Day-by-day trail itinerary
South West Coast Path: 20-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
20 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 → Kemacott
45.6 km · 2,100 m ascent · 15h16–21h33 (about 17h58, incl. ~2h59 of stops)
Via Allerford, Bossington, Porlock, Oare, Brendon, Lynmouth, Barbrook, Lynbridge, Lynton, Martinhoe -
2
Day 2: Kemacott → Saunton
47.5 km · 1,678 m ascent · 14h49–20h55 (about 17h26, incl. ~2h55 of stops)
Via Combe Martin, Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe, Lee, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Georgeham, Croyde -
3
Day 3: Saunton → Bucks Mills
58.1 km · 470 m ascent · 14h42–20h46 (about 17h18, incl. ~2h53 of stops)
Via Braunton, Chivenor, Heanton Punchardon, Ashford, Barnstaple, Bickington, Fremington, Yelland, Instow, Westleigh, Bideford, Northam, Appledore, Westward Ho!, Abbotsham -
4
Day 4: Bucks Mills → Bude
47.9 km · 1,804 m ascent · 15h12–21h28 (about 17h53, incl. ~2h59 of stops)
Via Cranford, Woolfardisworthy, Clovelly, Welcombe, Morwenstow, Flexbury -
5
Day 5: Bude → Port Isaac
49.0 km · 1,899 m ascent · 15h38–22h05 (about 18h24, incl. ~3h04 of stops)
Via Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Poundstock, Higher Crackington, Middle Crackington, Crackington Haven, Boscastle, Tintagel, Treknow, Trebarwith Strand, Delabole, Treligga -
6
Day 6: Port Isaac → Mawgan Porth
49.5 km · 916 m ascent · 13h38–19h16 (about 16h03, incl. ~2h41 of stops)
Via New Polzeath, Polzeath, Trebetherick, Pityme, Splatt, Rock, Padstow, Trevone, St. Merryn, Harlyn, Constantine Bay, Treyarnon, Penrose, Trenance -
7
Day 7: Mawgan Porth → Portreath
52.2 km · 1,159 m ascent · 14h49–20h54 (about 17h25, incl. ~2h54 of stops)
Via Trevarrian, Tregurrian, St. Columb Minor, Porth, Newquay, Crantock, Holywell, Cubert, Bolingey, Perranporth, Perrancoombe, Trevellas Downs, Mithian, Goonbell, St. Agnes, Mount Hawke, Porthtowan -
8
Day 8: Portreath → Boscaswell
52.1 km · 1,152 m ascent · 14h45–20h50 (about 17h22, incl. ~2h53 of stops)
Via Connor Downs, Angarrack, Phillack, Hayle, St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Uny Lelant, Carbis Bay, Halsetown, St Ives, Zennor, Porthmeor, Morvah, Bojewyan, Pendeen -
9
Day 9: Boscaswell → Perranuthnoe
50.6 km · 889 m ascent · 13h52–19h34 (about 16h18, incl. ~2h43 of stops)
Via Bosavern, St Just, Mayon, Sennen, Sennen Cove, Porthcurno, Treen, Lamorna, Mousehole, Paul, Tredavoe, Newlyn, Penzance, Heamoor, Gulval, Longrock, Ludgvan, Crowlas, Marazion -
10
Day 10: Perranuthnoe → Coverack
53.4 km · 1,118 m ascent · 15h–21h11 (about 17h39, incl. ~2h56 of stops)
Via Rosudgeon, Germoe, Praa Sands, Ashton, Breage, Porthleven, Mullion, Lizard, St. Ruan, Cadgwith, Ruan Minor, Kuggar -
11
Day 11: Coverack → Trewithian
56.0 km · 705 m ascent · 14h42–20h46 (about 17h18, incl. ~2h53 of stops)
Via St. Keverne, Porthoustock, Manaccan, Helford, Porth Navas, Mawnan, Mawnan Smith, Maenporth, Budock Water, Falmouth, Flushing, Mylor Churchtown, Halwartha, St. Mawes, Bohortha, Gerrans, Portscatho -
12
Day 12: Trewithian → Fowey
57.7 km · 1,458 m ascent · 16h45–23h39 (about 19h43, incl. ~3h17 of stops)
Via Veryan, Portloe, Gorran Churchtown, Gorran Haven, Portmellon, Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown, Par, St Blazey, Tywardreath -
13
Day 13: Fowey → Kingsand
48.2 km · 1,323 m ascent · 14h13–20h04 (about 16h43, incl. ~2h47 of stops)
Via Polruan, Lansallos, Polperro, Porthallow, Talland, Hannafore, Looe, West Looe, East Looe, St Martin, Seaton, Downderry, Crafthole, Sheviock, Antony, St. John, Freathy, Millbrook -
14
Day 14: Kingsand → Bigbury-on-Sea
54.2 km · 953 m ascent · 14h50–20h56 (about 17h27, incl. ~2h55 of stops)
Via Torpoint, Plymouth, Down Thomas, Heybrook Bay, Wembury, Newton Ferrers, Mothecombe, Kingston, Ringmore -
15
Day 15: Bigbury-on-Sea → Slapton
44.9 km · 1,017 m ascent · 12h47–18h03 (about 15h02, incl. ~2h31 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 -
16
Day 16: Slapton → Torquay
44.4 km · 1,333 m ascent · 13h20–18h50 (about 15h42, incl. ~2h37 of stops)
Via Strete, Stoke Fleming, Dartmouth, Kingswear, Brixham, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton, Paignton -
17
Day 17: Torquay → Sidmouth
54.8 km · 1,479 m ascent · 16h07–22h44 (about 18h57, incl. ~3h10 of stops)
Via Stokeinteignhead, Ringmore, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Holcombe, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Cockwood, Starcross, Kenton, Exmouth, Knowle, Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh, Otterton -
18
Day 18: Sidmouth → Burton Bradstock
47.7 km · 1,616 m ascent · 14h44–20h48 (about 17h20, incl. ~2h53 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 -
19
Day 19: Burton Bradstock → West Lulworth
52.7 km · 647 m ascent · 13h48–19h29 (about 16h14, incl. ~2h43 of stops)
Via Swyre, Puncknowle, West Bexington, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Langton Herring, Chickerell, Fleet, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Preston, Sutton Poyntz, Osmington -
20
Day 20: West Lulworth → South Haven Point
46.3 km · 1,137 m ascent · 13h23–18h53 (about 15h44, incl. ~2h37 of stops)
Via East Lulworth, Kimmeridge, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Durlston, Swanage, Studland
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