The Looe Old Cornwall Society's second winter monthly meeting was held recently, when Liz Woolard gave a talk on the South East Cornwall coastal path.

Liz, of Looe, is area representative of the South West Coastal Path Association, formed to promote the interests of coastal path users.

She described the history of the path and said it developed due to smuggling. At the end of the 18th century 52 boats operated from Cawsand. Prior to this, there were many incidences of assault and murder resulting from conflict between smugglers and customs officers. These, and the loss of duty to the government, resulted in the formation of a night patrol of the shore by sailors, extended from 1822 to become the Coastguard service. The service was required to patrol the footpath, so the path needed to be as close to the shore as possible. The idea of making this one of the first in a series of long distance paths, came from a wartime committee of the Ramblers' Association and was put into effect by being included in the National Park and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949.

In 1973 people from Devon formed a user group, having been frustrated by poor maintenance, sign-posting and, in many places, the non-existence of a proper coast path at all. This year saw the official opening of the Cornish Coast Path, a premature ceremony, as 26 years later, the path is unfinished in two places: Porthoustock to Porthallow on the Lizard and on Batten Cliff between Downderry and Portwrinkle.

Liz showed slides of the official and unofficial paths between Batten Cliff and Portwrinkle. The view from the road is non-existent. However, the unofficial alternative path along the cliff top, is already a well-trodden path. She said both the Association and Cornwall council want the alternative path designated officially, but negotiations are taking place slowly. The situation has not been helped by a cliff fall in May 1993, which closed off the last one third of a mile into Portwrinkle.

The next meeting will be on January 8, preceded by the Christmas party at Portbyhan Hotel on December 11. For further information contact Peter King, Looe 262628.