Pembrokeshire has been playing host this week to the annual UK National Trail Forum, showcasing the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail in its 40th anniversary year.

Officers from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority welcomed over 20 National Trail colleagues from across the UK as part of the three-day event designed to share best practice and expertise.

As well as the formal meetings, the group had the opportunity to take in the best that the Coast Path has to offer, walking a 10-mile stretch between Freshwater East and Tenby.

Speaking of the event, the Park Authority's National Trail officer Dave Maclachlan said: "It's been great to have the chance to host this year's Forum and even better to welcome everyone in the year we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Coast Path. The trail officers were very impressed by welcome offered by Tenby's Fourcroft Hotel and the community of Tenby.

"We've had the opportunity to share experiences and advice on managing National Trails and hope that the lessons learned will be put into practice.

"Those visiting also enjoyed seeing first-hand the variety the path offers, which makes it so special and so beneficial in terms of economic value to the county: It's suggested that the Coast Path generates £14million of spending in the area every year.

"We were also able to highlight our access work on the path. The Park Authority works hard to ensure that the path is accessible for everyone, with a number of stretches now stile-free, including 42 miles between Pembroke Dock and Nolton Haven and 23 miles from Newgale to Penberi. In fact, we've removed over 400 stiles from the path in the past 15 years."

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path was the first of three National Trails to be designated in Wales and was opened in May 1970. It's 186 miles (299 km) long and stretches from Amroth in the south of the National Park to St. Dogmaels in the north.

In its entirety, the trail represents a formidable physical challenge - its 35,000 feet of ascent and descent is said to be equivalent to climbing Everest. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail is funded by Countryside Council for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.