Friends complete South West Coast Path and donate to community centre

Two friends from west Dorset finished walking the South West Coast Path after roughly 30 months and donated £700 to the Beaminster Yarn Barton Community Centre.

Two friends from west Dorset spent almost three years walking the South West Coast Path to prove to themselves they could complete it. Shirley Ryall and Alison Corr began the series of walks in spring 2023. The official set of walks covers around 630 miles from Minehead, Somerset to South Haven, east Dorset, with 70 walks of varying lengths and grades. They completed the official route in roughly 30 months and covered about 655 miles after re-routes and detours. Key details: - The pair started in spring 2023 and worked at their own pace around family and work commitments. - The South West Coast Path official guide lists 70 walks and the route spans about 630 miles from Minehead to South Haven. - The duo reported high points such as Great Hangman and Golden Cap and noted many steep sections and steps that affected their knees. - They described the most strenuous section as St Ives to Pendeen Watch, which involved rock and boulder climbs, and noted boggy conditions at The Lizard. - To mark completion they made a personal donation of £700 to The Beaminster Yarn Barton Community Centre, saying the centre provides local information and services but struggles for outside funding. Summary: The pair made a personal donation of £700 to the Beaminster Yarn Barton Community Centre, which they said provides local information and services but struggles for funding. Undetermined at this time.