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Walking the South West Coast Path

National Trail From Minehead to South Haven Point

ISBN

9781786310682

Availability

Published

13 May 2021

Reprinted

10 Feb 2025

Edition

Third

Pages

352

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.90cm

Weight

410g

Delivery & Returns

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Guidebook to walking the entire South West Coast Path National Trail. The route stretches 630 miles from Minehead to Poole along the north Devon, Cornish, south Devon and Dorset coastline. Divided into 45 stages, this national trail could be completed within 4 weeks, or walked in sections. Guide includes maps and essential information.

Seasons

Summer is when everything is running, but it is also very busy. Spring can be good, as can Autumn. Winter is best avoided as many facilities are closed and the weather can be bad.

Centres

Minehead, Ilfracombe, Bideford, Bude, Padstow, Newquay, St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, St Austell, Plymouth, Torquay, Exmouth, Lyme Regis, Weymouth, Swanage, Poole

Difficulty

Some stretches are very easy and other stretches include several steep ascents and descents. Most people would enjoy a day's walk almost anywhere on the path in good weather, but it can be exposed in stormy weather. Long-distance walkers should bear in mind that this is a very long trail. Normal day walking kit is fine, but for extended periods on the trail take a change of clothes. Backpackers will of course take everything they need, but should be aware that food and drink are available at regular intervals, so there is no need to carry too many supplies.

Must See

Exmoor National Park, abundant AONBs, long stretches of Heritage Coast, fishing, smuggling and tin mining heritage, Land's End, Lizard Point, Plymouth's naval history, Jurassic Coast, Lulworth Cove

ISBN

9781786310682

Availability

Published

13 May 2021

Reprinted

10 Feb 2025

Edition

Third

Pages

352

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.90cm

Weight

410g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to walking the South West Coast Path, a long-distance National Trail from Minehead to Poole, along the north Devon, Cornish, south Devon and Dorset coastline. Covering 1015km (630 miles), this epic route takes in Exmoor National Park and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and takes around 4 weeks to walk.

The route is described in 45 stages between 13 and 38km (8–24 miles) in length. Also described is the 17-mile South Dorset Ridgeway, from West Bexington to Osmington Mills, which can be used as a scenic way to shave 42 miles off the total distance.

1:50,000 OS maps for each stage
GPX files available to download
Detailed information about accommodation, refreshments and facilities along the route
Advice on planning and preparation

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

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

Alternative Stage 44 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

Updates

November 2023

Path closures

Stage 23 - Lizard Point to Porthallow

The coast path has been closed at Dean Quarries and a diversion leads inland, reconnecting with the coast path at Rosenithion.

Stage 40 - Seatown to Abbotsbury

The coast path has been closed near West Bay due to recent cliff falls and a diversion has been marked a short way inland.

Stage 42 - Isle of Portland Circuit

Continuing erosion on West Cliff has resulted in another short stretch of the coast path being closed and rerouted through nearby quarries.

Full details and maps are available on the South West Coast Path Association website

www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/walk-coast-path/south-west-coast-path-national-trail/route-changes/

January 2023

Page 171 - St Anthony-in-Meneage

Please note that there is no longer a ferry operating across Gillan Creek. At low water, stepping stones are available, but note that these are slippery, so gather handfuls of sand to scatter on top of them for better grip. At high water, there is no option but to walk all the way round, which is 2.5km (1½ miles) and takes an hour. The ferry contact details also appear on page 321 and should be disregarded.

December 2022

Pages 267 & 269 - Lyme Regis to Charmouth

A short stretch of the South West Coast Path between Lyme Regis and Charmouth has been realigned and improved, removing the need for walkers to follow a stretch of the busy A3052 road. The map extract shows the extent of the new route, which measures less than 1.5km (1 mile).

Follow the route in the guidebook and cross the Lyme Regis Golf Course as described. Enter the 'mature mixed woodland' beyond, then turn right as indicated by a new signpost for Charmouth. The new path is clear and obvious as it runs through the wood, passing yet another statue of Mary Anning. There is a tall fence alongside as the path runs beside another part of the golf course.

Continue alongside fields, then maybe make a short detour to the right when a notice indicates 'viewpoints'. From here, you can overlook The Spittles, where landslips are a regular occurrence. Return to the path, which reaches a gate, then a track and road drop steeply, directly to Charmouth. Turn right at the bottom to follow Higher Sea Lane, continuing with the route description in the guidebook to reach the shore.

September 2022

Page 170 map and page 171 description

The course of the SWCP has been improved slightly on the southern side of Gillan Creek.

If the tide is out and Gillan Creek is forded, or if a ferry is used between Gillan and St Anthony-in-Meneage, then the new route isn't used.

If the Coast Path is being followed inland from Gillan to Carne, then it no longer climbs through fields to reach a road running to Carne. Instead, follow the newly signposted route through fields to Tregithey, then follow a path beside Gillan Creek to reach the road at Carne.

Downloads

Walking the South West Coast Path - GPX File

By Paddy Dillon

Paddy Dillon is a prolific walker and guidebook writer, with over 100 guidebooks to his name and contributions to 40 other titles. He has written for several outdoor magazines and other publications and has appeared on radio and television.Paddy uses a tablet computer to write as he walks. His descriptions are therefore precise, having been written at the very point at which the reader uses them.Paddy is an indefatigable long-distance walker who has walked all of Britain's National Trails and several European trails. He has also walked in Nepal, Tibet, Korea and the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the US.

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