Talk:South West Coast Path/Archive 1

Sandbox - Along the path

This section has been moved to the main article for further editing.

The route is described here anticlockwise, from Minehead to Poole.

Somerset and North Devon

Sculpture at the start of the path in Minehead.

The South West Coast Path starts from the western side of Minehead, in Somerset, at a marker erected in 2001 and partly paid for by the South West Coast Path Association. The path follows the waterfront past the harbour to Culver Cliff before climbing up on a zigzag path through woodland. Entering into the Exmoor National Park, it cuts inland past North Hill, Selworthy Beacon and Bossington Hill before regaining the cliff top at Hurlestone Point. After passing through Bossington it follows the beach to Porlock Weir and connects with the Coleridge Way. The smallest parish church in England, St Culbone's, can be found in Culbone. The path crosses the county boundary into Devon, a few hundred yards north of the National Park Centre at County Gate.

Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway

The next big headland is Foreland Point, after which the path comes to Lynmouth with its funicular railway linking it with Lynton on the hill above. At Lynmouth the path intersects with the Two Moors Way. The river here suffered a catastrophic flood in the 1950s. Beyond Lynton the path shares its route with the Tarka Trail though the Valley of the Rocks, famous for its herd of goats, then Duty Point and Lee Bay, then Crock Point and Woody Bay. After Highveer Rocks the paths cross the small River Heddon then skirts Trentishoe Down and Holdstone Down before entering Combe Martin.

The paths now leave the Exmoor National Park. After rounding Widmouth Head, the paths pass 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay and enter the seaside resort of Ilfracombe, with its small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. The town stretches along the coast from toward the east and 4 miles (6 km) along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west. A seasonal foot passenger ferry service runs from the harbour to Lundy Island and The Balmoral, The Waverley and pleasure boats ply to Porthcawl near Swansea. The Ilfracombe Branch Line of the London & South Western Railway (LSWR), ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened in 1874 and closed in 1970.

Saunton Sands

The path leaves Ilfracombe through The Torrs and follows the cliff top past several small bays including Lee Bay before passing Bull Point into Rackham Bay. It then rounds Morte point, passing the nearby village of Mortehoe before turning south to enter the long sandy Morte Bay which includes Woolacombe and Putsborough. Baggy Point divides Morte Bay from Croyde Bay, and the surfing mecca of Croyde and then the much larger Barnstable or Bideford Bay. The wide expanse of Saunton Sands, which takes its name from Saunton, merges into Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system (psammosere) in England. It is particularly important ecologically because it includes the complete successional range of dune plant communities, with over 400 vascular plant species. The short turf communities are very rich in lichens and herbs, and the dune slacks are also rich. The many rare plants and animals include 14 with UK Biodiversity Action Plans.

From Braunton Burrows the South West Coast Path and Tarka Trail turn inland following the Taw towards Braunton, then turn east past the perimeter of the Royal Marines Base Chivenor towards Barnstaple where the Barnstaple Western Bypass now forms the closest bridge over the Taw to the sea. The path then turns west following the southern bank of the Taw past Fremington to the mouth of the Torridge Estuary. The ferry which used to operate at Instow ceased on the retirement of the ferryman in 2007, so the path now goes upstream to cross the river by the 13th century bridge at Bideford, which is the site of the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre and terminus of the North Devon Railway.

The path continues north beside the Torridge Estuary past Northam to Appledore and around the promontory past the Shell middens and a submerged forest, that dates from the Mesolithic period, off the pebble ridge to Westward Ho! (this is the only placename in the UK which includes an exclamation mark). Several small villages including Abbotsham lie on the A39 just inland of the path around Clovelly Bay. Clovelly itself is a historic village with a small natural harbour. The path continues on to Hartland Point which marks the western limit (on the English side) of the Bristol Channel with the Atlantic Ocean continuing to the west. Hartland Point is the site of the winter helicopter service to Lundy, which can be seen form many points along the path as it heads south past Welcombe to the border with Cornwall.

North Cornwall

The Haven, the Atlantic Ocean and the beach at Bude

The Path crosses into Cornwall at Marsland Mouth and continues south-westwards along this rocky coast, past Morwenstow then Higher and Lower Sharpnose Points. Beyond Sandy Mouth the coast walking becomes easier through Bude, a popular surfing resort, and along Widemouth Bay. More cliffs bring the Path to Crackington Haven then Boscastle, scene of flooding in recent years.

Tintagel is the birth place of legendary King Arthur and also the site of the earliest English monastery and an 15th century manor house that was later used as a post office. The Path continues to Trebarwith Strand, Port Gaverne, Port Isaac, and Port Quin, each a small harbour. Overlooking Port Quin is Doyden Castle, a 19th century folly.

The scenery is now less wild, the cliffs less high. Rumps Point has Iron Age defences across its narrow neck but the Path heads straight past to Pentire Head then swings eastwards again into Polzeath. The estuary of the River Camel forces a detour away from the sea to the ferry that takes walkers into Padstow, a town now best known for its fish restaurants.

From Stepper Point the Path again runs along low sea cliffs to Trevone and Harlyn Bay then around Trevose Head. From here – weather permitting – the coast can be seen from Hartland in Devon to St Ives in the West. The Path runs southwards through Constantine Bay to Porthcothan then passes around Park Head to reach Mawgan Porth.

An easterly view over Newquay Harbour with some of the surfing beaches in the background

The long, sandy Watergate Bay leads to St Columb Porth and Newquay. A rail link with through trains to London and the North of England on summer weekends has helped the town prosper as a seaside resort popular with surfers and clubbers. On the far side of the town, beyond Fistral Beach, lies the River Gannel. There are seasonal ferries to Crantock and a footbridge which is passable at low tide, otherwise there is a detour inland to use the road bridge.

The Path now skirts Pentire Point West and then Kelsey Head to reach Holywell Bay, another surfing beach. After passing round Penhale and crossing Penhale Sands the Path enters Perranporth, then climbs out the other side back onto a stretch of cliffs past Kligga Head to the village of St Agnes. Past St Agnes Head, a breeding ground for kittiwakes, lies the ruins of Towanroath Mine and the inlet at Chapel Porth. Next are the ruins of Wheal Charlotte Mine and then Porthtowan village.

After passing Nancekuke firing ranges, the path drops into Portreath, once a busy port serving inland tin mines around Redruth. Beyond lies Carvannel Downs with Samphire Island just off the coast, and then the Reskajeage Downs. Beyond the cove at Hell's Mouth the Path runs northwards to pass around Navax Point and Godrevey Point, offshore from which lies Godrevy Island with its lighthouse.

West Cornwall

Turning into the wide sweep of St Ives Bay, where many walkers drop down onto the sands at low tide, the Path follows the line of the sand dunes or "Towans" as they are known here. This area was used for explosives manufacture for many years, the sand being ideal for absorbing any accidental explosions. The Towans are interrupted by two rivers, the small Red River at the north end, and the larger Hayle estuary towards the south.

St Ives at low tide from the harbour mole, April 2007

Although narrow, the estuary is tidal and fast flowing due to the large expanse of mud flats and docks that lie behind the Towans, so the path turns away from St Ives Bay to go round via Hayle. The water is crossed using an old railway bridge and then the old Hayle Railway is followed into the town centre then the A30 road to Griggs Quay where quieter roads bring the Path around to the west side of the tidal mud flats. Good views of the birdlife can be had from Carnsnew Pool at Hayle and from the area around Lelant Saltings railway station, although the official path is slightly inland on the A3074 road through Lelant village, regaining the coast by crossing golf links to reach the last of the Towans above Porth Kidney Sands,

Rising back onto low cliffs, the Path rounds Carrick Gadden and enters Carbis Bay, it then follows alongside the St Ives Bay railway line into St Ives; a bustling town favoured by both tourists and artists, it is home to some good art galleries. The Path passes east-facing Portminster Beach and around "The Island", a headland, to the north-facing Portmeor Beach.

The coast now shows the open and ancient landscape of the Penwith district along a series of wild headlands such as Clodgy Point, Hor Point, Pen Enys Point, and Carn Nuan Point. The Carracks lie just offshore, then there lies Zennor Head and Gurnard's Head as the Path leads into Morvah, although the village proper lies inland. Portheras Cove is a relief from the many small rocky bays along this coast but the cliffs then continue beyond the iconic, disused Botallack Mine.

Land's End, the most westerly point in England

From Cape Cornwall at St Just, the Path heads southwards to sandy Whitesand Bay and the village of Sennen. At the end of the sands the end of the Path turns westwards one last time to reach Land's End.

After passing Lands End the path continues further south past Prodenack Point and Mill Bay before turning fully eastward at Gwennap Head. Beyond the tiny village of Porthgwarra lies St Levan. The next bay lies below Porthcurno. It is overlooked by the open-air Minack Theatre and is where the Eastern Cable Company's cable came ashore, the first telegraph link with India. Climbing out of the bay the Path passes the precarious Logan Rock.

The next village is Penberth then a series of bays are separated by the headlands of Merthen Point, Boscawen Point, and Tater Du with its lighthouse built in 1965. Lamorna Cove is a favourite with artists, then after rounding Carn Du, the path turns northwards towards Mousehole and Penlee Point. This section pf the Path follows a road into Newlyn, but a diversion via Paul allows walkers to follow a quieter inland path. Newlyn has a busy fishing harbour and is again favoured by artists; it merges into Penzance and the Path now follows the promenade through the town, passing Penzance railway station and continuing past the railway engine shed along the shore of Mounts Bay with its views of St Michael's Mount.

The island can be reached from Marazion by a causeway at low tide. The Path now turns south again, passing the village of Perranuthnoe (or Perran) and Perran Sands, then skirting inland across the neck of Cudden Point to Prussia Cove and Bessy's Cove. A larger sandy beach is Praa Sands after which the Path climbs up onto a series of cliff tops such as Trewavas Head. This area shows many signs of Cornwall's rich mining history with abandoned engine houses such as Wheal Prosper close to the Path.

After passing through Porthleven the Path crosses the shingle bank of Loe Bar with the freshwater Loe Pool behind. At Gunwalloe more cliffs appear, leading to Poldhu Cove overlooked by the radio station on Poldhu Point, then Porth Mellin on Mullion Cove with Mullion Island offshore. Rounding Predannack Head, Vellan Head, and Rill Head (where the Spanish Armada was first sighted), the path leads to Kynance Cove and Lizard Point, the lighthouse of which has been visible for some distance.

South Cornwall

Falmouth Harbour, National Maritime Museum, Cornwall and Pendennis Castle.

After passing The Lizard the Path turns northwards, continuing past Housel Bay and a building used by Marconi for radio experiments, then Bass Point with its Coastguard Station. The Lizard lifeboat station is a sheltered position in Kilcobben Cove. Passing through Cadgwith and across Kennack Sands, the Path heads towards Black Head then into Coverack. Once around Lowland Point, The Manacles lie a mile offshore, a reef that has wrecked many ships. The Path passes through Porthoustock and Porthallow, then around Nare Point lies Gillan Creek. This can be crossed at very low tide, but most walkers follow the lanes round the head of the creek to reach Dennis Head at the mouth of the Helford River. To cross this wider river means following it inland to Helford where there is a ferry across to the north bank. Some people take a short cut from Gillan Creek to Helford by a path through Manaccan.

After following the river back to the open waters beyond Toll Point, the Path skirts Falmouth Bay along Swanpool and Gyllyngvase beaches before passing around the headland beneath Pendennis Castle to enter bustling Falmouth. The castle was built, along with its twin at St Mawes, to protect the deep water of Carrick Roads from attack. This natural haven is what made Falmouth such an important harbour, it being the last good shelter for ships heading westwards towards the Atlantic Ocean.

The Path crosses the harbour on the St Mawes Ferry and then passes St Anthony Head and Zone Point and northwards past the village of Portscatho and around Gerrans Bay. Beyond Nare Head is Portloe in Veryan Bay. The next big headland is Dodman Point after which the coast path resumes its northwards course through Gorran Haven and the fishing harbour at Mevagissey to Pentewan where the once busy dock has silted up with sand. The Path then climbs up around Black Head to reach Portpean and then Charlestown. This was the first harbour to serve the china clay industry around St Austell and has featured in several films as it is home to a heritage fleet of sailing ships.

After passing Carlyon Bay the Path comes to a much busier port at Par, which means an inland diversion. After passing through the village the path regains the coast at Par Sands and links with the Saints Way, a coast-to-coast path across Cornwall, then passes through Polkerris and around Gribbin Head. From here to Polperro is designated as a heritage coast.

Withnoe (Main) Beach portion of Whitsand Bay

The Path now passes Polridmouth (pronounced 'Pridmouth') and Readymoney to enter Fowey ('Foy'), another busy harbour but this time the deep water quays are situated up river above the town. The River Fowey is crossed on the Polruan ferry, beyond which are some steep cliffs with spectacular views. Beyond Lantic Bay lies Pencarrow Head then the larger Lantivet Bay with further cliffs and small coves leading to Polperro, a picturesque fishing village which bans cars during the summer.

Beyond Polperro lies Talland Bay and Portnadler Bay, with the bird reserve of Looe Island (also known as St George's island) off shore. The Path now enters Looe, passing through Hannafore, West Looe then, after crossing the River Looe on a seven-span bridge. The Path continues up onto the cliff then heads towards Millendreath then along more cliffs to Seaton, Downderry, and Portwrinkle.

The long beach of Whitsand Bay has a fast-rising tide and is a military firing range so the Path runs inland behind Tregantle Fort to reach Freathy and Rame Head. Beyond this lies Penlee Point and then the Path turns northwards into Plymouth Sound, skirting Cawsand Bay to reach the ferry at Cremyll. Beyond here lies the Hamoaze, the combined estuary of the Tamar and other rivers.

South Devon

Plymouth Hoe from Mount Batten

The Cremyll Ferry lands in Devon at Stonehouse, one of the Three Towns that make up the modern city of Plymouth. The path follows roads past Stonehouse Barracks and Millbay Docks to Plymouth Hoe with its views across Plymouth Sound. It then crosses Sutton Harbour by the Mayflower Steps then skirts the hill of Cattedown to cross the River Plym by the Laira Bridge to Plymstock. Passing round the edge of the tidal Hooe Lake, the path regains the countryside above Jennycliff Bay and follows the cliffs past Bovisand to Wembury, Wembury Marine Centre.

From Wembury the path travels east into the South Hams district to the Warren Point ferry, across the River Yealm, near Newton Ferrers and the River Erme near Kingston. The view to the southwest is then over Bigbury Bay past Burgh Island and Hope Cove to the promentry known as Bolt Tail. The next 10 kilometres (6 mi) of cliff top paths from Bolberry Down past Bolt Head and the tidal ria of Kingsbridge Estuary to Prawle Point, is one of the longest stretches of coast belonging to the National Trust. The estuary includes a ferry crossing at Salcombe close to Salcombe Castle and within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Slapton Sands in the South Devon AONB

The path then continues around Lannacombe Bay to Start Point and it's Lighthouse and then through Start Bay along a 5 kilometres (3 mi) shingle causeway between Slapton Sands and the Slapton Ley freshwater lake and nature reserve before entering the estuary of the River Dart and historic port of Dartmouth.

Kingswear is the terminus of the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway which follows the River Dart, but the coast path climbs out of the village in the opposite direction to reach Torbay, known as "The English Riviera". It passes the historic harbour of Brixham and the seaside towns of Goodrington, Paignton, Torquay, Babbacombe. The coast path then passes along wooded cliffs to reach Shaldon and the River Teign.

Crossing the river by ferry or the long Shaldon Bridge brings walkers to Teignmouth, beyond which the coast path follows the South Devon Railway sea wall to Hole Head. Passing beneath the railway, the path climbs up to the main road, which it follows for a few yards before turning back towards the cliff top (in stormy weather the sea wall is too dangerous and this road must be followed most of the way from Teignmouth). Entering Dawlish along a now by-passed toll road, the coast path descends back to the level of the railway which it follows to Dawlish Warren, although a slightly more landward route is necessary at high tides.

Dawlish Warren is a sand spit and nature reserve that lies at the mouth of the River Exe. The route now turns away from the coast and follows the Exe estuary past Cockwood to Starcross where a the seasonal ferry crosses to Exmouth. The Exe Valley Way continues beyond Starcross towards Exeter, but when the ferry is not running it is possible to catch a train from either Dawlish Warren or Starcross railway stations to Exmouth railway station.

Seaton

On the eastern side of Exmouth, the coast path climbs up onto the High Land of Orcombe. This is the start of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. The next town is Budleigh Salterton, beyond which lies the River Otter. The path then skirts Chiselbury Bay and Ladram Bay towards Sidmouth which sits at the mouth of the River Sid. Access to the beach is via a wooden staircase known as Jacob's ladder. Sidmouth is surrounded by the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Erosion remains a serious concern east of the mouth of the River Sid. The cliffs have been heavily eroded, threatening cliff top homes and the footpath, which passes along the tops of the cliff, around Lyme Bay, avoiding The Undercliff towards Branscombe. The path then follows Seaton Bay past Beer, with Beer Caves a man-made cave complex, resulting from the quarrying of Beer stone and Seaton before crossing the border into Dorset at Pinhay Bay.

Dorset

Chesil Beach looking west from the Isle of Portland

Across the Dorset border, the Coast Path runs through the town of Lyme Regis, including its well-known Cobb breakwater and the Undercliff. Further east the path passes by Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast, and on through Charmouth and West Bay (near Bridport), to Burton Bradstock at the start of Chesil Beach, an 18-mile (29 km) long tombolo. At Abbotsbury, the path leaves Chesil beach to follow the shores of the Fleet lagoon, until it reaches the terminus of Chesil beach next to the villages of Fortuneswell and Chiswell on the Isle of Portland. The path circumnavigates the Isle of Portland, passing the lighthouses at Portland Bill, and returns across Chesil beach and along the shores of Portland Harbour to the Nothe Fort in the resort of Weymouth.

Sculpture at Poole at the end of the path

In Weymouth the coast path runs along the Wey Estuary up to Radipole Lake, around Weymouth Bay and on to Ringstead Bay, with White Nothe at its eastern end, near the village of Osmington Mills. The Coast path then follows the shores of the Isle of Purbeck - past Bat's Head and Swyre Head, and on to Durdle Door, a very well known natural arch, which lies just to the west of Lulworth Cove, a world famous cove. Further east lies the ghost village of Tyneham, beside Worbarrow Bay, and Kimmeridge, next to Kimmeridge Bay, with its rocky shore and wave cut platform.

The coast path then reaches St Alban's Head, just to the south of the village of Worth Matravers. Between St Alban's Head and the resort of Swanage is Durlston Country Park nature reserve. North of Swanage is the chalk Ballard Down, the eastern tip of which has been eroded to form Old Harry Rocks - a series of stacks, arches and caves jutting into the sea between Swanage Bay and Studland Bay. This headland marks the end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Behind Studland beach, an extensive system of sand dunes have formed a psammosere, stretching for miles across the Studland peninsula. The peninsula forms one shore of Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The South West Coast Path ends at South Haven Point, in the town of Poole on the eastern edge of the harbour.

Would anyone mind me deleting the text above? It's really nasty on the eyes when scrolling down. bsrboy (talk) 14:22, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

I did the strikethrough when we moved this to the main article after using it as a team sandbox, in case anyone want to refer to it or argue about the changes we made. The article has since been further revised (& gone through a GA review) so I doubt if anyone will refer back to it & it will be in the history anyway - but I'm unsure on the rules about deleting it.— Rod ^talk 14:35, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

Format of lists

"The Giant Puffin" has added templates suggesting that there are too many lists. I think they are natural in the description of a linear path, but I wonder whether they might be usefully combined, with some descriptive text about the path, along the lines of this:

Path section	Distance	Special landscapes	Places of interest	Towns and villages
Somerset and North Devon The start of the path is indicated by a marker in Minehead erected by the South West Coast Path Association. The path starts in the north west corner of Somerset but after x miles crosses the border into Devon. The route follows the coast of the Exmoor National Park, before dropping down to Lynmouth. etc etc etc - general path description from SWCPA handbook, SWCP website etc - the above is just a scratch attempt at first couple of days' walk	115 miles 184 km	Exmoor Heritage Coast and Exmoor National Park. North Devon Heritage Coast Braunton Burrows — World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Taw and Torridge Estuary Hartland Heritage Coast	St Culbone's Church, Culbone – Smallest parish church in England Exmoor National Park Valley of the Rocks near Lynton River Heddon Woody Bay Lee Bay Braunton Burrows Ilfracombe Branch Line – now a path Royal Marines Base Chivenor Bideford Extension Railway – now a path Bideford and Instow Railway Westward Ho! pebble ridge Hartland Point	Minehead Porlock Weir Lynmouth Lynton Combe Martin Ilfracombe Lee Bay Mortehoe Woolacombe Croyde Saunton Braunton Barnstaple Fremington Instow Bideford Appledore Northam, Devon Westward Ho! Clovelly Hartland Welcombe

What does anyone else think? I think it's helpful to bring the various categories of info for any one section together - do you? Might it be better split into shorter sections? PamD 21:56, 26 June 2007 (UTC)

I have also been scratching my head over this request to remove the lists. My thoughts were to turn the lists into prose descriptions of each of the sections (Somerset and North Devon, etc.), rather as PamD has in the left column above, but to include links from that to all the towns and places of interest in order. This would avoid the complex tablular/column layout The problem being that it is a huge task and best done by editors who are reasonably familar with the sections they are writing about.

It would need to be "sandboxed" here and then copied and pasted into the article when complete.

The existing lists could then be transferred to new List of communities on the South West Coast Path and List of places of interest on the South West Coast Path pages that no one could complain about. Geof Sheppard 07:43, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

I have started the "sandbox" below. please chip in and convert the lists to prose, and tidy up what has already been done. Geof Sheppard 07:28, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

I have added a prose version of the Dorset section of the path; one hopes it is what was needed. If you require any assistance in further alterations, I'll be happy to help. Rossenglish 13:54, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I've done some bits for N & S Devon, but I think this should be moved to the main article space where it will get a lot more exposure and hopefully interest from others.— Rod ^talk 11:01, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

Good idea, but you'd need first to restructure the "Special landscapes", "Places of interest" and "Towns and villages" sections so that place was the first division and Places/Towns appear as subdivisions of that, ready to be replaced by new style article piece by piece. PamD 11:20, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

Why do these need to be preserved? Hopefully all the Special landscapes, Places of Interest and Towns & Villages which are relevant are included in the text & therefore would be included in the article - but not in lists.— Rod ^talk 12:05, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

Only as interim measure if new style text isn't complete for that section. PamD 12:12, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

There is still quite a bit of path that needs to be converted into the prose format – especially along the north coast from Ilfracombe to Sennen. I think that the special landscapes section should go, but it probably merits a mention in the introduction as there is so much of it along the path.

I moved all the towns and villages and places of interest into the sandbox when we started it and I don't think we have lost any along the way. I thought all the special landscapes would ahve been in those lists but they weren't...! Geof Sheppard 12:53, 22 October 2007 (UTC)

I've added prose for the last couple of sections & adda few pics. While doing this I did wonder whether we ought to be indicating distances in some way for the sections? Do others think this is now ready to be moved to the main article & hopefully will then recieve more attention from others?— Rod ^talk 11:21, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

I think the prose is now more than adequate to be moved into the main article. I think the distances would be useful, it is essential to know how long the section you're walking is. Rossenglish (talk) 13:59, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

There's some stuff about distance/route diagrams at Talk:Long-distance_footpaths_in_the_UK#Infoboxes_and_Maps - borrowing systems designed for railways or canals. Looks like a lot of work! Maybe we should just offer a prominent link to the distance calculator on the official site at [1]? As for adding the text to main site... yes, let's go. PamD (talk) 14:08, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

OK shall I do the big move & add a link to distance calculator for now?— Rod ^talk 14:12, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Go for it - I reckon it replaces sections 3 and 4 - I don't think we've got all the landscapes of section 2 incorporated, and perhaps they stand alone well as being large scale. Title presumably something like "Route description"? PamD (talk) 14:18, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Move is done - shortened infobox & added refs section - but I'd taken out "special landscapes" (is this what you mean by section 2?) before I read your reply - should I add it back in? Couldn't see quite what you meant by distance calculator. If we do a "route map" as described on Talk:Long-distance_footpaths_in_the_UK#Infoboxes_and_Maps it would be miles longer than the text.— Rod ^talk 14:37, 19 November 2007 (UTC)

Sandbox - Along the path

Use this area to build up a prose version of the Places of Interest and Towns and villages lists. Once all the links have been incorporated, it can replace the existing lists in whichever of the above styles it is decided to use.

References

I asked the editor who put the "needs references" tag what they felt was needed (should probably have done so on this page, in hindsight). Their answer is here. Seems reasonable, I suppose. We'd better start finding some sources. Unfortunately I've lent my collection of SWCP books to a friend who's planning a walk! PamD (talk) 16:24, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

I've added some references where I could quickly and easily find them. In other places I've added {{fact}} tags where I think references are needed. On reading through I was also worried about terms such as: "well known" & "world famous", "spectacular views", "favoured by artists" which could fail the NPOV test unless supported.— Rod ^talk 19:02, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

There was an explosive factory near Camborne, SW578397, if that is the area referred to in West Cornwall, at St Ives bay, then I can provide a reference. There was another one at SW685472, but it does not appear to be that one.Pyrotec (talk) 19:04, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

Now done.Pyrotec (talk) 20:25, 25 November 2007 (UTC)

I'm having real trouble finding a ref to support the assertion that "Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system (psammosere) in England" - anyone help?— Rod ^talk 18:29, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Done (I googled "Braunton largest" (just the two words, not in quotes) and it turned up on the third page or so. PamD (talk) 18:50, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Do we need to support the assertion that Torbay, is known as "The English Riviera"?— Rod ^talk 18:41, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

There's a nice site at http://www.englishriviera.co.uk/ PamD (talk) 18:50, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

... and I've done the ref. PamD (talk) 19:11, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Path or path

I know in the full title South West Coast Path the path has a capital P, but elsewhere, when it is not the first word of a sentence, when we talk about "the path" should it be "the Path" or "the path"? both are used in the article & I think we need to be consistent. I will ask a fiendly copyeditor to take a look at the article - but I think it could be nominated for GA before long - what do others think?— Rod ^talk 18:58, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Once it is stable, apply for GA. Path is a pronoun, used in place of the South West Coast Path, so I think its a capital P in the Path. Note: paths are also used in at least one place - presumably there is only one path, or does it split in places?Pyrotec (talk) 19:14, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

It certainly isn't a pronoun. It might be thought a short form of "South West Coast Path". But I think that copyeditors, GA reviewers etc will tend to want "path". The plurals are where it shares its alignment with the Tarka Trail or anything else.

Before we go for GA I think we need more about the path as a path (history, development, records, statistics). We have masses about the route, but that's not the whole thing. There don't seem to be any role models of FA or GA paths or hiking trails, as I found when we got Leeds Country Way to GA.

I had a problem deciding on its category in "Good article candidates", too, and went for "Everyday life/Recreation/Miscellaneous", as there wasn't a "Geography/Miscellaneous" which I might have gone for! ... Ah, they seem now to have changed the categories on WP:GAC! The best is probably now "Everyday life/Sports and recreation", I think. PamD (talk) 19:27, 26 November 2007 (UTC)

Highest point

I've lent my collection of guidebooks etc to a friend who's planning to walk the path, so can't look this up: what's the highest point of the path? I think it's Great Hangman near Combe Martin but not sure. It would be good to include it in text and infobox, if anyone has it to hand! PamD (talk) 09:14, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

I've confirmed this (with ref) & added to the infobox.— Rod ^talk 09:35, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

Tarka Trail

The article says that the path coincides with the Tarka Trail from Lynton, but doesn't say for how far. Tarka Trail says they coincide from Ilfracombe to Bideford, which is contradictory! Has anyone got a map showing the TT, to check this? I think it might be clearer if, having mentioned where the routes coincide, we change to talk about "the path" rather than using the plural. PamD (talk) 09:25, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

Have amended article as above, assuming the TT article has got it right. PamD (talk) 10:04, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

GA nom moved

I've been having a discussion at User talk:Geometry guy about GA categories for paths (he moved the Leeds Country Way...), and there's now a new Good Article class of "Geography and Places / Geography / Nature reserves, conservation areas and countryside routes", which is probably a neater fit for the SWCP etc than anything which was there before. In Good Article Nominations it's just "Geography" with a note "Includes: Bodies of water and water formations; Geographers and explorers; Geography; Islands; Landforms; Nature reserves, conservation areas and countryside routes; Urban and historical sites.", and he has moved SWCP into it. Seems an improvement, though I don't think the wording's ideal (consider Capital Ring!). PamD (talk) 15:58, 10 December 2007 (UTC)