South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path is simply enormous. At 1,014 km with more cumulative ascent than climbing Everest three times over, it is the longest footpath in the UK and one of the great coastal routes in Europe. It follows the cliff tops, coves and fishing villages of four counties from Minehead in Somerset clockwise around the peninsula to Poole Harbour in Dorset.

The path originated as a coastguard inspection route — the cliffs were patrolled on foot, hence the relentless ups and downs that make the route so demanding. Every headland means a descent to a stream crossing and a climb back up the other side. On the most rugged sections of the north Cornish coast, this happens dozens of times a day.

For trail runners the South West Coast Path is a serious multi-week undertaking, typically covered in ten to twenty-five days depending on pace. The terrain ranges from easy cliff-top tracks to rocky scrambles, steep stepped descents, and beach crossings that disappear at high tide. Several ultra races follow sections of the path, including the Arc of Attrition (100 miles of west Cornwall in winter).

The scenery is extraordinary throughout. The north Devon coast, the Lizard Peninsula, the Penwith headlands and the Jurassic Coast in Dorset each have a distinct character. The route passes through dozens of fishing villages and market towns, and accommodation is plentiful for most of the year.

Running south to north and then east, the route divides naturally into sections:

Somerset and north Devon (Minehead to Hartland Point, ~150 km): The Exmoor coast is the most rugged section in the whole path — Countisbury, Foreland Point, Lynmouth Gorge. Very steep valleys, limited facilities. After Bideford the terrain eases somewhat.

North Cornwall (Hartland to Land's End, ~250 km): The defining section of the path. Dramatic cliff scenery, relentless ascent and descent, no roads visible from the clifftops for miles at a time. Boscastle, Tintagel, Bedruthan Steps, Newquay, St Agnes, St Ives. Land's End is the emotional halfway point.

South Cornwall (Land's End to Plymouth, ~200 km): Softer landscape, warmer. Porthcurno, Mousehole, the Lizard, Falmouth, Fowey, Looe. More beaches, easier terrain.

South Devon and Dorset (Plymouth to Poole, ~200 km): The South Hams, Dartmouth, Torbay, Lyme Regis, the Jurassic Coast, Durdle Door, the Purbeck Hills to Poole Harbour. Stunning finish section.

Start: Minehead, Somerset. Bus and rail connections via Taunton (bus, 55 min) or the West Somerset Railway (heritage, seasonal). Car parking in Minehead.

Finish: Poole Harbour, Dorset. Poole has good rail connections to London, Bristol and the south. Sandbanks Ferry (seasonal) shortens the final approach for those finishing at South Haven Point.

Accommodation is plentiful throughout, from campsites to B&Bs and hotels. The South West Coast Path Association publishes an annual accommodation guide. Booking ahead is essential in July and August, especially in north Cornwall.

Key resupply towns: Ilfracombe, Bude, Padstow, Newquay, St Ives, Helston, Falmouth, Fowey, Plymouth, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Swanage.

Best time: April to June or September to October — avoid the August peak season and the worst winter conditions.