The South West Coast Path

Guidebook to walking the entire South West Coast Path National Trail. The route runs for 630 miles from Minehead to Poole along the north Devon, Cornish, south Devon and Dorset coastline. Divided into 45 stages, this long-distance coastal trek could be completed within 4 weeks, or walked in sections. Guide includes maps and essential information.

The South West Coast Path National Trail (SWCP) measures a staggering 630 miles (1015km) from Minehead on the Somerset coast right round Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset. The guidebook divides the route into 45 stages of between 12.5- 37.5km beginning and ending where amenities are available. No other stretch of coastline compares for scenic splendour, historical sites and availability of refreshments, accommodation and public transport, making it easy to split the South West Coast Path into week or weekend-long sections.
Written by prolific outdoor writer Paddy Dillon, this guidebook is packed with lots of information for planning your walk, including clear step-by-step route descriptions and OS map extracts, public transport links, accommodation and facilities along the way. Also described is the 17-mile South Dorset Ridgeway, from West Bexington to Osmington Mills, which can be used as a scenic way to shave 42 miles off the total distance.

This epic route takes in Exmoor National Park, five Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, besides various nature reserves and SSSIs.

Introduction

Coastal Walking through History

A Protected Coastline

Travel to the South West

Travel around the South West

Time and Tide

Accommodation

Luggage Transfer

Food and Drink

Money

Tourist Information Centres

Rescue Services

When to Walk

One Man and his Dog

Daily Schedule

Maps of the Route

Looking after the Coast Path

Safety on the Coast Path

The South West Coast Path

Day 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir

Day 2: Porlock Weir to Lynmouth

Day 3: Lynmouth to Combe Martin

Day 4: Combe Martin to Woolacombe

Day 5: Woolacombe to Braunton

Day 6: Braunton to Westward Ho!

Day 7: Westward Ho! to Clovelly

Day 8: Clovelly to Hartland Quay

Day 9: Hartland Quay to Bude

Day 10: Bude to Boscastle

Day 11: Boscastle to Port Isaac

Day 12: Port Isaac to Padstow

Day 13: Padstow to Porthcothan

Day 14: Porthcothan to Newquay

Day 15: Newquay to Perranporth

Day 16: Perranporth to Portreath

Day 17: Portreath to St Ives

Day 18: St Ives to Pendeen Watch

Day 19: Pendeen Watch to Porthcurno

Day 20: Porthcurno to Penzance

Day 21: Penzance to Porthleven

Day 22: Porthleven to The Lizard

Day 23: The Lizard to Porthallow

Day 24: Porthallow to Falmouth

Day 25: Falmouth to Portloe

Day 26: Portloe to Mevagissey

Day 27: Mevagissey to Polmear

Day 28: Polmear to Polperro

Day 29: Polperro to Portwrinkle

Day 30: Portwrinkle to Plymouth

Day 31: Plymouth to Wembury Beach

Day 32: Wembury Beach to Bigbury-on-Sea

Day 33: Bigbury-on-Sea to Salcombe

Day 34: Salcombe to Stoke Fleming

Day 35: Stoke Fleming to Brixham

Day 36: Brixham to Shaldon

Day 37: Shaldon to Budleigh Salterton

Day 38: Budleigh Salterton to Seaton

Day 39: Seaton to Seatown

Day 40: Seatown to Abbotsbury

Day 41: Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge

Day 42: Isle of Portland Circuit

Day 43: Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove

Day 44: Lulworth Cove to Swanage

Alt Day 44: Lulworth Cove to Gaulter Gap

Day 45: Swanage to South Haven Point

South Dorset Ridgeway: West Bexington to Osmington Mills

Appendices


Appendix 1 Route Summary