Official guide books to document Wales Coast Path
A series of new official guide books
showcasing the newly-opened Wales Coast Path have been commissioned
from outdoor specialist publishers, Northern Eye Books Ltd, by the
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW).
Young Walkers, photo courtesy of Visit Wales
Llanddwyn Island, looking across to Snowdonia. Photo courtesy of Visit Wales.
Ceibwr Bay, Pembrokeshire, Photo courtesy of Visit Wales
The Wales Coast Path became the World’s longest coastal path
around a country when it was opened officially by Environment
Minister John Griffiths on May 5th, and the 870 miles along the
path will be broken down into a series of adjoining sections for
the guides.
The path runs from the Welsh border, in the North, to Chepstow,
in the South and the guide will be designed to bring the path to
life for readers and provide an invaluable insight for walkers.
The series will cover the majority of the Wales Coast Path, with
the exception of Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, which already have
official guides produced by another publisher.
The first official guide covering the complete Anglesey section
is already widely available. Walking the Isle of Anglesey Coastal
Path by North Wales’ author Carl Rogers [ISBN 0-978-1-902512-15-0]
was published in 2010, and costs £10.99.
Official guides to The North Wales Coast and The Lleyn Peninsula
are currently in preparation, and work on guide books for the other
sections will start within the next few weeks.
All of the Wales Coast Path official guide books will be written
by well-known professional outdoor writers, most of whom are
members of the invitation-only Outdoor Writers and Photographers
Guild [see www.owpg.org.uk].
Countryside Council for Wales Coastal Access Project Officer,
Quentin Grimley said:
“I am confident that Northern Eye Books will do a brilliant job
on these Official Guide books and look forward to working with
them.
“They already produce the authoritative and attractive Official
Guide for the Anglesey section and If the new titles look and feel
even half as good, then I’m convinced that walkers on the new Wales
Coast Path, and anybody looking for a colourful guide to the coast,
have a real treat ahead of them.”
The Wales Coast Path has been developed by the Welsh Government
in partnership with the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW),
sixteen local authorities and two National Parks.
In addition to funding from the Welsh Government and the coastal
local authorities of approximately £2 million per year, the
European Regional Development Fund has allocated nearly £4 million
over four years to support the project.
Ends.
For more information please contact Rhiannon Jenkins, Quadrant,
Email: rhiannon.jenkins@quadrant.co Phone: 02920 694888
Or
Tony Bowerman / Carl Rogers, Northern Eye Books, Email:
tony@northerneyebooks.com Phone: 01829 770309 / 01928 723744
NOTES TO EDITORS
BACKGROUND FACTS FOR EDITORS
- The 870 mile (1400km) Wales Coast Path, which opened on 5 May
2012, runs from the Welsh border, in the North, to Chepstow, in the
South
- Creation of the Path is a key Welsh Government commitment -
which aims to bring economic benefit to coastal areas and encourage
active lifestyles. The Path has something to offer everyone - from
those looking for a short stroll to those undertaking the whole
route in one trip, and it provides access to numerous leisure
activities.
- The route will be subject to further improvements, in terms of
alignment, infrastructure and information, beyond the opening
date.
- Delivery of the project is co-ordinated by the Countryside
Council for Wales and delivered on the ground by the local
authorities through which it passes. Funding is coming from the
European Union (approx £4 million in total), Welsh Government
(approx £2 million per year) and the local authorities.