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Walking the South West Coast Path

National Trail From Minehead to South Haven Point

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
Published
13 May 2021
Reprinted
24 Oct 2023
Edition
Third
Pages
352
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x 1.90cm
Weight
400g
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
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Paddy Dillon Cicerone author DILLON

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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