MARK South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is the longest national trail in the UK — a 1,014 km journey around the entire southwest peninsula, from Minehead to Poole. It's a spectacular coastal route: cliffs, coves, beaches, fishing villages, headlands, and endless sea views.
The full trail guide — stats, the four-section structure walkers actually use, highlights, and the planning detail you need for an endurance route of this scale.
At a Glance
- Best Season: April–October
- Terrain: Coastal cliffs, beaches, headlands, rolling countryside
The Route
🏔️ Route Character
The South West Coast Path is too long for a day-by-day breakdown in a single page, so this guide uses the four-section structure that walkers actually use: North Devon & Exmoor, North Cornwall, South Cornwall & South Devon, and the Dorset Jurassic Coast.
The terrain is tougher than the stats suggest — constant ascents and descents make this a serious endurance challenge, but also one of the most rewarding long-distance walks in Britain.
🧰 Route Breakdown
- Section 1 — North Devon & Exmoor (Minehead → Hartland Quay) — Steep Exmoor cliffs, wooded valleys and rugged headlands. Key stops: Minehead, Porlock, Lynton & Lynmouth, Ilfracombe, Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton, Westward Ho!, Hartland Quay. Highlights: Valley of Rocks, Heddon's Mouth, Baggy Point, Hartland cliffs.
- Section 2 — North Cornwall (Hartland Quay → St Ives) — Wild Atlantic cliffs, long remote sections and iconic beaches. Key stops: Bude, Boscastle, Tintagel, Port Isaac, Padstow, Newquay, Perranporth, St Agnes, St Ives. Highlights: Tintagel Castle, Bedruthan Steps, St Ives Bay.
- Section 3 — South Cornwall & South Devon (St Ives → Exmouth) — Gentler gradients, sheltered coves and tidal estuaries. Key stops: Penzance, Mousehole, Land's End, Porthcurno, Lizard Point, Falmouth, Mevagissey, Polperro, Looe, Plymouth, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Torquay, Exmouth. Highlights: Land's End, Minack Theatre, Lizard Point, Salcombe estuary, Start Point.
- Section 4 — Dorset Jurassic Coast (Exmouth → Poole) — Chalk cliffs, fossil beaches and iconic rock formations. Key stops: Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, West Bay, Chesil Beach, Portland, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Swanage, Poole. Highlights: Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Golden Cap, Chesil Beach, Old Harry Rocks.
Practical
⚠️ Difficulty & Hazards
- Navigation: Well-waymarked; still carry a map and GPX.
- Terrain: Steep coastal climbs, long cliff sections, beaches and estuary detours.
- Fitness: An endurance trail — long days and constant elevation changes; plan rest days.
- Weather: Coastal weather changes quickly — strong winds, sea fog and heavy rain; check Met Office coastal forecasts.
- Accommodation: Frequent campsites, hostels and B&Bs — book ahead in summer.
🌠️ Who This Route Suits
- Endurance walkers
- People wanting a multi-week coastal journey
- Those building towards completing the UK's longest trail
Not ideal for
- Walkers wanting short, gentle days — the constant up-and-down is relentless
📱 Parking & Logistics
- Getting there: Start at Minehead, reached by bus from Taunton.
- Finish: Poole has mainline rail and ferry links.
- Resupply: Coastal towns and villages throughout — easy to plan stages.
🧰 GPX & Map Notes
On OS Landranger maps 1–10, 15–21 and 40–45 — the trail spans many sheets. A GPX helps with stage planning.
⭐ MX Summary: The UK's longest national trail — 1,014 km of cliffs, coves, beaches, headlands and historic coastal towns. A multi-week endurance journey with unmatched scenery.