Over the centuries fishermen, coastguards and smugglers have helped to create this historic path - now Britain's longest National Trail -stretching over 600 miles/960km. Ranging from easy to challenging, the path is comprehensively waymarked; the Devon element of the South West Coast Path runs for 90 miles/144km in the north and 115 miles/ 185km in the south, and boasts some of the most spectacular landscape, seascape, climate and vegetation to be found anywhere in the UK.
To the north, the beautiful bay of Combe Martin, Ilfracombe's picturesque harbour, the magnificent sweep of Saunton Sands and the dramatic cliff scenery around Hartland Point are all inspiring sights. To the south, the coast has many contrasts. From the city of Plymouth to the delightful estuaries of the South Hams, from the many dramatic headlands
to the red cliffs of East Devon, the South West Coast Path has something for everyone. Not only does it offer a challenge to the long distance walker, it also provides immense enjoyment for the many people who wish to spend a day or half day experiencing this stunning and really special part of Devon. The trail can be accessed by bus and/or train to allow for short lengths to be walked.
The South West Coast Path, which runs along the northern coast of Exmoor, is Britain's longest long-distance trail - it finishes at Poole Harbour in Dorset, 630 miles from its starting point in Minehead!
The South West Coast Path starts at Minehead in Somerset, finishing at Poole Harbour in Dorset, a total distance of 630 miles. A person walking the entire path will climb and descend three times the height of Everest -a true challenge to body and willpower! Research undertaken in 2003 indicates that the entire South West Coast Path generates around £300 million a year for the region's economy - enough to support more than 7,500 jobs.
South West Coast Path
South-West
Coast Path is one of the most famous walks in the UK
At 630 miles (1014 km) long, the South West Coast Path is Britain's
longest national trail, running from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in
Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one
of the more challenging.
The path has been a complete National Trail since 1978.
The South West Coast Path
The path includes the 95 mile (155km) long Dorset and East Devon Jurassic
Coast World Heritage Site, the Dorset Heritage Coast, the East Devon
Heritage Coast, the South Devon Heritage Coast, the Rame Head Heritage
Coast, the Gribbin Head - Polperro Heritage Coast, the Roseland Heritage
Coast, the Lizard Heritage Coast, the Penwith Heritage Coast, the Godreavy
- Portreath Heritage Coast, the Trevose Head Heritage Coast, the Pentire
Point - Widemouth Heritage Coast, the Hartland Heritage Coast, the North
Devon Heritage Coast, the Exmoor Heritage Coast and Exmoor National Park.
At present the South West Coastal Path runs from Poole in Dorset through
South Devon, around Cornwall, up
through North Devon and then
eastwards through to Minehead in
West Somerset. There are now
plans to extend the Coastal
Path through Watchet to link
with the River Parrett estuary
near Bridgwater.
This exciting project, managed by Somerset County Council, promises to open up another 30 miles of coastal path with yet more diverse landscape and environment, flora and fauna for the walker to enjoy.
Official
site
Coast Path Association Photo Tour |
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