits of the Path. Rachel also meets Huw, North Devon Project Officer, Coast Path Connectors Project (funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund), and Jeanie, a participant of the project, who discuss the transformative effect of the Coast Path. Alone and exhausted and struggling with her health after her husband’s death, Jeanie was bedridden for a lot of 2022. In June 2023, Jeanie joined the Coast Path Connectors group in North Devon and started the walking group Healing Steps for people who have suffered a close bereavement. Jeanie says "I love the healing power of nature, and the benefit of just walking. I've got my life back!"

In this #makingadifference episode we invite the inspiring Jo Earlam to talk with us about her love for the coast path, and her enduring passion for fundraising. Jo is a long-term member of the Association, champion fundraiser, hiker, trail runner, and SWCP completer, who has been raising money for charities close to her heart for 50 years! Jo finds solace and respite on the coast path whether she’s got her hiking boots on, or just happens to be running her 100th marathon (yes, 100 marathons!).  We also chat with SWCPA Impact Fundraiser, Will Keen, who gives a great insight into all the ways that you can help support the South West Coast Path and the work we do. Whether it’s being a member, volunteer, sponsor, coast path friendly event organiser, mile maker, legacy maker, or fundraiser, there are a range of ways that people can get involved, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone that contributes to caring for our beloved National Trail. Have a listen and see how you can #makeadifference  

In this episode, Rachel talks to four 'SWCP completers' - people who have completed the 630 miles of Britain's first coast path and longest National Trail. Many completers can take years to complete the Trail, but our four guests have each undertaken the journey in a thru-hike (or run in one case!) ranging from 56 days, 45 days and a record-breaking 18 days, 14 hours, 46 minutes, and 46 seconds! Each of our guests shares their stories of walking the Path, the challenges a thru-hike can bring, the incredible experience of connecting to nature, and the generosity of people they met on the Path. Listen and enjoy hearing from those who have walked and run the Path and what it means to them. As well as taking away valuable advice from their adventures that may help inspire your own SWCP completer journey. Guests include: Martin Berry, SWCPA, Volunteer Path Rep I have always loved being “outside” and the Venture Scouts (now Explorer) gave me the chance to try many outdoor activities when younger. Having been lucky to take early retirement from a career in logistics/supply chain; and, more latterly the civil service, I am now more able to pursue my main activity of walking. Living in close proximity to the SWCP and Bodmin Moor provides great opportunities to get out and about without travelling far. I find walking out in the natural environment both physically and mentally beneficial to my wellbeing. Dani Blackie, the Coastal Ultra Runner As an avid ultrarunner, surfer and outdoors enthusiast I am always looking for a new adventure to embark upon. In June this year I completed the whole of the 870 miles Wales Coastal Path and back in 2021 I was the first Solo Female Fastest Known Time (FKT) holder for the SWCP. Playing in the elements, connecting with nature and people is where the magic happens! Malcolm Joyce, SWCP Completer and Fundraiser I fell in love with the SWCP in 2021, and decided to do the 630 miles in one go last year (2022).  Having survived a near death experience, when caught in a rip tide at Trebarwith Strand it seemed fitting to raise money for the RNLI; the lifeguard saved my life!  Graham Eaves, five-times SWCP completer Currently on a thru-hike of the SWCP for the sixth time! His love and dedication to the path and the experiences it brings show no sign of ending. For Graham, he may never call himself a SWCP 'completer', as his journey continues.

The South West Coast Path draws over 9 million visitors to the South West each year and is one of the region's most valuable environmental and economic assets, bringing £500 million into the local economy. Our Way Maker businesses and supporters understand the importance of walkers to their business, as well as understanding the need to help protect the path their business relies upon. This episode we talk with two of our Way Makers, Vanessa at Hartland Point Kiosk, and James at Mariners Guest House, Plymouth. We also chat with Mike of Luggage Transfers, a business that transfers walkers bags between accommodation as they hike the trail. It's a great behind the scenes look at how and why businesses located along the path welcome walkers, and also why they support the Association. The South West Coast Path is more than a trail, it's a community, and listening to the chats in this episode it is apparent that the relationship between walker, business and the Association is symbiotic. Each is driven by a passion for the Path and a desire to enhance the experience of walking the path, and to protect it now and for future generations. As Rachel concludes, it's a three-way relationship and one that we are proud to be part of. Mike Kearon, Luggage Transfers Mike lives in Porthleven, and runs Luggage Transfers providing a bag courier service for the entire South West Coast Path and all routes in between. Mike set up Luggage Transfers in 2009, providing transfers for walkers, and in June 2023, had their busiest ever month completing over 4100 transfers moving almost 9000 bags! www.luggagetransfers.co.uk James Kay, Mariners Guest House, Plymouth James and his wife Marie manage a 4 star 8 bedroom guest house just off the South West Coast Path. All rooms are ensuite with free wifi and an award winning breakfast served each morning. James and Marie moved to Plymouth in 2004 from the Midlands. They have had the Mariners for over 7 years now and have built it up from a run-down state, to a now successful guest house. They love living in Plymouth due to its proximity to the sea, Dartmoor, and the easy access to Cornwall. www.marinersguesthouse.co.uk Vanessa Ludwell, Hartland Point Kiosk Vanessa grew up at Hartland Point on the farm and had a fabulous time being so close to the coast. Vanessa's grandparents started the Kiosk in the late 60s early 70s and ran it for several years followed by various other local people before being taken over by Vanessa in 2019. Vanessa says, "I feel so lucky to be able to carry on what my grandparents started - it’s very special. This stretch of coastline is awesome - it’s constantly changing - the wildlife - the dramatic landscape - the colours - the smell - just being there in its presence is something else." https://hartlandpointrefreshments.co.uk

In this ‘live from the path’ episode Rachel returns to her podcast roots and chats with people as she takes part in the Trailblazer Walk over several days in Dorset and Cornwall. Over 20 interviews were captured as people joined us to walk, meet other path lovers, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Association. This latest instalment of 630 Miles is a great soundbite into the 35-day relay hike along the #SWCP, but it's a long one, so grab a cuppa, or pop on your headphones and go for a walk, and enjoy listening to a rich variety of chats along the South West Coast Path. If you couldn’t join us for the Trailblazer Walk – this is, almost, as good as having been there!  The live podcasts were recorded on the following sections of the South West Coast Path during the Trailblazer Walk: South Haven Point - Kimmeridge, Dorset Sat 27 May - Sun 28 May Lamorna Cove - Lizard, Cornwall Sat 3 June - Mon 5 June

This episode was recorded during Mental Health Awareness Week and delves into the increasing body of research, both quantitative and qualitative, that shows how people's mental and physical wellbeing is enhanced when spending time outside in nature, most specifically, when walking the South West Coast Path - a coastal wild belt providing a valuable space between land and sea. Rachel talks with Dr Carolyn Petersen, a social science and environment researcher at the University of Exeter. Carolyn has a long-standing research interest in the coast and the South West Coast Path, including health and wellbeing, coastal communities, tourism, managed realignment (the Otter estuary) and nature-based solutions.  She has completed two reports about the health and wellbeing benefits of walking the SWCP for the association and will share the insights from these reports as well as her own relationship with the path. Rachel then chats with Paul Sharpe, an SWCPA fundraiser and 2022 SWCP completer, and David Morris, SWCPA Trustee. Paul has been an SWCP walker since 2007. A lifelong wildlife enthusiast, wildlife gardener, birder and botanist. As a graphic designer for 37 years, Paul's world fell apart when the Covid pandemic hit, the business closed, all 40 employees were made redundant, and depression developed after shocking treatment from his employer. A stream of tough events followed, that left him in a dark place with no idea of what to do next. Walking the SWCP was his only plan. David's career has been in community engagement, mental health and social inclusion with local and central government, social care, NHS, voluntary, and university sectors. He is committed to contributing to the association’s aim to maximise the value of the path, and the blue and green space it represents for health, wellbeing and recovery.

Episode 4 explores how the environment on and around the Coast Path inspires artists and creatives. We had the absolute privilege of chatting with renowned contemporary artist Kurt Jackson; celebrated musician Peter Knight; and artist, writer, and fundraiser Emma Scattergood. Each artist discusses their very personal relationship with the coastal landscape and how immersing themselves in its awe-inspiring beauty, provokes and inspires their artwork and music.  Kurt Jackson is a dedicated environmentalist and true polymath whose artistic practice ranges from his trademark visceral plein-air sessions to studio work and embraces an extensive range of materials and techniques including mixed media, large canvases, print-making and sculpture. Kurt and his wife Caroline live and work in the most-westerly town in Britain, St Just-in-Penwith where in 2015 they set up the Jackson Foundation. Jackson says that his ‘creativity, visual art and writing is often inspired, motivated and in response to the typography, biodiversity and changing seasonality of the coastal habitats’. Peter Knight is a violinist who was 'discovered' by Ashley Hutchings, founder of the folk band Steeleye Span. He was invited to join the Band when they were just on the cusp of fame and spent 45 years touring the world with them, making several Gold Albums and appearing in their own BBC series. He left in 2013 to focus on the Gigspanner Trio and the Gigspanner Big Band, and most recently joined with The Salt Path author, Raynor Winn, on Saltlines – a collaboration of prose and music celebrating the South West Coast Path.  Emma Scattergood is a writer, artist and educator, specialising in community-facing projects. After many years as a journalist/author and then a university lecturer, her latest project is walking and drawing the SW Coast Path and sharing elements of that process in Creative Path workshops, encouraging intuitive, creative engagement with nature. When not on the Path or in her studio, Emma also works part-time on a community project for a writing development agency and as a lead trustee for The Story Works (a children’s charity she co-founded).