Photo: Tommytrouble at English Wikipedia (Public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
Walking the South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest and best-loved National Trail: 630 miles around the entire south-west peninsula, from Minehead in Somerset to the mouth of Poole Harbour in Dorset. Almost nobody walks it in one go — the joy is in sections, a week of cliffs and pasties at a time.
The bases below are natural section starts and ends, each with places to stay nearby — because the great luxury of coast-path walking is a proper bed, a hot shower and fish and chips at the end of every day.
The route
South West Coast Path
🥾 Before you set out
Trail conditions, diversions and closures change — check the official trail site before you travel, carry a paper map for the remote sections, and book baggage transfer with your beds if you'd rather walk light.
Stage by stage
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1
Minehead
The official start — the sculpture marks the spot, Exmoor's hog's-back cliffs come immediately.
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2
Lynmouth
Twin villages joined by a water-powered cliff railway; the Valley of Rocks is just beyond.
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3
Woolacombe
Three miles of surf sand — the walking here is as easy as the swimming is good.
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4
Bude
Into Cornwall over the wildest cliffs of the north coast.
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5
Padstow
Harbour town refuel — the ferry to Rock keeps the path moving.
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6
St Ives
Art, light and the start of the granite far west — many call this the best section of all.
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7
Penzance
Round Land's End and the Minack's open-air theatre to the last town in England.
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8
Falmouth
The soft south coast begins: creeks, ferries and subtropical gardens.
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9
Mevagissey
Working harbour among the fishing villages of Roseland country.
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10
Looe
Classic Cornish seaside before the path slips into Devon.
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11
Salcombe
Estuary crossings and the balmy South Hams.
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12
Torquay
The English Riviera — palm trees, red cliffs, easy miles.
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13
Lyme Regis
Onto the Jurassic Coast: fossils underfoot, the Cobb curling into the sea.
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14
South Haven Point
The finish across from Sandbanks — 630 miles done, ice cream earned.
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Community notes
Tips, conditions, and the things only someone who's been can tell you.
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Good to know
- How long does the South West Coast Path take?
- Around 6–8 weeks (or a section at a time) for the full 630 miles — the stages on this page break it into real walking days, and every one works as a section walk too.
- Should I book accommodation ahead?
- Yes — beds along the popular trails go months ahead for summer. Each stage lists places to stay nearby so you can book the whole walk before you lace up.
- Can I get my bags carried?
- Baggage-transfer services operate on all the major trails, moving your bag between overnight stops so you walk with a daysack. Book it alongside your beds.
- Do I book through this site?
- No — every listing links straight to the holiday operator and you book with them at their live price. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.