Walking the South West Coast Path: National Trail From Minehead to South Haven Point

About the Book

Experience the beauty of Britain’s longest National Trail, the South West Coast Path, a 1022km (635-mile) route from Minehead to South Haven Point, offering unmatched coastal scenery. Stretching across Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, including the Exmoor National Park and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, this epic long-distance walking trail can be completed in roughly four weeks or tackled in sections.

This guidebook transforms planning into a straightforward process, with 45 clearly defined stages between 12 and 38km (7.5–24 miles) and expert guidance on every aspect of the route. An optional diversion onto the 17-mile South Dorset Ridgeway from West Bexington to Osmington Mills provides a scenic shortcut, shaving 42 miles off the full distance for those short on time.

• For every stage, the guidebook provides detailed route descriptions, 1:50,000 OS mapping and elevation profiles so you're aware of what the coastal path has in store next
• Practical essentials are woven throughout, with comprehensive accommodation listings covering B&Bs, campsites, and hostels in towns and villages along the route, like St Ives, Falmouth, Plymouth, and Lyme Regis
• Public transport options are clearly presented to allow you to break each stage into manageable chunks, ideal for section hikers to plan their journey
• You'll find expert advice on baggage transfer services, when to go (spring and autumn are ideal) and what to pack, as well as considerations specific to coastal walking, such as tide awareness and rescue services
• Downloadable GPX files offer a digital alternative for navigating along the coast, suitable for use on your smartphone or GPS devices

Whether you are walking the entire path or exploring it in sections, this guidebook offers all the tools you need to plan your walking holiday with confidence. Immerse yourself in the freedom and beauty of England’s southwest coast, where every stage brings breathtaking views, historic sites, and unforgettable walking experiences.

Three separate OS map booklets covering Minehead-St Ives, St Ives-Plymouth and Plymouth-Poole are also available to purchase, creating the ultimate navigation package for this world-class coastal trail.

Table of Contents:
Route summary table INTRODUCTION Planning your trip Itineraries When to go Travel to the South West Travel around the South West Accommodation en route Facilities en route Baggage transfer services One man and his dog What to take Planning day by day Using this guide Maps and GPS Time and tide Waymarking and paths Rescue services Safety on the Coast Path All about the region Geography Geology Plants and wildlife Culture Coastal walking through history A protected coastline THE SOUTH WEST COAST PATH Stage 1 Minehead to Porlock Weir Stage 2 Porlock Weir to Lynmouth Stage 3 Lynmouth to Combe Martin Stage 4 Combe Martin to Woolacombe Stage 5 Woolacombe to Braunton Stage 6 Braunton to Westward Ho! Stage 7 Westward Ho! to Clovelly Stage 8 Clovelly to Hartland Quay Stage 9 Hartland Quay to Bude Stage 10 Bude to Boscastle Stage 11 Boscastle to Port Isaac Stage 12 Port Isaac to Padstow Stage 13 Padstow to Porthcothan Stage 14 Porthcothan to Newquay Stage 15 Newquay to Perranporth Stage 16 Perranporth to Portreath Stage 17 Portreath to St Ives Stage 18 St Ives to Pendeen Watch Stage 19 Pendeen Watch to Porthcurno Stage 20 Porthcurno to Penzance Stage 21 Penzance to Porthleven Stage 22 Porthleven to Lizard Point Stage 23 Lizard Point to Porthallow Stage 24 Porthallow to Falmouth Stage 25 Falmouth to Portloe Stage 26 Portloe to Mevagissey Stage 27 Mevagissey to Polmear Stage 28 Polmear to Polperro Stage 29 Polperro to Portwrinkle Stage 30 Portwrinkle to Plymouth Stage 31 Plymouth to Wembury Beach Stage 32 Wembury Beach to Bigbury-on-Sea Stage 33 Bigbury-on-Sea to Salcombe Stage 34 Salcombe to Stoke Fleming Stage 35 Stoke Fleming to Brixham Stage 36 Brixham to Shaldon Stage 37 Shaldon to Budleigh Salterton Stage 38 Budleigh Salterton to Seaton Stage 39 Seaton to Seatown Stage 40 Seatown to Abbotsbury Stage 41 Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge Stage 42 Isle of Portland circuit Stage 43 Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove Stage 44 Lulworth Cove to Swanage Stage 44 (Alternative) Lulworth Cove to Gaulter Gap Stage 45 Swanage to South Haven Point SOUTH DORSET RIDGEWAY West Bexington to Osmington Mills Appendix A Useful contacts Appendix B Facilities along the route Appendix C Topographical glossary

About the Author :
Paddy Dillon is a prolific outdoor writer with over 90 guidebooks to his name, and contributions to 40 other publications. He has written for a variety of outdoor magazines, as well as for tourism organisations. Paddy lives near the Lake District and has walked in every county in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, writing about walks in every one of them.