UPKEEP of the South West Coast Path, which starts in Minehead and runs through Exmoor, is proving ever more costly as climate change sees more and more storms strike the coastline.

The South West Coast Path Association, which is responsible for maintaining the 630-mile route from Minehead to Poole, in Dorset, said annual costs had risen by up to 70 per cent.

The charity said a few years ago it was spending about £1,000 per mile per year on keeping the route in good condition for walkers.

Association director Julian Gray said today that figure was up to £1,700.

At the start of this year, for example, the coast path was hit in quick succession by Storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin, just three of six named storms that winter, one of which saw a red wind warning issued by the Met Office.

Also this year, heavy rain caused surface erosion and there were wildfires during the summer months - all ‘real threats’ to the path and coastal areas.

Mr Gray said: “It does not matter what direction a storm comes in from, it is going to hit some part of the trail.

“This year started with a bit of a bang in February when we had three named storms coming in.”

He said those storms caused coastal erosion and high winds which felled many trees close to the path which required clearing.

The stormy weather was ‘increasing our cost for managing the coast path’, said Mr Gray.

He said: “Five or six years ago we were spending about a £1,000 a mile just to kind of maintain the path to the national trail standard.

“Now, we are saying, £1,600 to £1,700 a mile.

“That gives an idea how rapidly things are changing.”

‘Inflationary pressures’ were further increasing costs, but it was storm damage that had been causes rises for several years.

Mr Gray said repairs included rebuilding bridges, removing storm-felled trees, and maintaining access.

He said the coast path was a ‘significant attraction’ and was used by about nine million people a year, providing a boost to the local economy of about £520 million.

Mr Gray said the pandemic had seen a shift in the patterns of people using the trail, with more local people using their local stretch of the path.

The first section of the path runs 35 miles from Minehead to Combe Martin, making up slightly more than five per cent of the entire route.

The coast path association will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023 and has planned a relay walk along the entire coast path, starting in Minehead on May 12.