EXPLORING the West Somerset coast via the King Charles III England Coast Path is now easier than ever thanks to a new suite of leaflets and interactive virtual tours.

Created to help more people plan and enjoy a visit to the coast, Somerset’s Accessible Coast resources highlight coastal footpaths and offer essential information on accessibility, parking, and public toilets.

The new resources are intended to help open Somerset’s stunning coastline to more visitors.

The series features five key sections of the King Charles III England Coast Path and nearby walking routes:

  • Minehead to Blue Anchor
  • Watchet
  • East Quantoxhead and Kilve
  • Apex Park and Burnham-on-Sea
  • Brean Down

Each area has been carefully selected to meet a range of needs.

Routes are divided and graded using an accessibility scale, from one to five, enabling visitors to choose paths which suit their abilities and confidence.

Using new 360 degrees virtual tours, visitors can preview terrain before setting out, explore key points of interest, and quickly check features which may influence their visit.

Five accompanying leaflets provide detailed maps, accessibility guidance, and top tips for enjoying the coast safely.

Somerset Trail Partnership spokeswoman Isobel Pring said: “What feels easy for one person may feel very hard for somebody else.

“It has been an interesting experience to look at the coast path from so many perspectives and understand that sometimes things only need a minor change to open an area to more visitors.

“We hope these resources will give everybody the confidence to enjoy a coastal ramble.”

Ian Lewis, of 360 degree imagery specialists 360 South West, said: “Working on this project has been a truly rewarding experience for us, and we have enjoyed bringing the Somerset coastline to life through these virtual tours.

“It has been a pleasure to contribute to showcasing such a unique and beautiful part of the country in an accessible and engaging way.”

Developed by the Somerset Trail Partnership with funding from the Protected Landscapes Partnership’s Access for All programme, the virtual tours, accessibility information, and leaflets – will be available at www.somerset.gov.uk/access-for-all.

Printed leaflets will be available from local visitor information centres and libraries.

The 360 degree imagery will also appear on Google Street View, although without the associated accessibility information.