Path gives walkers more of coastline
NEW STRETCH OF COASTAL TRAIL LINKS SOUTH BENTS TO AMBLE
WALKERS can for the first time gain uninterrupted access to a 44 mile stretch of the beautiful North East coastline.
The route from South Bents in South Tyneside to Amble in Northumberland is the 10th section of Natural England’s flagship England Coast Path project to open.
It offers local shops, pubs and hotels the opportunity to benefit from the £381m spent each year by visitors to English coastal paths.
It will allow people to explore the coast around the River Tyne and into Northumberland, linking the wild beaches and dunes of Druridge Bay to the resorts and ports further south.
Visitors and locals will find improved access and signposting along the route to allow them to enjoy numerous towns, villages and historic sites.
Walkers will also be able to access 11 bathing waters, eight of which are rated as ‘excellent’ including Blyth’s South Beach. A special event at Souter Lighthouse to mark its opening was attended by Rural Minister Lord Garland. He said: “England’s stunning coastline is a national treasure. The England Coast Path is already playing a significant role in opening up access to our most spectacular sites, ensuring sensitivity to the environment while making a valuable contribution to our rural economy.
“With Northumberland home to some of the country’s most breathtaking coastal scenery, the new path makes it easy for all to access
The England Coastal path is another attraction to add to the many we are proud of Coun Glen Sanderson
this beautiful area.” The opening of the path coincides with the publication of new data from Natural England, showing that more than 29 million leisure walking trips took place on English coastal paths in 2017 – supporting more than 6,000 full time jobs. Councillor Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services at Northumberland County Council, said: “Many thousands of visitors come to walk in Northumberland each year to experience the wonderful wildlife, heritage and spectacular coastline and scenery of the area. “The England Coastal path is another attraction to add to the many we are proud of and I am absolutely sure it will bring more visitors to the area, providing important new opportunities for tourism, jobs and businesses.”
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Ken Stephenson, said: “Our coastal landscape takes in the rugged clifftops of The Leas and Marsden as well a hidden coves and glorious beaches. There are also award-winning parks, tourist attractions, areas of outstanding natural beauty, wildlife habitats and heritage sites to explore along this stretch.
Natural England is working to establish a 2,700-mile path around the entire English coastline and work is now under way on all of the route.
When completed, it will be the longest continuous coastal walking route in the world. It will also become a National Trail – the nation’s finest and most popular long-distance paths.