National Trails has announced an 80-mile walking challenge in September that will take place along the Somerset and Exmoor coast on part of England’s newest national trail, the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP).
This year, the walk begins at County Gate on Exmoor and ends on Brean Down at the end of the Mendip Hills.
Participants can do the entire walk, or pick certain days to walk. The event starts on 28 September, and participation costs vary from £6 to £9 for one day, or £46 to £68 for the entire event.
The difficulty level is listed as challenging, with the first two days the most strenuous.
Isobel Pring, of the Somerset Trail Partnership for the King Charles III England Coast Path, said: “Walking this spectacular stretch of coast on our newest National Trail, we begin at County Gate and join shady woodland paths to reach Porlock Weir, before heading to the top of Exmoor and one of the wildest and most remote parts of our route.
“From Minehead we head to Bridgwater through the villages, rolling hills and towns of the Quantocks and the salt marshes of the Steart Peninsula. Exploring the estuaries of the Rivers Parrett, Huntspill and Brue we join one of the longest sandy beaches in Europe to reach Brean Down with its stunning coastal views.”
The challenge will raise funds for The Outdoor Guide Foundation’s Waterproofs and Wellies campaign to support Somerset’s coastal primary schools – last year’s efforts raised £350 and bought 10 sets of waterproofs and wellies for West Huntspill Primary School. The target this year is £700 to support 2 schools.
The first day is from County Gate to Porlock, with day 2 continuing to Minehead. Thereafter, the going gets slightly easier, with day three ending up in Watchet. The next stage terminates in Burton, and the following day is a walk to Steart. Bridgwater is the next day’s destination, and the seventh leg winds up in Highbridge. The final day of the trek ends in Brean.
