You rightly recognise the legacy of Rhodri Morgan, former first minister of Wales (Obituary, 19 May). But another of his significant achievements was the pioneering Wales Coast Path. Rhodri, with his caravan on the Ceredigion coast and his love of walking, appreciated the magnificence of the Welsh coast and the opportunities it provides for walkers. The idea of a path around Wales was first discussed by Rhodri and his then environment minister Jane Davidson in Rhodri’s kitchen in 2007. It was championed by Rhodri, who had such confidence in the project and what it would mean for Wales that he funded it even through the recession. A year after the path opened in 2012 that confidence was justified in economic terms alone – the £32m it brought to the Welsh economy in the first year far exceeded the cost of its construction. Rhodri, a giant, gave us the 870-mile Wales Coast Path – a giant and truly splendid legacy.
Des Garrahan Chair, Ramblers
Kate Ashbrook General secretary, Open Spaces Society
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