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New Berwickshire Coastal Path: Co'path to St Abbs
I recently attended a meeting last (22nd August)
on behalf of the Co’path Community Council in Coldingham regarding the
proposed establishment of a new long-distance walking route between Cockburnspath
and St Abbs, to be called the Berwickshire Coastal Path (BCP). While effectively
this extends the Southern Upland Way (SUW) south, via Old Cambus, Redheugh
and Dow Law farms, among others, it is being branded separately so Co'path
will remain the official end-point of the SUW. However, given that there
is already a path between St Abbs and Berwick and thence to Holy Island
(St Cuthbert's Way), Scottish Borders Council (Phil Waite (Access Officer)
and Paul Gregory(Director of Economic. Development)) expect it to become
very popular with walkers. However initially SBC expect between 100 (Winter)
and 400 (Summer) per month or approximately 2700 per annum to use the route.
It is hoped, subject to consultation / negotiation with local landowners
who have to safeguard livestock, etc., the route will be constructed /
marked out in time for next Summer The Community Council has requested
Cockburnspath is the official terminus (rather than Pease Bay, as was initially
proposed), which will involve joint badging of the stretch between Pease
Bay and Co’path, via Cove. This is with a view to maximising potential
economic benefits for the proposed village pub, the village shop / post
office and the new village hall. This has been accepted in principle by
SBC. The walkers tend to be more mature in age and interested in heritage
and environment issues, so we can potentially hope to generate much interest
in our local offer. However, obviously it would be hoped that Pease Bay
would also gain, but the prime need for economic development is in Co’path
itself and this would also serve a purpose of generating demand / potential
users for any modified bus services. It is therefore to be hoped that additional
demand for bed & breakfast accommodation would be generated in the
Pease Bay / Co’path area. We will also seek to boost the profile of the
area in regard to heritage and environment, which will help to encourage
people to stay over in the area to see attractions such as St Helen’s,
Co’path Tower, Cove Harbour, Fast Castle, Dunglass Collegiate Church, Co’path
Parish Church and Oldhamstocks. If anyone has any comments on this, please
contact me on paul@cockburnspath.net or 830 773 (evenings only). |
