South West Coast Path

A classic long-distance coastal walk with constant climbs and descents, best tackled as a multi-week end-to-end or in shorter sections.

Time to Hike: Most end-to-enders take around 50-60 days for the full South West Coast Path from Minehead to Poole Harbour, usually with rest days.

Best Time to Go: Apr-Oct is the main season, with the most services open from late spring to early autumn. July and August are busiest on the popular Cornwall and Devon stretches.

Getting there: Start at Minehead in Somerset (typically via rail to Taunton then bus). Finish at Poole Harbour in Dorset, with frequent rail connections from Poole.

Costs: Budget depends heavily on whether you camp or use B&Bs and inns. Food, accommodation and transfers can add up quickly in the UK holiday season, so plan for higher costs in summer and in resort towns.

Difficulty: Moderate. The paths are generally clear, but the cumulative elevation from repeated cliff climbs makes it feel harder than the distance suggests, especially with a full pack.

The South West Coast Path follows the entire south west peninsula, tracing cliffs, coves, beaches, river mouths and working harbours from Somerset through Devon and Cornwall to Dorset. Underfoot you will find everything from rugged, rooty cliff tracks to easier promenade and estuary-side paths.

Highlights come thick and fast: the high, heathered coastline of Exmoor National Park, the wave-battered headlands of north Cornwall, the iconic end of the land at Land’s End, and long, gentler sections on the south coast with wide views over the English Channel. Many walkers remember it as much for its villages, bakeries and pubs as for the sea and geology.

Because it passes through dozens of settlements, you can hike it end-to-end or stitch together favourite stretches using public transport. It is also a route that rewards patience - slow days and short mileages often feel best on the steeper cliff sections.

• Section 1: Minehead to Lynmouth (western Exmoor National Park) Steep wooded combes and high coastal viewpoints set the tone early, with short sharp climbs and descents above the Bristol Channel.
• Section 2: Lynmouth to Bude (North Devon coast) Big cliffs, exposed headlands and frequent up-and-down walking dominate, passing near coastal villages and long sandy beaches as you approach the Cornwall border.
• Section 3: Bude to Padstow (North Cornwall bays and cliffs) A mix of dramatic cliff paths and broad beaches, with sections that can feel remote between towns and holiday centres.
• Section 4: Padstow to St Ives (Atlantic-facing Cornwall) More rugged coastal walking with constant sea views, threading past coves and headlands before reaching one of the best-served towns on the north coast.
• Section 5: St Ives to Land’s End (far west Cornwall) Classic Cornish scenery - rocky shores, surf beaches and mining heritage landscapes - building to the milestone feeling of reaching Land’s End.
• Section 6: Land’s End to Falmouth (south coast Cornwall) A contrasting coast with more shelter and more estuaries, plus frequent village stops and the option of short ferry crossings on some waterway sections.
• Section 7: Falmouth to Plymouth (south Cornwall to the Tamar) A longer-feeling stretch with river inlets and rolling coastal terrain, ending with the big-city services and transport options around Plymouth.
• Section 8: Plymouth to Salcombe (South Devon cliffs and estuaries) A mix of quiet cliff walking and deep estuary cuts that can add distance, with rewarding views across bays and headlands.
• Section 9: Salcombe to Exmouth (Torbay and the south Devon coast) More populated coast with easier access to supplies, plus varied terrain that alternates between short coastal climbs and flatter seafront stretches.
• Section 10: Exmouth to Poole Harbour (Dorset coast via Lyme Regis and Weymouth) The scenery shifts again as you enter Dorset, with classic coastline around Lyme Regis and busier seaside towns before the finish at Poole Harbour.

Apr-Oct is the most practical window, when daylight is long and most coastal services, buses and accommodation are operating at full capacity. Late spring and early autumn often give the best balance of settled weather and quieter paths.

Expect changeable maritime conditions at any time: strong winds, heavy rain and slippery mud on cliff paths can slow progress, and heat can still be an issue on exposed sections in mid-summer. In July and August, book ahead and be prepared for crowded resort towns.

Most walkers start in Minehead, which is usually reached by train to Taunton and then bus onward to the coast. Allow extra time on travel days, as connections can be slower outside peak periods.

From the finish around Poole Harbour, rail services from Poole make it straightforward to return towards London and other major cities. Many people walk west to east from Minehead to Poole Harbour, but the path works well in either direction - choose based on transport convenience and accommodation availability.

No permit is required to walk the South West Coast Path. You can start and finish wherever you like, and there is no official registration for end-to-end walkers.

Budget for any optional extras such as baggage transfer services, ferries on estuaries where you choose to cross by boat, and paid attractions you might visit on rest afternoons.

Accommodation is frequent, with plenty of B&Bs, inns, small hotels and holiday rentals in larger towns such as St Ives, Falmouth, Plymouth and Weymouth. In smaller villages, choice can be limited, so it is wise to plan stages around where beds actually exist.

Camping is also a realistic strategy in much of the south west, using campsites rather than relying on wild camping, which is not generally permitted in many coastal areas and can be hard to do discreetly. In peak summer, booking ahead is strongly recommended whether you camp or stay indoors, especially in Cornwall and in school holiday weeks.