THE great, great, great granddaughter of famous poet Samuel Coleridge was on hand to help open a new 15-mile extension of a scenic walk named in his memory.

Rosemary Coleridge-Middleton joined Andrea Davis, chairman on the Exmoor National Park Authority and Suzette Hibbert, Mayor of Lynton and Lynmouth to open the Coleridge Way extension.

The ceremony took place last Wednesday (May 21) in Malmsmead and Ms Coleridge- Middleton was joined with other members of her family.

Somerset County Gazette:

From the left, descendants of Samuel Taylor Coleridge at the launch of the extension: great, great, great, great-granddaughter Rosalind Thomas, great, great, great-grandson Richard Coleridge, great, great, great, great-grandson Rob Coleridge-Middleton, great, great, great-grandson Jerard Coleridge and great, great, great granddaughter Rosemary Coleridge-Middleton. PHOTO: Exmoor National Park Authority.

Andrea Davis said: “It’s great that this new extension to the Coleridge Way is happening in the 60th anniversary of Exmoor National Park.

“I’m sure the new route will be enjoyed by local people and visitors alike and hopefully it will provide the same economic benefits to the small villages along the way.

” The extension was funded by the Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund, the Lyn Community Development Trust, Lyn Valley Society, Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council and the Lynmouth Flood Memorial Hall Fund.

Cllr Davis also contributed, in her capacity as county councillor.

The 15-mile extension goes from Porlock to Lynmouth, following in the footsteps of the Romantic Poets.

It extends the current 36-mile route from Nether Stowey to Porlock.

Suzette Hibbert added: “Back in the 1790s, Coleridge and William Wordsworth loved to walk all the way from Nether Stowey to Lynmouth, but when the Coleridge Way was opened nine years ago, it stopped short at Porlock.

“We have all been working hard to extend the route and we are grateful to Exmoor National Park which provided the largest share of the finance as well as the skilled manpower needed to upgrade the paths.”

Ms Coleridge-Middleton expressed her delight at the opening. “Walking actually concentrates the mind, soothes the soul and helps sort out problems, my great, great, great-grandfather knew this.

“I’m very proud to say that it is indeed the Coleridge way of doing things,” she said.

For more information on the route, including downloadable route guides, visit www.coleridgeway.co.uk.