A POPULAR walk and cycle path near Princetown has been given a much needed revamp as part of a scheme designed to ‘put something back’ into Dartmoor.

The ‘£ for the Park’ initiative is a voluntary donation scheme launched by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) where large groups of people holding organised events on the moor are invited to make a donation in addition to their registration fee.

The idea is that voluntary contribution will be used to support access and conservation projects in Dartmoor National Park.

Popular walking group Plymouth Ramblers, with well over 400 members, recently donated £400 to the scheme.

To repair the track, big lumps of granite have been used under local material growan which is a decayed granite, like fine sand.

Peter Major, chairman of Plymouth Ramblers, said: ‘This route is good access to get onto the moor and you can even go from here to Burrator. Bikers and walkers can have a short walk then go back to Princetown and enjoy the benefits that Princetown has to offer.

‘The track offers 360 degrees of stunning views and is an asset that we need to keep.’

Peter said that the restoration of the track has been designed with people using trampers in mind. Trampers are all-terrain mobility scooters, designed specifically to cover rough ground, mud and grass safely.

Walk Co-ordinator Jane Kiely said: ‘I was on crutches for six months last year and using a tramper can really get you out and about.’

Andrew Watson, head of recreation, access and estates for the DNPA, expressed thanks to the Plymouth Ramblers for the donation which has been used on the South Hessary Track.

He said: ‘A counter at the Princetown side of the track measured that the track attracts around 1,800 walkers and 6,000 to 7,000 cyclists a year.

‘We kept going back to Defra for the funding. We put in a case to say that Easter was coming and we had been hit really badly.

‘We had additional help from Devon County Council’s Granite and Gears scheme but mostly tried to get the funding from groups holding events and asked them to collect £1 per person.

‘We are looking to widen the scheme and raise awareness. It’s so nice that Princetown can put back into the national park especially at a time that the public sector financing has less money to spend on rights of way.

‘This is one of the busiest routes in the national park. It did have some work done on it ten to 15 years ago but had worn out. In harsh conditions in the winter you can hardly stand up especially with the rain as well, this meant the track needed repairing.

‘It was a challenge completing the work. Because of the location we had to hire a small scale contractor who could get out easily. This track from Princetown to Nun’s Cross Farm is part of the Burrator loop, which also has other poor tracks.

‘We have been looking at repairing other areas. It will cost around £200,000 to do the work, subject to us being able to attract funding.’

Devon County Council’s Granite and Gears schemes have also seen repairs and safety improvements made on the Peek Hill bridge, signage in Princetown and the Clearbrook ramp.