A 33-mile section of the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail has been opened up to people with mobility difficulties, after every stile was removed.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority wardens worked throughout the winter to remove stiles altogether or replace them with gates where they are needed for livestock control.

The 33-mile stretch runs from Milford Haven to Druidston Haven in the National Park. There is also wheelchair access around the Dale and Marloes area.

Park ranger Haydn Garlick said: "The benefit of putting in gates is that it makes the path more accessible for people who have difficulty climbing over stiles. It means we are opening up the national trail to people who may have previously thought it was out of bounds for them."

The work was funded by the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and the Welsh Assembly Government and carried out by National Park Wardens Martin Davies and Mike Owens.

Martyn Ryder owns the Dale Castle Estate, which includes about 10 miles of the Coast Path from The Gann round to Marloes Sands. He is one of the landowners with whom the National Park Authority liaises to enable coast path access for all.

Martyn said: "It's vitally important for landowners to work with the National Park Authority - it's a win-win situation because it means the Coast Path and other footpaths are well maintained and give access not just to local people - but people from all over the world.

"The Pembrokeshire coast is unique, it's beautiful on any day of the year. The link path at Dale, which goes from Dale beach, through the village and on to West Dale beach, is regularly used by locals and holidaymakers. It's very popular and it's good that it's now easier for older or disabled people to use."

The National Park Authority has removed or replaced (with gates) more than 400 stiles on the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path since the early 1990s and is continuing to remove them wherever possible. There are 108 left to cross, and as well as the recent 33 mile section, the following stretches of the Coast Path are also stile-free: Amroth to Rowston Cliff - five miles; West Moor Cliff (one-mile East of Freshwater east) to Stack Rocks - 11.5 miles; Sheep Island to Bullwell Bay - seven miles; Newgale to Penberi - 23 miles; Aber-pwll (west of Abereiddi) to Porthgain - three miles; Aberfelin, Trefin to Penbwchdy - nine miles; Garn Llwyd to Hescwm - three miles; Newport and estuary - 3.5 miles.

The coast path is maintained by the National Park Authority with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and CCW.

For details of more than 200 walks in the National Park, including coast path and easy access routes, log onto http://www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/walking">www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/walking

For more information about the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail, visit http://www.nt.pcnpa.org.uk">www.nt.pcnpa.org.uk