I love SW coast

This weekend is the 25th anniversary of the Great Dorset Beach Clean and truly not an anniversary to be celebrating. The fact that Dorset Countryside Ranger Service still coordinates this event reflects directly on the need for people and business’ to become more aware of the impact that rubbish has on our economy and our wildlife.

This year, Coast Path ranger and beach clean organiser Jenny Penney is hoping to attract more volunteers than ever to help clean Dorset’s beaches in the run up to the summer.

She said:

“We hope that our sparkling beaches will welcome the returning visitors who cheered on the Olympic Sailing events last year and that the clean beaches will make a lasting impression on tourists who have been encouraged to visit Dorset for the first time.”

The Great Dorset Beach Clean attracts people of all ages and cultures to help to clean up our beaches. The rubbish that is found on our beaches is not only a health and safety issue to ourselves but also to animals and birds that live along this coastline as well as sea mammals, and the fish that we consume at our table.

By helping out on the 21st April you are also improving your own environment and spreading the word to look after our fabulous World Heritage Coast for the future. In 2008 an incredible 1000 volunteers helped by picking up litter on our Dorset beaches. This year, Jenny hopes to break this record by attracting a wider group of volunteers from sports clubs and companies to give up a couple of hours on just one day of the year.

For more info about the various locations where you can help out this Sunday visit http://www.dorsetforyou.com/greatdorsetbeachclean

For thousands of years, the South West coastline has been a deeply spiritual place.

Cornwall in particular is notable for its spiritual heritage and is awash with Saints, mostly Celtic, reflected in the many places named after them from St Agnes to St Ives.

Today the county celebrated its patron Saint, St Piran, thought to have come from Ireland in the 5th or 6th Century on his Mill stone who landed at Perranporth where he set up a church.

It’s a common feature along the Coast Path to find a parish church built on a promontory. As well as serving the spiritual needs of the parish, they would also offer places of refuge. The tall towers could be seen by incoming trade and fishing fleets.

There’s little wonder why Cornwall has so many places of worship on the coast since the entire history of its people is inextricably linked to its proximity to the sea.

Some of the most profound churches are often in the most remote and rugged parts of the coastline. St Helen’s Oratory at Cape Cornwall is one such example that has had continuous church occupation since the late Roman period.

A favourite for many is the iconic St Michael’s Mount with its 14th century priory church. Stepping off the train in Penzance, it’s easy to follow in the footsteps of travellers old and new by joining St Michael’s Way, an ancient route that led pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in North West Spain.

It now forms part of the South West Coast Path, which, alongside the likes of the Camino de Santiago, is considered one of Europe’s great walks and with such stunning views of Mount’s Bay and beyond, it’s easy to see why.

Here’s a short walk from Penzance to Marazion where you can cross the causeway at low tide to visit the Mount.
http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/walksdb/71/