South West Coast Path

The longest of England’s National Trails, the multi award-winning South West Coast Path offers 630 miles (1,014 km) of stunning coastal walking around the entire South West peninsula.Starting at Minehead in Somerset it runs along the coastline of Exmoor, continuing along the coast of North Devon into Cornwall. It follows the entire coastline of Cornwall, goes across the mouth of the River Tamar and continues into Devon. After running along the south coast of Devon it then follows the Dorset coastline before finally ending at Poole Harbour.With dramatic coastal scenery and breath-taking views of surrounding countryside and moorland, the Path offers something for everyone – whether you’re an experienced trekker looking for a huge challenge, a relaxed rambler wanting scenic strolls, a young backpacker embarking on an adventure or a family keen to explore the great outdoors.Designated a National Trail in 1978, the South West Coast Path is a world-class destination and the South West Coast Path Association, a registered charity, helps care for the Path and support the interests of its users.The South West Coast Path offers the ultimate challenge for the long-distance walker and the route has over 115,000 feet of ascent and descent – the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest four times! But you don’t have to walk it all at once and the various segments are enjoyed by millions of visitors each year.The Path is usually walked in an anti-clockwise direction, from Minehead to Poole, but it is well signed in both directions.Depending on when you visit, each season will bring something different: in spring you’ll seem lambs in the fields; in late summer, the north coast blooms with heather and gorse; autumn is a prime time to see migrating birds; and in winter, there’s nothing like watching stormy waves pound the cliffs.Source: nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/south-west-coast-path