The wooden fingerpost at the start of the 629.75-mile South West Coast Path in Minehead has been replaced and will be auctioned online to raise money for Exmoor National Park’s Rights of Way work. The minimum bid is £300, and bidding closes at 23:59 GMT on 26 October.
The path ends at Poole Harbour in Dorset and welcomes nine million walkers a year; the Minehead post had marked its start for decades. Graham Eaves, 72, who is on his ninth traversal, said he plans to bid for the sign to add to his path memorabilia collection.
Clare Weeks of Exmoor National Park said fingerposts help walkers, riders and cyclists find their way around the park, and described this one as closely connected to the path’s start and history. The silent online auction means bidders will not know who has bid the most.
