The South West Coast Path: Map, Baggage Transfer and More!

The South West Coast Path is the longest footpath in Britain. It follows the entire coast of southwest England. It is an ancient walking route, which was once used by coastguards patrolling the coast, looking for smugglers coming into England from France. The route was also used by fishermen who kept an eye on the sea from land. From the South West Coast Path, they could see the fish that they wanted to catch. The route is maintained by the South West Coast Path Association. They keep the coastal path safe, accessible, and well signposted.

England's Longest Distance Walking Route is the South West Coast Path and runs from Minehead to South Haven Point. The route is 630 miles long, which is equal to 1014 kilometers. To give you a good idea of what to expect, we've divided the route into 8-week sections. Further on in the blog, we have explained the (in our opinion) most beautiful week of the South West Coast Path. If you have two months to spare, your itinerary would look something like this:

Week 1 - from Minehead to Westward Ho!

Yes, that exclamation mark is part of the name. In week one, you'll hike from Minehead to Westward Ho! in seven days, a 140-kilometer walk. This week, you'll pass through the rugged landscape of Exmoor National Park, as well as the surfing beach of Woolacombe.

Week 2 - from Westward Ho! to Padstow

In the second week, you'll hike from Westward Ho! to Padstow in seven days, a walk of 126 kilometers. This week is considered by many to be the toughest, but one of the most spectacular weeks of the walk. You will pass several cliffs and valleys.

Week 3 - from Padstow to St. Ives (Highlight!)

In your third week, you'll hike from Padstow to St. Ives in six days, a 107-kilometer walk. You'll walk westwards, passing rugged cliffs and surf beaches and valleys.

Week 4 - from St. Ives to The Lizard (Highlight!)

In week four, you'll hike from St. Ives to The Lizard in six days, a 112-kilometer hike. This week is considered by many to be the most spectacular week of the entire hike. During this week, you'll pass towering cliffs, valleys and subtropical beaches. This week is in more detail further on in this blog.

Week 5 - from The Lizard to Par

In week five, you walk in six days from The Lizard to Par, a hike of 116 kilometers. In this week you pass picturesque fishing villages and intimate coves.

Week 6 - from Par to Torcross

In week six, you'll hike from Par to Torcross in seven days, a hike of 152 kilometers. During this week, the estates stand out. You will also pass by softer landscapes and the historic port of Plymouth.

Week 7 - from Torcross to Seaton

In week seven, you'll hike from Torcross to Seaton in six days, a walk of 116 kilometers. This walk will take you mainly past farms and seaside towns.

Week 8 - from Seaton to South Haven Point

In the final week, you'll hike from Seaton to South Haven Point in seven days, a 148-kilometer walk. The route takes you past the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Week three and four of the above outline are the most spectacular walks and so they are highlighted further. The walk from week three runs from Padstow to St. Ives and is 66 miles, which is equal to 107 kilometers. The walk is divided into two options: Six and four days and you are taken past cliffs, valleys and beautiful beaches. An outline of this route you can find further below in this blog post.

The walk from week four runs from St. Ives to The Lizard and is 69 miles, which is equal to 112 kilometers. The walk is divided into six days and takes you past towering cliffs, rugged landscapes, subtropical beaches, granite boulders, and beautiful flora and fauna. Again, an outline of this route you can find further below in this blog post.

The South West Coast Path is best walked between March and October, but July and August are very busy with tourists. Southwest England has the mildest and sunniest climate in the United Kingdom, as a result of its oceanic setting and the influence of the Gulf Stream. Despite that, there can still be days when it rains a lot, after all, it still is England. Between March and October the maximum temperature is between 10 and 19 degrees, the minimum temperature between 4 and 13 degrees. In the months May, June and July the sun shines the most, and there is the least rainfall.

On the South West Coast Path, you can either spend the night in a cozy hotel or in a typical English B&B, where you will receive a warm welcome and a typical English breakfast. You can also choose to camp. Camping is only allowed on campsites and designated areas, so wild camping is not possible.

The South West Coast Path is a very popular trek and attracts thousands of tourists every year. Thanks to this popularity, there is always a possibility to have your luggage transported. Your suitcase will be picked up from your hotel each morning and it will be ready for you at your next hotel at the end of the day.

The South West Coast Path begins in Padstow or St. Ives and ends in Portreath, St. Ives or The Lizard. The path is traditionally walked counterclockwise, so you'll be less affected by the wind.

Starting point

To get to Padstow or St. Ives, you first have to travel to London, Bristol or Newquay, either by public transport or by plane. Once in one of these three cities, you can travel to Padstow or St. Ives by train or bus. The fastest and cheapest option is the train from Newquay, this trip takes just over 3 hours. From London, the journey takes 5 to 7 hours. You can also drive to Padstow or St. Ives by car and pick it up after the hike.

Ending point

The South West Coast Path ends in Portreath, St. Ives or The Lizard. The way back to Newquay is quite easy, there is a direct bus that takes over 3 hours. The train to London takes over 5 hours and the direct train to Bristol takes over 7 hours. In case you came by car, a bus trip from over 3 hours will bring you back to Padstow or St. Ives. There are also possibilities to take a taxi cab.