Day-by-day trail itinerary
South West Coast Path: 7-day itinerary
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest National Trail: about 1013 km (630 miles) of coastal walking from Minehead in Somerset, around the whole of the North Devon, Cornwall, South Devon and Dorset coast, to South Haven Point on Poole Harbour. Its total ascent is roughly 17,200 m, often quoted as nearly four times the height of Everest. The route grew out of the beats trodden by 19th-century coastguards watching for smugglers, and still threads a near-continuous line of cliffs, coves, sea stacks, dunes, fishing harbours and holiday resorts, much of it protected as National Park, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Heritage Coast or the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. A fit walker completes it in about a month; the SWCP Association's own itinerary runs to 52 days, and most people split it across several trips. Many facilities are seasonal, several southern estuaries are crossed by ferries that only run in summer, and a few crossings depend on the tide, so each stage rewards checking ahead.
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Compare South West Coast Path itineraries
A practical starting point
7 days from Minehead to South Haven Point
Use these daily distances and overnight stops as a starting point, then customise the trip in the planner.
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1
Day 1: Minehead → Westward Ho!
139.5 km · 3,876 m ascent · 41h14–58h14 (about 48h31, incl. ~8h05 of stops)
Via Allerford, Bossington, Porlock, Oare, Brendon, Lynmouth, Barbrook, Lynbridge, Lynton, Martinhoe, Combe Martin, Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe, Lee, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Georgeham, Croyde, Saunton, Braunton, Chivenor, Heanton Punchardon, Ashford, Barnstaple, Bickington, Fremington, Yelland, Instow, Westleigh, Bideford, Northam, Appledore -
2
Day 2: Westward Ho! → Padstow
129.1 km · 4,474 m ascent · 40h04–56h35 (about 47h09, incl. ~7h52 of stops)
Via Abbotsham, Bucks Mills, Cranford, Woolfardisworthy, Clovelly, Welcombe, Morwenstow, Flexbury, Poughill, Stratton, Bude, Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Poundstock, Higher Crackington, Middle Crackington, Crackington Haven, Boscastle, Tintagel, Treknow, Trebarwith Strand, Delabole, Treligga, Port Isaac, New Polzeath, Polzeath, Trebetherick, Pityme, Splatt, Rock -
3
Day 3: Padstow → Sennen Cove
146.9 km · 3,116 m ascent · 41h20–58h22 (about 48h38, incl. ~8h07 of stops)
Via Trevone, St. Merryn, Harlyn, Constantine Bay, Treyarnon, Penrose, Trenance, Mawgan Porth, Trevarrian, Tregurrian, St. Columb Minor, Porth, Newquay, Crantock, Holywell, Cubert, Bolingey, Perranporth, Perrancoombe, Trevellas Downs, Mithian, Goonbell, St. Agnes, Mount Hawke, Porthtowan, Portreath, Connor Downs, Angarrack, Phillack, Hayle, St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Uny Lelant, Carbis Bay, Halsetown, St Ives, Zennor, Porthmeor, Morvah, Bojewyan, Pendeen, Boscaswell, Trewellard, Bosavern, St Just, Mayon -
4
Day 4: Sennen Cove → Portloe
156.2 km · 2,702 m ascent · 42h38–60h11 (about 50h10, incl. ~8h22 of stops)
Via Porthcurno, Treen, Lamorna, Mousehole, Paul, Tredavoe, Newlyn, Penzance, Heamoor, Gulval, Longrock, Ludgvan, Crowlas, Marazion, Perranuthnoe, Goldsithney, St. Hilary, Rosudgeon, Germoe, Praa Sands, Ashton, Breage, Porthleven, Mullion, Lizard, St. Ruan, Cadgwith, Ruan Minor, Kuggar, Coverack, St. Keverne, Porthoustock, Manaccan, Helford, Porth Navas, Mawnan, Mawnan Smith, Maenporth, Budock Water, Falmouth, Flushing, Mylor Churchtown, Halwartha, St. Mawes, Bohortha, Gerrans, Portscatho, Trewithian, Veryan -
5
Day 5: Portloe → Bigbury-on-Sea
150.3 km · 3,444 m ascent · 42h52–60h30 (about 50h25, incl. ~8h24 of stops)
Via Gorran Churchtown, Gorran Haven, Portmellon, Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown, Par, St Blazey, Tywardreath, Fowey, Polruan, Lansallos, Polperro, Porthallow, Talland, Hannafore, Looe, West Looe, East Looe, St Martin, Seaton, Downderry, Crafthole, Sheviock, Antony, St. John, Freathy, Millbrook, Cawsand, Kingsand, Torpoint, Plymouth, Down Thomas, Heybrook Bay, Wembury, Newton Ferrers, Mothecombe, Kingston, Ringmore -
6
Day 6: Bigbury-on-Sea → Sidmouth
144.1 km · 3,830 m ascent · 42h14–59h37 (about 49h41, incl. ~8h17 of stops)
Via Bigbury, Thurlestone, South Milton, Galmpton, Hope, Malborough, Salcombe, East Portlemouth, East Prawle, Chivelstone, South Hallsands, North Hallsands, Kellaton, Beesands, Beeson, Torcross, Stokenham, Slapton, Strete, Stoke Fleming, Dartmouth, Kingswear, Brixham, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton, Paignton, Torquay, Stokeinteignhead, Ringmore, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Holcombe, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Cockwood, Starcross, Kenton, Exmouth, Knowle, Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh, Otterton -
7
Day 7: Sidmouth → South Haven Point
146.7 km · 3,410 m ascent · 41h56–59h11 (about 49h19, incl. ~8h13 of stops)
Via Salcombe Regis, Branscombe, Beer, Seaton, Colyford, Axmouth, Lyme Regis, Uplyme, Wootton Fitzpaine, Charmouth, Morcombelake, North Chideock, Symondsbury, Higher Eype, Eype, Bridport, Bothenhampton, Shipton Gorge, Burton Bradstock, Swyre, Puncknowle, West Bexington, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Langton Herring, Chickerell, Fleet, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Preston, Sutton Poyntz, Osmington, West Lulworth, East Lulworth, Kimmeridge, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Durlston, Swanage, Studland
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Route-specific answers from Trailstrider's researched trail data, with the planner ready when you want to turn them into your own trip.