Description
Book SynopsisThe South West Coast Path National Trail (SWCP) measures a staggering 630 miles (1015km) from Minehead on the Somerset coast right round Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset. The guidebook divides the route into 45 stages of between 12.5 to 37.5km, beginning and ending where amenities are available.
Written by prolific outdoor writer Paddy Dillon, this guidebook is packed with lots of information for planning your walk, including clear step-by-step route descriptions and OS map extracts, public transport links, accommodation and facilities along the way. 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.
This epic route takes in Exmoor National Park, five AONBs and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, besides various nature reserves and SSSIs. No other stretch of coastline compares for scenic splendour, historical sites and availability of refreshments, accommodation and public transport, making it easy to split the South West Coast Path into week or weekend-long sections.
Table of ContentsRoute 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 Stage 44 (Alternative) 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
