In 2024 the North Devon Coast National Landscape was awarded over £70,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) through its Access for All Fund and Capital Uplift grant scheme, supporting a series of projects designed to make the region’s coast and countryside more accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. 

2024/25 Projects in North Devon: 

• Access for All (North Devon based charity) – Beach Wheelchairs 
  Purchase of Hippocampe all-terrain wheelchairs to improve access to beaches at Combe Martin, Putsborough, Croyde, and Woolacombe. 

• East Titchberry Farm (National Trust) 
  Creation of a new circular walking route on level ground, connected to the Public Right of Way network. The route includes interpretation panels, benches, signage, and gates, highlighting heritage features like the Malt House and nature-friendly farming practices. 

• Galsham Woods (Hartland) 
  Development of a new permitted access route through pasture and woodland, with a public parking space and connections to the South West Coast Path and Spekes Valley. The route opens up stunning woodland habitats and extends popular walking trails. 

• Hillsborough Shelter (Ilfracombe, North Devon Council) 
  Restoration of the Victorian Shelter on Hillsborough Promontory Hillfort, a scheduled monument and Local Nature Reserve. This project supports ongoing efforts by North Devon Council and the Friends of Hillsborough to enhance access, nature, and heritage engagement in Ilfracombe 

• Little Snailands (Croyde) 
  Reprofiling and resurfacing of a key path to improve accessibility. The upgraded gravel path will offer a safer and more inclusive walking experience for a wider audience. 

A Landscape for Everyone 

These projects are part of The “Access for All: Removing Barriers” program, funded by Defra. It is designed to improve access to green and blue spaces across England. With a commitment of £14.5 million across the country, the program focuses on making targeted improvements in protected landscapes, including National Parks and National Landscapes. 

Nicki Palmer, Access For All (North Devon based charity), said: 

“Access For All were delighted to receive such wonderful support from the North Devon Coast National Landscapes and Defra.   The funding gave our project such an enormous boost, we have been able to put more beach wheelchairs on beaches from Croyde to Combe Martin giving us 7 beach wheelchairs in our fleet.   Our website www.accessforallbeaches.org.uk enabling beach users who need to know what facilities there are to make going to the beach less stressful is now up and running,  with fantastic feedback and we have been able to purchase some great marketing material – banners, sail flags and posters which have already been used to promote all that we are doing.  We are so grateful to The National Landscapes for helping us to get to this position and to enable many more people to access a beach without limitations.  Helping us to make North Devon beaches accessible to all” 

Joe Newberry, National Landscape Manager, said: 

“This is part of a wider government initiative to make all protected landscapes ‘places for everyone’. We’re proud to be delivering projects that open up North Devon’s stunning coast and countryside to more people, regardless of age, ability, or background. Following last year’s success we once again have money available for access focussed projects across the North Devon Landscape”