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Hiking the South West Coast Path: Tips and the Most Beautiful Section
The South West Coast Path is one of England’s national trails. It is the longest signposted hiking trail in England. The total length is 1,014 kilometers along the entire southwest coast of England. The route is divided into 8 stages. If you want to hike the entire trail, it will take you about 7 to 8 weeks. Read here to find out which sections are best to hike, the most scenic part of the route, where to stay overnight, and how to plan your trip.
Where does the South West Coast Path begin?
The “Salt Trail” begins in the town of Minehead in Somerset on the southwest coast and runs entirely along the south coast to Poole Harbor in Dorset on the southeast coast. But of course, you can decide for yourself where you want to start and end your walk.
Of course, you can also complete the entire hike in several separate trips. For some reason, all the routes are described as going counterclockwise (starting in Minehead), but you can, of course, hike it in the opposite direction as well.
The most beautiful section of the South West Coast Path
The southwest coast, with the rugged cliffs of Cornwall, is certainly one of the most beautiful sections of the hiking trail.
The Jurassic Coast is also a beautiful part of the trip.
The section of the South West Coast Path from Porlock to Combe Martin in Exmoor National Park—also known as the “Wilderness Coast” because of its natural surroundings—is one of the most beautiful parts of the South West Coast Path. The coastal cliffs are stunning, and it is also a Dark Sky Reserve —one of the darkest spots at night—ideal for stargazing on a clear night.
On the map, we describe this section from the starting point in Minehead to Westward Ho! (a beautiful place name that literally means “toward the west”).
The South West Coast Path starts in Minehead in 7 days
One of the most beautiful sections of the South West Coast Path is the part in Cornwall. You can hike this section in about 7–8 days.
You’ll start in Somerset and spend most of the route traveling through the beautiful Exmoor National Park in Devon. This section is about 56 km long and can be completed in about three days, with overnight stays in Porlock and Lynmouth, for example.
The section starting from Lynton is the flattest and offers stunning views. The Valley of the Rocks near Lynton is famous for the wild goats that roam there. See this route on the map below. Due to the significant elevation changes, don’t underestimate the distances.
Then you walk from Woolacombe to Braunton. Most of the route is along the beach. Baggy Point is a beautiful spot to stop for a while. Braunton Burrows is a protected nature reserve in northern Devon featuring one of England’s largest sand dune systems. This section is about 16 km.
You continue along the trail toward Westward Ho!, passing through villages on a somewhat easier route. This section is about 29 kilometers long.
You can also choose to take the bus for this easier section and then pick up the route again (if you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge on your hike). From Westward Ho! to Bude, the terrain gets a bit rougher again.
On the website of South West Coast Path , you’ll find simple steps to help you find the accommodation that suits you best and is located on the right section of the route where you want to spend the night. You can contact these accommodations, which come in various price ranges, directly to make a reservation. They’re often very helpful and will guide you on your way or even pick you up from your location nearby.
On the Luggagetransfers website, you’ll find a list of hiking-friendly accommodations. You can easily filter by the stage of your route and the place where you want to stay overnight. You can also contact the accommodations directly from this site.
Is the South West Coast Path difficult to navigate?
With a 35,000-meter elevation gain, the route can be challenging in places, with steep climbs and descents. But for an experienced hiker in good physical condition—and wearing good hiking boots—the route is perfectly manageable. Of course, you can have your luggage transported from point A to point B. See the practical tips section.
Practical Tips for Hiking the South West Coast Path
The best time to hike the South West Coast Path is from April through June and in September and October. However, fall and winter can also be absolutely beautiful for this hiking trail, though they do require proper preparation in terms of clothing to handle all weather conditions. It can get very crowded in July and August.
Of course, you can take the train to London from the Netherlands. You can buy train tickets from NSInternational
You can take the Great Western Railway (a beautiful route!) from London Paddington to Minehead. Take the train to Taunton (about 2 hours), and from there, take bus 28 to Minehead (about 1 hour).
From Westward Ho! back to London: first by bus to Tiverton (2 hours). Then a half-hour bus ride to Tiverton train station. From there, take the train to London Paddington (about 2 hours).
With a passion for travel and photography and over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, I love to share my special nature travel tips. Travel is wonderful and important, you meet new people and cultures and it opens your view of the world.
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Peloponnese Hiking Tour
A really beautiful six-day hike from Bologna to Florence. Communication with NatureTravelLab and the local agent was excellent. The information packet was waiting for us at the hotel in Bologna, and the app with the route worked great. Luggage transport was well organized every day, and our bags were waiting for us each time we arrived at our new room! We covered more than 1,400 meters of elevation gain, but unfortunately didn’t always get the views we’d hoped for due to cloud cover and some drizzle. Most days had great hiking weather. It was wonderful to walk into Florence on foot and stay there an extra day.
We experienced the Walk of the Gods as a great adventure. Our start in Bologna didn’t go quite as planned because our app wasn’t working yet and we couldn’t find a single sign for Via degli Dei in the square. Fortunately, we were quickly able to join two young hikers from Florence who were also doing the hike. After a wonderful night’s stay at the beautiful Rio Verde agritourism farm, Day 2 went much better with the help of the hiking app. Along the way, we enjoyed stunning views, met some great fellow hikers, and sampled delicious local dishes. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t always on our side, and we had a day of heavy rain, which made the trail very slippery and required us to be careful. It’s a real treat when, on the last day, you can already see Florence in the distance and walk into this beautiful city a few hours later. Thank you so much for your quick and friendly responses to all our questions.
We enjoyed the trip. We also made some changes to our itinerary, and the email correspondence went very smoothly. We started in Mantera; the next day, our first and only hike was a really beautiful one. The taxi picked us up right on time. Unfortunately, the second day’s route was almost the same when we cycled to Ostuni. The bikes were well-maintained, including panniers and helmets (these were simply included). You could even bring your own water bottle!!! We found the route very scenic and varied. There were charming little villages where we could stop for lunch or coffee. The app worked great. All the hotels ranged from good to excellent, though we didn’t think the hotel in Leuca was worthy of 4 stars. We followed your advice for the two nights we stayed there. We found Leuca a bit underwhelming for a two-day stay. We would have preferred to stay in Gallipoli or Lecce for two days. We took this trip in April and were very lucky with the weather. It’s still a quiet time of year, but we didn’t mind that. We definitely recommend it!!!
Thanks to a great tip from Nature Travel Lab, we had a wonderful week in Italy. Fattoria di Maiano, just outside Florence, was a beautiful and peaceful place. And the suggested road trips were a great guide for exploring the region. We’ll definitely check here for tips for our next vacation, too. Highly recommended!
We spent a divine week in Italy: we walked the Path of the Gods, from Bologna to Florence—about 135 km spread over 6 days of hiking. Challenging distances and climbs, amazing views, nature, and a warm welcome every time we arrived at the agriturismo or albergo/hotel. All of this was perfectly organized by the Italian company Slow Active Tours, entirely in line with Nature Travel Lab’s itinerary proposal: upon arrival in Bologna, an information packet was waiting for us, complete with a hiking map, a booklet, and passports for the stamps. And the hiking app was very practical for along the way! Our luggage was transported every day and was always waiting for us when we arrived at the next location. Communication was smooth and clear. In short, highly recommended, well worth it, and well-organized.
In September, I walked the Cammino Materano. Communicating with Madelon about the booking was a pleasure. To be honest, I was quite nervous because it was my first time doing a multi-day hike—alone and in a region I wasn’t familiar with—but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The hike to Matera was beautiful, and I was able to complete it without any trouble thanks to the clear on-site signage and the routing and advice provided by the GPS app. The rest of the organization was top-notch as well. My luggage always arrived on time at the right destination, and the hotels and B&Bs were of high quality. In addition, the organizers were easy to reach via WhatsApp if I had any questions. Highly recommended!
Slovenia was absolutely amazing. A beautiful country, friendly people, lovely hiking trails, and truly top-notch hotels. The staff at the local organization were also very easy to reach and helpful. The hiking was manageable. As Dutch people, we’re not used to high altitudes, of course, so it was pretty tough at times. But it was also a lot of fun.
We had a wonderful trip. Everything was well organized. Due to an unfortunate fall, I ended up traveling with my luggage for a day, but that was handled well, too. We really liked all the accommodations. Only the Hotel Hebe in St. Piero a Sieve was a little less impressive, but it was still okay.
Looks fantastic! I'm definitely going to book a trip with this company... they're committed to sustainability and personalized advice. Definitely worth it.
Madelon and her team are true experts. Thanks to their years of experience and passion for travel, they manage to surprise us time and time again.
Beautiful hikes, the most picturesque spots—it’s a real treat.
I highly recommend them!
Nature Travel Lab provided us with very helpful and honest assistance!
If you’re looking for travel itineraries, the most beautiful hikes, and destinations, you can find it all here. You’ll find endless inspiration for your next trip. Beautiful cities are interspersed with nature. You’ll find everything you need to know about practical matters. Plus, there are plenty of tips for sustainable travel. That way, you’ll get the most out of your trip.
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Are you looking for the most beautiful hiking and biking routes? Or do you want information about traveling by train or advice for the most beautiful road trips through nature. Get inspired for your next trip in green; ideas for planning your own trip or opting for an organized trip.
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