Overview
Discover challenging and dramatic walking trails shaped by the footsteps of traders, smugglers, saints and pirates. Cornish walking trails will reveal ancient tin mines, clifftop castles, timeless fishing villages and wild moors as you travel through a landscape of huge cliffs and hidden coves that goes back to the depths of time itself. In between the coastal drama, iconic harbours such as St Ives and Padstow give walkers access to some of the UK‘s best restaurants and coastal hotels. A county encircled by the wild Atlantic ocean, there is over 330 miles of spectacular world class coast path here taking you around the farthest corners of England - put simply it feels like walking on the edge of the world.
Stretching from coast to coast across the southwest of England, Devon is a richly diverse county with rugged shores and cliffs in the north, and classic Victorian seaside resorts in the south. In between you'll find tranquil green pastures, wooded gorges and the two dramatic wild moors in the National Parks of Dartmoor and Exmoor. Choose Devon for its walking variety, and you'll find that the popular image of cream teas and thatched cottages is true - but that Devon is so much more once you explore it on two feet. Coast to coast routes like the Two Moors Way will offer a journey through it all from the wild northern shores that inspired the Romantic poets to the maritime ports of the south coast.
Free your soul and clear your mind! Walking on the wild moors of these National Parks is a wonderful antidote to modern living. England's last true wilderness, Dartmoor offers 365 square miles of virtually uninhabited freedom with high moors and twisted dramatic granite tors a land of myths, ghosts and legends. Exmoor, its smaller and more gentle neighour, is 250 Square miles of near perfect and unique beauty, with high uplands swathed in heather and steep, wooded gorges and rushing streams. See Dartmoor ponies and Exmoor stags in these wildlife rich areas, home to 30 species of mammals and over 240 types of bird. The moors offer a unique opportunity for more challenging walking where the only human sound you will hear is the rhythm of your own breath.
Avoid the crowds and discover “Secret Somerset” missed by so many rushing headlong for the far South West. The 'land of the summer people' was named in a time when this area could only be visited in the summer months as the sea receded. Today its a rich, fertile and 'for real' landscape crowned by the fine walking ridges of the Mendip and Quantock Hills both protected areas of outstanding natural beauty. Rising up over King Arthur‘s Vale of Avalon along with the magical Tor at Glastonbury, walkers will find hidden gorges, wooded combes and the best inland panoramas of the South West. Also boasting its own Jurassic Coast Path, providing a gateway into the wilds of Exmoor National Park, Somerset offers walking routes without the crowds for those who want to find..... what the rest miss.
Dorset has a comfortable old world “English” feel to it and its walking routes traverse a rather more green and agricultural land of thatched cottages, cream teas.... and fossils ! Walkers here will find the more gentle rolling farmland, pretty villages and chalk ridges beloved by Thomas Hardy that sweep down to end abruptly at the World Heritage Jurassic Coast. Here, alongside the sea, those after more challenging routes can take a walking holiday through time itself amongst the dramatic chalk stacks, cliffs and arches of the Dorsetshire fossil coast. An area that can be very busy in high season but often suits walkers looking for more gentle and less exposed walking than the far west of the region.
Wales offers some of the best walking and outdoor activities to be had anywhere in the world. The 870-mile Welsh Coast Path was only fully opened in 2012 and is the world's first walk along the entire coast of a nation. The terrain is on an equally grand scale with towering cliffs, vast stretches of unspoilt golden sands, imposing castles, offshore islands and to the north there is the backdrop of Snowdonia National Park with its stunning mountains. Wales in general offers walkers great value for money compared to more popular areas like Cornwall with walking options to suit everyone, from those who want the cosmopolitan restaurants and facilities of towns like Tenby and St Davids, through to isolated and remote forests and coastal hills that sit on the very cusp of the Snowdonian Peaks. Bursting with confidence and pride in its “Welshness”, its Celtic history, language and culture there has never been a better time for walkers to enter Wales.
The South West Coast Path is the UK's longest National Trail and one of the top ten walking routes in the world. It snakes, dips and rises continuously on its way through a staggering 1014km (630 miles) of pristine coastline, 450 miles of which is through nationally protected areas. It's a challenge too; walking the entire South West Coast Path is the equivalent to scaling Mount Everest four times! From towering cliffs to hidden coves, ghostly tin mines to lush subtropical wooded creeks. One minute a dramatic rock theatre hewn out of the cliffs, the next a prehistoric fossilized forest or a 20thC Art Deco Island Hotel. What sets The South West Coast Path apart from other trails is that around almost every corner is yet another surprise as you retrace the footsteps and histories of the tin miners, fisherman, smugglers, wreckers and the customs men who chased them.
12th September 2023- We are sorry but we are now fully booked until October on all our routes - please contact us for Autumn and 2024 dates
Distance 15 miles - Grade Severe with moderate ending - what this grade means
Note: This section is a long days walking with many ups and downs, many of our walkers opt to split this day into two with an overnight at atmospheric Morwenstow giving two days walking to Bude of around 8 miles a day.
Leaving Devon's final outpost at the exposed Hartland Quay you follow a challenging days walking up and down a range of isolated combes, ravines and cliff tops . This is border country passing the plunging waterfalls at Spekes Mill and the ancient Iron Age ramparts of Embury beacon. Celebrate as you cross finally into the ancient lands of Kernow (Cornwall) at the nature reserve of Marsland Mouth and on past the 70' waterfall at Litter Mouth. The day ends with the bizarre square fissure of Devils Hole as your backdrop to climbing stark and sheer Henna Cliff.
Heading inland out of the wilds appears the atmospheric hamlet of Morwenstow for a fascinating overnight stop or an afternoon break isolated hospitality in the lands of Parson Hawkers and the Morwenstow Wreckers. Welcome to Cornwall.
Overnight stops at Morwenstow on the South West Coast Path
You are now passing through true shipwreck country with over 150 ships lost on the jagged rocky outcrops between here and Bude. Perched above the cliffs you pause to visit Hawkers Driftwood Hut, his lookout for ships in trouble. The morning is towering cliff climbs and zigzagging cove descents with glorious views throughout, keep a sharp watch, this is Peregrine Falcon habitat.
A brief return to the modern age as you pass the gigantic white satellite dishes dominating the landscape at Cleave Camp, the ears for GCHQ, before you drop into the rocky reefs and pools at idyllic Duckpool. During the afternoon some respite on a less strenuous section of path along the back of what seems to be a never ending line of dazzlingly sandy and enticing beaches to Bude. Enjoy a welcome overnight stay in this laid back costal town with all its facilities and attractions ... other than villages the next significant town is not until Padstow over 40 miles away.
Overnight stops in Bude on the South West Coast Path
Price Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Request a Quote
Map of all our walks
View options for this walk
Go to top
Company Registered in England No: 8227323 VAT Registration No: 138 8656 68
