The South West Coast Path is a spectacular 630-mile (1,008km) trail around the south-western end of Britain. Beginning at Minehead in Somerset it follows the coastline thru Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset. We have divided the trail into 10 sections to provide a variety of walking holidays varying in length from 3 nights to 4 weeks or more.
The 10 sections of the South West Coast Path are North Devon, Cornwall's Atlantic Coast - North, Cornwall's Atlantic Coast - South, Far West of Cornwall, South West Cornwall, South Cornwall, South Devon, Tor Bay and Babbacombe Bay, East Devon and Dorset.
Walking the South West Coast Path between Minehead and Westward Ho! Is incredibly diverse. It begins with the high ?hog's back ' cliffs, purple colored moors and attractive coastal oak woods of Exmoor. Around Combe Martin the coast softens to one of low cliffs, little coves and headlands. These are replaced in turn by sweeping sandy beaches and dunes and then by the beaches of the gorgeous Taw and Torridge Estuaries. The Valley of Rocks with its jagged sandstone pinnacles, the dramatic gorge of Heddon Mouth, Culbone Church, the tiniest complete parish church in England and the delightful towns of Bossington, Porlock and Lynmouth add to the interest of this superb walk.
The coastline between Westward Ho! And the small seaport of Padstow with its animated harbour is an impressive one of high cliffs, rough headlands and secluded small coves. The path crosses many notable viewpoints, including Gallantry Bower, Hartland Point and The Rumps; passes the tiny inlets of Crackington Haven and Port Quin; the tired small hamlet of Morwenstow; visits a number of pretty fishing hamlets including Clovelly, Boscastle, Portgaverne and Port Isaac; and explores Tintagel's dramatic trashed castle, the birthplace of King Arthur.
Between Padstow and St Ives the coast path passes lovely little sandy bays, rocky promontories, long beaches, dunes, cliffs and dramatic rock stacks like the Giants Stepping Stones of Bedruthan Steps. Little fishing harbours like Perranporth and Portreath, the sleepy town of Gwithian with its pretty thatched cottages, old tin-mining hamlets like St Agnes, with its neat patios of miners ' cottages, the forlorn ruins of old engine homes perched on the cliffs, Iron Age cliff castles, Bronze Age barrows and trashed chapels add to the charm of this beautiful walk.
The shore of the Land's End cape between St Ives and Penzance is among the most attractive in The UK, with rough granite cliffs dotted with the ruins of old tin mines. In spring and early summer the clifftops are carpeted with a stunning array of wild flowers. Inland, the moors glow purple and gold with heather and gorse in late summer and are scattered with quoits, standing stones, stone circles and other confusing remains. As well as the delightful port of St Ives, with its narrow winding streets and pretty harbor, the trail visits the pretty fishing hamlets of Mousehole, Lamorna and Sennen Cove; the tiny hamlets of Porthgwarra and St Leven, the open-air Minack Theatre, perched spectacularly on the cliffs above pretty Porthcurno Bay; the knackered mining town of St Just, and the old seaport of Penzance.
Beginning at Penzance, this stretch of the coast path round the lovely Lizard Cape to Falmouth, visits the beautiful island of St Michael's Mount, which is linked by a causeway to the mainland at low tide; the tranquil coves of Kynance and Gunwalloe, the smugglers ' hideaways of Prussia Cove and Coverack; and the pretty fishing towns of Porthleven, Mullion and Cadgwith, where whitewashed thatched cottages cluster round the tiny harbour. The rough cliffs of red-green serpentine round The Lizard offer a wonderful contrast to the tranquil woods, creeks and inlets of the Helford Brook so beloved by Daphne Du Maurier.
The stretch of the coast trail between Falmouth and Plymouth explores a rather more gentle shore of tranquil estuaries, wooded inlets, sandy coves and headlands giving fantastic views over bays sheltering some of the most beautiful hamlets in Cornwall, like Mevagissey, Portloe, Portscatho. And Polperro, where whitewashed cottages jostle for the best view of the harbour. The path also visits the historical ports of Plymouth, Falmouth and Fowey, the impressive coastal defences of Henry VIII and the stunning Georgian harbour of Charlestown with its square riggers.
South Devon's coastline is one of impressive contrasts. Wave-battered sandstone cliffs and rugged headlands that have claimed numerous shipwrecks, give way to relaxed wooded estuaries and inland to lush, rolling farmland with patchwork fields. Beginning at the historic naval port of Plymouth the path visits quaint Salcombe Harbor, the gorgeous old city of Dartmouth with its impressive sea defences, Burgh Island with its traditional smugglers hotel and a string of attractive coastal hamlets, before ending at the old fishing port of Brixham.
The short stretch of the South West Coast Path starts with a promenade thru the bustling resorts of Brixham, Paignton and Torquay lining Tor Bay; rounds the spectacular headland of Hope?s Nose with its cluster of offshore rock islands and seabird colonies; and then continues around gorgeous Babbacombe Bay to The Ness, a tall tree-lined cliff of sandstone at the mouth of the Brook Teign. After a short ferry journey to Teignmouth, the path continues thru Dawlish, a nice resort feted for the black swans that paddle around in the stream running thru the town, to the village of Starcross and the ferry to Exmouth.
East Devon's coastline is a colourful one, its red sandstone cliffs contrasting vividly with the lush green of the encircling countryside. As the trail winds east from Exmouth to the lovely old port of Lyme Regis, it visits a number of quaint towns and towns including Branscombe with its whitewashed cob and thatch cottages, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth and the old fishing town of Beer where decorative inshore trawlers are launched from the pebbly beach.
Dorset's coastline is renowned for its dramatic beauty and variety. Beginning at the old port of Lyme Regis the drama begins with the high cliffs of Golden Cap, which curtly give way to the pebble ridge of Chesil Beach and the peaceable shores of the Fleet Lagoon. Then, just as brusquely, high cliffs rear up with sea-sculpted coves, stacks and arches, before dropping down to the white wonderful beaches and dunes of Studland Heath and the tidal apartments and inlets of Poole harbor. Along the way the trail passes famous rock formations including Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks and Dancing Ledge; visits the fascinating old market town of Bridport and the quaint towns of Burton Bradstock, Lulworth, the deserted range town of Tyneham and Abbotsbury, with its medieval swannery.
The Dorset Coast Path goes thru the Lulworth Ranges. These are usually open around Easter, May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, the majority of the summer period and many weekends. Please touch base will us before booking to ensure they're open.
The 10 sections of the South West Coast Path are North Devon, Cornwall's Atlantic Coast - North, Cornwall's Atlantic Coast - South, Far West of Cornwall, South West Cornwall, South Cornwall, South Devon, Tor Bay and Babbacombe Bay, East Devon and Dorset.
Walking the South West Coast Path between Minehead and Westward Ho! Is incredibly diverse. It begins with the high ?hog's back ' cliffs, purple colored moors and attractive coastal oak woods of Exmoor. Around Combe Martin the coast softens to one of low cliffs, little coves and headlands. These are replaced in turn by sweeping sandy beaches and dunes and then by the beaches of the gorgeous Taw and Torridge Estuaries. The Valley of Rocks with its jagged sandstone pinnacles, the dramatic gorge of Heddon Mouth, Culbone Church, the tiniest complete parish church in England and the delightful towns of Bossington, Porlock and Lynmouth add to the interest of this superb walk.
The coastline between Westward Ho! And the small seaport of Padstow with its animated harbour is an impressive one of high cliffs, rough headlands and secluded small coves. The path crosses many notable viewpoints, including Gallantry Bower, Hartland Point and The Rumps; passes the tiny inlets of Crackington Haven and Port Quin; the tired small hamlet of Morwenstow; visits a number of pretty fishing hamlets including Clovelly, Boscastle, Portgaverne and Port Isaac; and explores Tintagel's dramatic trashed castle, the birthplace of King Arthur.
Between Padstow and St Ives the coast path passes lovely little sandy bays, rocky promontories, long beaches, dunes, cliffs and dramatic rock stacks like the Giants Stepping Stones of Bedruthan Steps. Little fishing harbours like Perranporth and Portreath, the sleepy town of Gwithian with its pretty thatched cottages, old tin-mining hamlets like St Agnes, with its neat patios of miners ' cottages, the forlorn ruins of old engine homes perched on the cliffs, Iron Age cliff castles, Bronze Age barrows and trashed chapels add to the charm of this beautiful walk.
The shore of the Land's End cape between St Ives and Penzance is among the most attractive in The UK, with rough granite cliffs dotted with the ruins of old tin mines. In spring and early summer the clifftops are carpeted with a stunning array of wild flowers. Inland, the moors glow purple and gold with heather and gorse in late summer and are scattered with quoits, standing stones, stone circles and other confusing remains. As well as the delightful port of St Ives, with its narrow winding streets and pretty harbor, the trail visits the pretty fishing hamlets of Mousehole, Lamorna and Sennen Cove; the tiny hamlets of Porthgwarra and St Leven, the open-air Minack Theatre, perched spectacularly on the cliffs above pretty Porthcurno Bay; the knackered mining town of St Just, and the old seaport of Penzance.
Beginning at Penzance, this stretch of the coast path round the lovely Lizard Cape to Falmouth, visits the beautiful island of St Michael's Mount, which is linked by a causeway to the mainland at low tide; the tranquil coves of Kynance and Gunwalloe, the smugglers ' hideaways of Prussia Cove and Coverack; and the pretty fishing towns of Porthleven, Mullion and Cadgwith, where whitewashed thatched cottages cluster round the tiny harbour. The rough cliffs of red-green serpentine round The Lizard offer a wonderful contrast to the tranquil woods, creeks and inlets of the Helford Brook so beloved by Daphne Du Maurier.
The stretch of the coast trail between Falmouth and Plymouth explores a rather more gentle shore of tranquil estuaries, wooded inlets, sandy coves and headlands giving fantastic views over bays sheltering some of the most beautiful hamlets in Cornwall, like Mevagissey, Portloe, Portscatho. And Polperro, where whitewashed cottages jostle for the best view of the harbour. The path also visits the historical ports of Plymouth, Falmouth and Fowey, the impressive coastal defences of Henry VIII and the stunning Georgian harbour of Charlestown with its square riggers.
South Devon's coastline is one of impressive contrasts. Wave-battered sandstone cliffs and rugged headlands that have claimed numerous shipwrecks, give way to relaxed wooded estuaries and inland to lush, rolling farmland with patchwork fields. Beginning at the historic naval port of Plymouth the path visits quaint Salcombe Harbor, the gorgeous old city of Dartmouth with its impressive sea defences, Burgh Island with its traditional smugglers hotel and a string of attractive coastal hamlets, before ending at the old fishing port of Brixham.
The short stretch of the South West Coast Path starts with a promenade thru the bustling resorts of Brixham, Paignton and Torquay lining Tor Bay; rounds the spectacular headland of Hope?s Nose with its cluster of offshore rock islands and seabird colonies; and then continues around gorgeous Babbacombe Bay to The Ness, a tall tree-lined cliff of sandstone at the mouth of the Brook Teign. After a short ferry journey to Teignmouth, the path continues thru Dawlish, a nice resort feted for the black swans that paddle around in the stream running thru the town, to the village of Starcross and the ferry to Exmouth.
East Devon's coastline is a colourful one, its red sandstone cliffs contrasting vividly with the lush green of the encircling countryside. As the trail winds east from Exmouth to the lovely old port of Lyme Regis, it visits a number of quaint towns and towns including Branscombe with its whitewashed cob and thatch cottages, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth and the old fishing town of Beer where decorative inshore trawlers are launched from the pebbly beach.
Dorset's coastline is renowned for its dramatic beauty and variety. Beginning at the old port of Lyme Regis the drama begins with the high cliffs of Golden Cap, which curtly give way to the pebble ridge of Chesil Beach and the peaceable shores of the Fleet Lagoon. Then, just as brusquely, high cliffs rear up with sea-sculpted coves, stacks and arches, before dropping down to the white wonderful beaches and dunes of Studland Heath and the tidal apartments and inlets of Poole harbor. Along the way the trail passes famous rock formations including Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks and Dancing Ledge; visits the fascinating old market town of Bridport and the quaint towns of Burton Bradstock, Lulworth, the deserted range town of Tyneham and Abbotsbury, with its medieval swannery.
The Dorset Coast Path goes thru the Lulworth Ranges. These are usually open around Easter, May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, the majority of the summer period and many weekends. Please touch base will us before booking to ensure they're open.
About the Author:
Contours Walking Holidays are the experts in self-guided walking vacations in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. Inside our website you will find a peerless range of walking holidays and short breaks along more than sixty trails in Britain ranging from famous routes like Hadrian's Wall Path, West Highland Way, Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk, Cotswold Way, Offa's Dyke Trail, Cumbria Way, Pembrokeshire Coast Path or the Dales Way to little-known gems like Northumberland's Coast of Castles, Isle of Anglesey Coast Path, Wild Edric's Way, Cotswolds Towns Trail or the 3 Castles Walk.Come and begin your journey!
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