History
After the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was set up, the naturalist and author Ronald Lockley surveyed a route around the coast, and his 1953 report was broadly adopted. The route was approved in July 1953.
Building it took 17 years, including more than 100 footbridges, 479 stiles and thousands of steps cut into steep or slippery ground. It was opened by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas on 16 May 1970, the first National Trail in Wales.
It runs from Amroth to St Dogmaels. The National Park Authority's Countryside Management team maintains it, with Natural Resources Wales funding the National Trail Officer, agreed improvements and up to 75% of routine maintenance.
Sources: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park: Coast Path fact file; Pembrokeshire Coast National Park: Maintaining the Pembrokeshire Coast Path; National Trails: Pembrokeshire Coast Path; Wikipedia: Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Facts
- Code
- UK 003 (provisional)
- Distance
- 186 miles (299 km). We measure 178 miles
- Sections
- 15
- Type
- Linear
- Opened
- 16 May 1970
- Designation
- National Trail
- Looked after by
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority / Natural Resources Wales
- Nations
- Wales
- Total ascent
- Still to be measured