What an exceptional year
In brief: our very own website; an ambitious new 100 mile trail; a new Devon footpath section for the King Charles III Coast Path; footpaths and bridges repaired; support and funding from our District Council, tourism leaders and members; featured on BBC Spotlight and national newspapers. The following are the best extracts from our AGM in November 2025.
1. The South Hams Way
Completion of the South Hams Way, a 100mile trail circumnavigating the South Hams. A huge achievement by our Group in less than a year. Many members stepped in to help make this project a reality, those who recced each section, writers of the route guides, the donations from our members and local councils, creation of a website, waymarking the trail etc etc. The benefits to the local economy are already feeding in. We too are benefiting from the goodwill with recent new members inspired by this trail.
An official launch in October in Totnes saw some 130 walkers attend the opening. After some rousing speeches and ribbon cutting there followed a mass walk of Section 1 to Buckfastleigh. There is drone footage of the event on the website. BBC Spotlight and BBC radio featured the trail, plus articles in various national newspapers.
The team are now exploring a North-South link and there are plans to hold an anniversary celebration each year around September or October, with a walk of one of the 10 sections.
2. Walks leaders and programme
Our walks leaders stepped in with a wonderful variety of walks throughout the year. No gaps but hasn’t the weather been against us with an unprecedented number of walk cancellations? We are seeing an increasing number of shared walks with neighbouring groups, a good development.
It’s only you our members who enable a walks programme to even exist, so please consider stepping in as a Leader in your adventure with us, just one walk would be enough to start with. There is lots of help to get you on that path.
3. Social events
We enjoyed a variety of social events. Skittles evening, a cinema excursion in Kingsbridge to see The Salt Path (controversy or what?), a Summer BBQ in July at Sherford, and a canoeing excursion in the evening in perfect weather. This year’s Christmas meal was trialled at lunch-time but we will take a view on the success of the change to timing. A big thanks to Bronwyn for her charity Cream Tea walk that raised £155 for Devon Air Ambulance.
4. Our very own dedicated website
In March we launched our own website www.southhamsramblers.org.uk You'll be please to see that the walks programme can now be viewed in full, you can filter the programme to find a walk that suits you, you can add walks to your online calendar and even print as a list. The website also includes a database of our known 500+ walks. Leaders, both current and new can use this to find new walks to lead.
5. Another website, just for the South Hams Way
The website www.southhamsway.org.uk went live in July 2025 and quickly gained a life of its own. It provides the information needed to self navigate all ten sections of the trail. Each section has a map, a route guide and GPX file that can be imported into a navigational app. Visitor statistics show interest has reached across the UK nationally, Europe and even international hits from the US and Australia.
6. Social media
A new Facebook page for South Hams Way was created to promote the trail and has nearly 900 followers. The more people who share their experience here of walking the trail the wider our audience grows with the trail becoming ever more known.
Our own South Hams Ramblers Facebook has just under 400 followers and is very well supported by walk leaders and walkers alike posting their photographs and comments about the walk. Occasionally a recently recced walk is advertised with the result that this advanced story telling generates more interest in a walk and more participants.
7. Footpaths
Reporting and attending to footpath problems has been exceptional. Three footbridges now restored, at East Allington, Holbeton and Avon riverside walk near Topsham Bridge and also a signpost restoration at Poor Bridge. At W. Alvington Old Salcombe Rd, new steps installed. Some path issues remain unresolved because of difficulty getting vehicle/materials to site and insufficient resources generally.
Good news is a new footpath section: Shady Lane to Redlap Lane, part of King Charles III Coast Path, has been created after 9 years of negotiation. Not officially open yet - new signage to be erected.
We have formed a Path Maintenance Team and can now, with the approval of Town and Parish Councils assist in the upkeep of all paths. A number of members have already offered their services, however if there are any more members that want to help please contact the Chair via our Contacts page.
8. Membership
Membership now stands at 189. While we benefit from a steady stream of new members, likewise we have a steady stream of non-walking members gradually resigning or letting their membership lapse. Sadly, 3 of our members or past members have passed away this year.