Clifftops, moorland valleys, and the first miles of England’s longest coastal route
This opening section of the South West Coast Path is a long-distance self-guided travel route linking walking routes, landscapes, and places between Minehead in Somerset and Combe Martin in North Devon. Beginning at the edge of Exmoor National Park, the trail follows high cliffs, wooded valleys, and open moorland headlands, marking the rugged start of England’s longest National Trail.
Walking here is defined by steep ascent and descent. The path climbs quickly out of Minehead into Exmoor’s wooded slopes before rising onto exposed clifftops where the coastline folds into deep combes and narrow inlets. Progress is steady but demanding, with each headland bringing another descent to sea level followed by another climb back to the skyline.
The landscape feels both wild and spacious. Heather-covered moorland meets the sea, red sandstone cliffs drop sharply to the water, and long views stretch across the Bristol Channel toward Wales. Sections through woodland and river valleys provide brief shelter before the trail returns to open ground.
Small settlements appear at intervals along the coast. Porlock, Lynmouth, Lynton, and Combe Martin offer natural pauses between stretches of remote walking, their harbours and steep streets reflecting a long connection to fishing and coastal life.
The appeal of this section lies in its rawness and elevation — a dramatic introduction to the wider South West Coast Path, where land and sea meet abruptly and the journey begins with effort and exposure.
Trail Overview
Distance
Approx. 50 miles / 80 km
Typical time on foot
4–6 days
Start
Minehead, Somerset
Finish
Combe Martin, Devon
Terrain
Steep clifftop paths, moorland ridges, wooded valleys, coastal descents, and small harbour towns
Waymarking
National Trail acorn symbols throughout
