LATEST research has calculated health and wellbeing benefits of over £75 million for people walking Britain’s longest National Trail.

The figures were produced as part of a report published on Tuesday, February 2 that assesses the health and wellbeing benefits of the South West Coast Path.

The report, commissioned by the South West Coast Path Association and undertaken by the University of Exeter, measured the number of premature deaths avoided by walking the Coast Path, and a separate calculation to estimate the healthcare savings linked to a reduction in ill health and disease.

Author of the report, Dr Carolyn Petersen, based at the Centre for Rural Policy Research (CRPR) at the University of Exeter said: “Exercising outdoors, and the health and wellbeing benefits associated with being in natural environments have taken on a new importance, especially during the coronavirus pandemic when other activities have been severely limited.

“This report is timely and shows the important benefits of walking on the South West Coast Path for both physical, and mental health and wellbeing.”

Starting at Minehead in Somerset it runs along the coastline of Exmoor, continuing along the coast of North Devon into Cornwall, following the entire coastline of the county before continuing into Devon.

After running along the south coast of Devon it then follows the Dorset coastline before finally ending at Poole Harbour.

The World Health Organisation’s Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) was used to calculate the physical health benefits based on the number of premature deaths avoided.

With over 9 million visits along the 630-mile-long Coast Path a year, an estimated £69.1 million is saved in avoidable deaths.

From this total, £5.5 million can be directly attributed to people walking on the National Trail who wouldn’t be walking elsewhere.

The research also shows locals living within 10 miles of the South West Coast Path gain the greatest health and wellbeing benefits, valued at £2.8 million a year.

Director of the South West Coast Path Association Julian Gray said: “During the pandemic, the Coast Path has attracted new walkers and runners as people reconnect to nature as an escape during these challenging times.

“Through this research we now are starting to better to understand the economic value of these health benefits to society - benefits which dwarf the costs of maintaining and enhancing this world-class Trail.”