Walkers are being warned to take care after part of a cliffside path in St Bees fell away due to a significant landslip.
The landslip has happened on the permissive footpath along the cliffs near St Bees Golf Course. The path is managed by the St Bees School Trust.
Trustee Tom Kelly said the trust was made aware of the landslip yesterday morning.
He added: “This landslip is larger than most we have seen but has happened at a very wide point in the path so there is still about four or five metres of solid land between the new edge of the cliff which is more than enough for walkers to safely navigate between the edge and the golf course.
“In the past when the path has been eroded and we have felt the public were at risk we have worked with the Golf Club and they have moved their boundary inland.
“This was done during 2020 at the Sea Mill lane end of the path and has allowed the path to remain open.
“We do not see any reason to move the golf course boundary because of this slippage and I discussed it with the groundsman yesterday.
“The risk is similar to other parts of the path towards Sea Mill Lane and walkers will very quickly and safely create a new path without the need to move boundaries. None of the path is laid, it is organic.
“We have a sign on the public footpath towards the main beach that points out that it is a permissive path and that walkers need to take care due to the cliff erosion and instability of the edge.
“Unfortunately a similar sign on Seamill Lane Beach has blown away and I am in the process of running a reprint.”
Tom added that new signs will be in place by the weekend.
The cliffs near St Bees Golf Course have a history of suffering from small landslips and Tom said trustees regularly walk the path and notify the trust when significant landslips occur.
