The South West Coast Path

Clifftop paths, working harbours, and a journey around the coast of South West England.

The South West Coast Path is a long-distance National Trail running from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Following the coastline of Exmoor, Devon, Cornwall, and the Jurassic Coast, the route links cliffs, beaches, estuaries, fishing villages, harbour towns, and some of Britain's most celebrated coastal landscapes through one continuous journey beside the sea.

As a self-guided journey, the route connects places such as Minehead, Ilfracombe, Padstow, St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Plymouth, Dartmouth, Weymouth, and Poole while passing through dramatic headlands, surf beaches, sheltered estuaries, and historic maritime communities. The constant rise and fall of the coastline creates a route defined by effort, distance, and an enduring connection to the sea.

With well-established paths, National Trail waymarking, and a wide range of places to stay throughout the route, the South West Coast Path offers one of Britain's most iconic long-distance walking journeys. The trail combines natural beauty, maritime heritage, and remarkable landscape diversity, revealing the changing character of South West England one headland at a time.

Overview

Distance 630 miles / 1,014 km

Duration 6–8 weeks

Difficulty Challenging

Start Minehead, Somerset

Finish Poole Harbour, Dorset

Terrain Clifftop paths, steep ascents and descents, coastal farmland, estuary crossings, beaches, and harbour towns

Waymarking National Trail acorn symbols throughout