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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

Walking Feedback and Reviews -

Westward Ho! to Padstow South West Coast Path

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Walk Reviews and Customer Feedback

Route: Westward Ho to Padstow Name: Susan Petersen Walked on: 4th July 2023

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Well organised and willing to make personal concessions - for example we wished an overnight stay at Morwenstow where our family come from."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Informative"

Your Walking Routes

"We found the walks longer than inticipated. In the guidebook it looks like the distances are as "the crow flys" without taking into account that there are lots of ups and downs."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"The maps are very good. We found the books less easy to follow, with lots of information about places away from the track. We ordered two sets of books and maps as we were a group of five arriving from two different countries. We did recieve two sets of books, but only one set of maps. "

Luggage transfers

"It worked well with bags at the new site each afternoon. One bag got quiet damaged on the way out of Clovelly. It was impossible to follow up as no one seemed to be able to take responsibility for the issue - hotel or carrier. We only recieved a verbal message from the bartender at Hartland Quay."

Accommodation

"Accomodation was great and above our expectations. It was great that many hotels have a bathtub in the rooms. Great to soak after a long days walk."

Overall experience

"Great experience and pretty good weather."

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: SWCP Westward Ho - Padstow Name: Sylvia Moser Walked on: 25th April 2023

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

Luggage transfers

"N/A as I did not use the luggage transfers"

Accommodation

Overall experience

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: SWCP. from Westward Ho! to Polzeath Name: Mark Stanley Walked on: 2nd April 2023

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Very helpful. All the information was great."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"I did most of my communication on the phone."

Your Walking Routes

"I'm hoping this was the hardest week of the SWCP. You need to be fit to enjoy it."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Brilliant books, trailblazer series. Adventure AtoZ maps are great."

Luggage transfers

"No problems at all."

Accommodation

"All were very good."

Overall experience

"Superb"

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Bude to Padstow Name: Chip Spicer Walked on: 28th October 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Booking our walk was difficult because we had to cancel twice due to Covid. But Encounter Walking handled the changes smoothly. They also provided excellent advice on our route and the timing of our trip. We couldn't have been more pleased with their staff and responses to our issues."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"The website was very helpful in selecting our route. "

Your Walking Routes

"The route was everything we were looking for. It was challenging for three hikers in our 70s, but we enjoyed the challenge. The scenery was outstanding. We had high winds blowing FROM THE LAND on some of our days, but that just added to the challenge."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"The notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary were very helpful. The only trouble we had in following the trail occurred near towns, where social trails sometimes caused confusion. The downloaded maps and GPS signal on my phone from an app called Pocket Earth, helped us stay on the correct trail in these instances."

Luggage transfers

"All transfers worked perfectly."

Accommodation

"We were very pleased with all of our accommodations. The hosts were all friendly and the breakfasts were excellent. Our only concern was that breakfasts were not available until 8 AM, which meant a late start on the trail. Because our hike was in late October, the days were shorter, so we would have preferred to get an earlier start."

Overall experience

"Outstanding! This was my second walking holiday with Encounter Walking, and I hope to do more."

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Padstow Name: John Walked on: 15th September 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Very helpful and responsive to our questions and plans. Trip was originally scheduled for 2020 but Encounter staff were very flexible and understanding in rebooking us for 2022."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Easy to navigate and preview various route options. "

Your Walking Routes

"Very scenic...gorgeous coastline walking. Lots of ups and downs. Glad we did the long walk from Hartland Quay to Bude over two days. Delicious ripe blackberries through most of North Devon route."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Very comprehensive. Didn't really need the tide tables or OS map books as the guidebooks and route summaries provided plenty of detail."

Luggage transfers

"Went off without a hitch. Bags were always at our accommodation when we arrived. Peter did a great job. "

Accommodation

"A nice mix of hotels, pubs, inns and B and Bs. Very friendly people. "

Overall experience

"We really enjoyed our experience and the lovely route and gorgeous weather. Met lots of friendly people. "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Padstow Name: Julie Louise Law Walked on: 7th August 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"As before everything was seamless"

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Comprehensive website - informative and makes you want to do the next bit!"

Your Walking Routes

"Tough on the knees and you need to be relatively fit for this part as we walked in the heatwave - 10/10 for ups and downs!!! The suggested timings took us longer but that was probably due to the heat."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Brilliant"

Luggage transfers

"Seamless"

Accommodation

"Everywhere was brilliant, especially the lovely Instow Barton B&B. We also particularly loved Coombe Barton Inn, Crackington Haven and Ye Olde Malthouse, Tintagell. Cornwall is suffering from staff shortages so we were slightly disappointed at Port Isaac and Padstow but overall everything was great. "

Overall experience

"A challenging but very rewarding walk - spectacular views and a great escape. Everything worked as it should have done (even our knees!) Encounter made this a very easy way to continue our SW Coast Path adventure. "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: SWCP Westwood Ho! to Padstow Name: Gaynor Waterman Walked on: 7th July 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Excellent service from Encounter"

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"we used our own maps and guidebook. The information provided by Encounter was very helpful when it came to finding accommodation"

Luggage transfers

"worked perfectly"

Accommodation

"Mixed accommodation, some good, Red Lion at Clovelly some bad, Crackington Haven"

Overall experience

"It is always a pleasure to work with Damon and his team. We book early and try to obtain the best rooms in the hotels en route. Unfortunately despite their best efforts the accommodation falls short of our expectations. This mainly due to the availabilty of places to stay along the path."

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Barnstaple - Bude Name: Gabriele Walked on: 14th May 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Always helpful and fast to answer. "

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Very good, contains lots of valuable information"

Your Walking Routes

"The route from Barnstaple to Bude has a wide variety of scenery - from all flat around the Taw and Torridge estuary to some of the most challenging parts with continuous ups and downs. I chose Barnstaple as a starting point because it's easily reachable by train from Exeter, and from Bude there is a bus going to Exeter St Davids. Although the first 2 days the walking was flat and mostly on tarmac, I didn't find that boring because there is a lot about industrial history of the area to discover, like Fremington Quay and Bideford. After Westward Ho! the walking gets more challenging, with some nice woodlands included. Clovelly of course is a very special place, I had a resting day there and there is a lot to see, so that was a good choice. Be sure not to miss the donkeys and the gardens. After Hartland Point it's the Coast Path at it's best. I decided to split the part from Hartland Quay and Bude with a night in Morwenstow, which I would highly recommend, because the Bush Inn and St. Morwenna Church as well as a cream tea at The Rectory Farm are not to be missed. "

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Very helpful, the Trail Blazer books are simply the best!"

Luggage transfers

"Worked perfectly and always delivered on time."

Accommodation

"Very good over all, with the Instow Barton B&B my personal favourite. Beautiful location, and the best breakfast I ever had. Also great: The Bush Inn and the Red Lion Hotel (although the price is breath taking)"

Overall experience

"I had a great week, already planning my next section :-)"

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Hartland Quay to Padstow Name: Daphne Hodgins Walked on: 12th May 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Encounter was great to work with. We changed our walk details due to covid cancellations and they were on it every time with excellent recommendations and thorough planning. All of our bookings were accurate when we arrived. "

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"There is a lot of great information on the website, which was really helpful during the planning stages. "

Your Walking Routes

"The routes were stunningly beautiful and well marked. "

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Detailed notes about each day were very helpful and thorough. The Encounter crew provided excellent materials that we used throughout our walk. "

Luggage transfers

"Reliable and accurate. "

Accommodation

"Accommodations were great and in many cases the establishments had restaurants, all of which were excellent. "

Overall experience

"An outstanding experience and one which I will recommend to anyone who likes to walk. "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Hartland Quay to St Ives Name: Mary Letson Walked on: 10th May 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Just returned from my 5th walking adventure with Encounter and once again it was a success. Thanks Encounter Crew!"

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

"Heartland Quay to Padstow: make sure you are good and fit for this route and don't mind narrow, goat-path-like sections! I have now completed the entire Cornwall Coast path, and this section tested my fitness (and courage) the most. But worth it every step of the way - absolutely stunning coastline vistas. Lovely Inns along the way. So wild and remote."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Encounter's plan was seamless as always. Once on the trail, I relied on my OS app to navigate. Brilliant technology and grateful for it!"

Luggage transfers

"Go light! Pack carefully! Have wheels! There are narrow stairways to climb (and lots of them) with lots of twisty routes through sometimes ancient places with many fire doors to negotiate."

Accommodation

"Better this year than I can ever remember!"

Overall experience

"Brilliant as always. A few things: 1) if you are planning taxi transfers and using your phone at a pub, check in advance that there is mobile service in that location. Hollywell Bay has no mobile service and the Gull Rocks Bar (right on the beach) doesn't have a phone you can use. Treguth Pub up the road does. And they are lovely. 2) Make sure you use taxi's in the local area - and if possible get a quote if you have some distance to cover! 3) I used walking sticks for the first time this year. I am a fit 60 yr old and didn't think I needed them. But they absolutely improved my walking experience. Highly recommend! "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Padstow Name: Virginia Bowers Walked on: 19th April 2022

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Very helpful especially as Crackington Haven had no rooms and had to get back to Bude for an extra night."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Didn't use during the walk."

Your Walking Routes

"Absolutely lovely. Clovelly was a gem. Lots of dinner options there as well. Can't think of anything that we didn't like. Had amazing weather. Wildflowers were blooming. "

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Didn't use the maps much but the guidebook was very useful, although a few things were out of date such as restaurants that had closed. The itinerary was very helpful."

Luggage transfers

"No problems there."

Accommodation

"All the inns and hotels were nice. All were clean and quiet. Really enjoyed our stay in Bude at the Surf Haven - just delightful hosts. And the room in Port Isaac's school house inn was very spacious and had a private deck for an afternoon drink. Our hotel in Boscastle was the only one that had some minor issues - heat didn't work and the bathroom was a bit cramped. "

Overall experience

"Overall, we had a great time. No problem with wayfinding. Hiking was challenging but that made the rest at the end all the more enjoyable. "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Bude - Padstow Name: Gabriele Foerster Walked on: 3rd October 2021

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"The team was very helpful, all my questions were answered promptly. Since I had booked in 2020 before the pandemic started everything had to be postponed and I had to choose a different route, but that wasn't a problem at all."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Didn't use the website much, but I think it contains a lot of helpful information."

Your Walking Routes

"I walked from Bude to Pastow in 7 days with a rest day in Tintagel. Since I am a slow walker, taking lots of pictures, I preferred rather short distances and also had a rest day in Tintagel. This is said to be one of the harder parts of the Cornish Coast Path, but with enough time it is manageable. That way I had time to explore the places and visit some museums (highly recommend the Bude Heritage Center and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle and of course Tintagel Castle). The weather was a nice mix of wind, rain and sun, but the rain made the path quite slippery in places, so walking poles are very helpful. "

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"I really love the Trailblazer Guide Books, the are full of information and special hints . "

Luggage transfers

"Worked perfect."

Accommodation

"Very good, my favourites were the Links Side Tea House in Bude and the Wellington Hotel in Boscastle - very good restaurant"

Overall experience

"Already planning my next walk :-)"

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Crackington Haven to Newquay Name: Maggie East Walked on: 1st September 2021

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"Did not use"

Your Walking Routes

"We stuck to the South West Coastal Path"

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Fine"

Luggage transfers

"No problems"

Accommodation

"This was very varied. EG The stay at Treyarnon Youth Hostel could not provide us with any food and we had no warning of this"

Overall experience

"See above"

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Padstow Name: Kevin Walked on: 8th June 2021

Hi Damon Just to say thanks for all the arrangements on this walk. Everything went as planned and I had a really good week of walking and the choice of hotels was excellent. Thanks again  Kevin

Route: Hartland Quay to Port Quin Name: Steve Leyshon Walked on: 30th September 2020

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

"Ensure you take time to plan your daily routes taking in to account the continuous climbing and descending"

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Found the maps, guidebooks and itinerary notes really useful and helped me appreciate the walk more fully"

Luggage transfers

"No hassles "

Accommodation

"The three hotels were all very good with the service in each personal and considerate"

Overall experience

"This was a challenging walk with weather conditions of heavy rain and strong winds. This added to the enjoyment and overall experience. The landscapes were inspiring and the whole walk rewarding both physically and mentally."

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: south west coast path Name: Dr. Joachim Stengel Walked on: 13th September 2020

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"excellent organisation and very helpful support on the way"

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"clearly informative, motivating"

Your Walking Routes

"easy to find, sometimes longer than described, but maybe it was because of a detour "

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"helpful, maybe something more detailed would be nice"

Luggage transfers

"excellent"

Accommodation

"Red Lion, Clovelly = very good Bossiney House, Tintagel = very goog and very friendly Old School Hotel, Port Isaac = extraorinary the "Art" Room Old Vicarage, St. Ives = very good and very friendly most accomodations are Dog-friendly"

Overall experience

"again and again at any time!"

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Clovelly to Bude Name: Eric W Hutchins Walked on: 29th September 2019

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

Luggage transfers

Accommodation

Overall experience

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Bude to Padstow Name: Amanda and Pete Walked on: 16th September 2019

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Always very helpful and swift response to any enquiries "

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Always excellent "

Luggage transfers

"Always work very well"

Accommodation

Overall experience

"Our third year of using Encounter and will be using them again for the last leg of the Cornish coastal path. "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Barnstaple to Boscastle Name: Ken Walked on: 24th August 2019

 I am back and all went well. It was a walk of two halves - the first 2 and a bit days were very flat and the rest zero flat almost. 

A few specific comments - The accomodation was all very good ; hard to separate any one location out but Surf Haven was a great room with a great view.

Going backwards on day one was slightly odd but worked without any issue and it was a gentle walk. 

A couple of minor direction issues - 

 - coming out of Bideford the path goes uphill after some houses and then right with a very hidden sign and not over a concreate area as the book suggests. 

- Beyond Clovelly I went the wrong way at one point in the woods but picked the path back up again fairly soon and later at what I think was East Titchberry cliff the path rather disappears and there is a broken sign post (it was very wet and poor visabilty at the point as well). It also broke the charger on my phone due to the wet. I intend to avoid walking all day in the rain in the future -

It rained on the day from Clovelly to Hartland Quay ; and it rained a lot and was windy had low visabilty. This was not a good day but I got the the hotel by lunchtime. The guide rather gives up after Hartland Point when the going gets rather hard. Clovelly itself was also a little odd ; almost too tourist like I think.

I actually liked the flat walk on the railway track it was sunny and easy. 

The day from Appledore to Clovelly was the longest given the walk round the dunes at the start (although Appledore was very nice and Westward Ho appeared less so). 

The Hartland Quay to Bude day was very good for the views and not quite as infamously hard as I had expected - although not easy. 

The next day I walked all the way to Boscastle as it looked like rain on the last day and caught the bus back to Crackington Haven ; If I had realised how long the 7 miles were I might not have done that but it was fantastic walking and views one of the best on the whole path I think. 

This meant I used the last day to avoid the morning rain and then get the bus back to Boscastle and walk up to the Church that Thomas Hardy restored ; which was a nice change and also I was nearly there before when I did the across Cornwall walk so I was pleased to finally make it.

Oddest thing that happened ; I passed a middle aged man in a floppy hat on a remote part of the walk to Bude with a foldup bike ; a large video camera and two kitchin wall clocks (really it felt like Alice in Wonderland) ; there was no way you could cycle and I still have no explanation for it.

Many thanks as always - Ken.

Route: Barnstaple to Padstow Name: Britta Walked on: 14th July 2019

Hi!

We've been back a while, I just wanted to send you some quick feedback on our walk. It was a lovely experience, we really enjoyed it and plan on continuing the walk next year. The highlight for me was Hartland Quay, which was pretty remote but very lovely. Port Isaac was also a favourite (the really nice hotel certainly helped). The start around Barnstaple was a bit rough (although the Old Rectory was a marvelous accommodation), we do prefer the more remote walks, but interesting nonetheless. I still love the trailblazer guidebook...

We learned a couple of things, among them that launderettes are infinitely preferable to sink washing and that walks over 20 km are much harder (even the easy ones) than the short and strenuous ones. Next year, we will go back to some rest days...

Thank you very much for such a meticulously organised walk - everything went well and I keep recommending your services!

Regards and have a lovely summer,

Britta

Route: St. Ives to Westward Ho Name: Eva and Kurt Walked on: 8th July 2019

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"excellent service"

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"very helpful"

Your Walking Routes

"Padstow to Hartland Quay is probably one of the most impressive section of the path"

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"very helpful"

Luggage transfers

"perfect from beginning to the end, absolutely no problem"

Accommodation

"Hartland Quay: an absolute must, Surf haven in Bude excellent"

Overall experience

"wonderful walking holiday"

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Padstow Name: Darren Walked on: 4th July 2019

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Encounter staff always helpful and friendly"

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

"Amazing scenery, perfect weather. God bless those little acorn posts. "

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Thorough and useful as ever"

Luggage transfers

"Worked like clockwork, including up and down on the sledge at Clovelly"

Accommodation

"Mostly good, couple excellent (Riverside at Boscastle, Old School Hotel at Port Isaac), couple O"

Overall experience

"Amazing experience, loved it. See you next year. "

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Bude Name: Rich Walked on: 22nd June 2019

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

Your Walking Routes

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

Luggage transfers

Accommodation

Overall experience

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: South West Coast Path - Westward Ho to Padstow Saints Way - Padstow to Fowey Name: Vince Walked on: 19th June 2019

Your Walking Routes

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

Luggage transfers

Accommodation

"few locations rooms were small"

Overall experience

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes

Route: Westward Ho! to Padstow & Saint's Way Name: Margaret Walked on: 19th June 2019

Planning and booking for your walk with Encounter Walking Holidays

"Encounter Walking was very responsive to our requests. Accommodated our needs."

Encounter Walking Holidays Website

"The website was very helpful in selecting a route and trek that fit our needs."

Your Walking Routes

"Loved the route. The "severe" really was severe. A great challenge. The Saint's Way needs more confirmation sign posts. Growth over the signs and stiles made it difficult to follow."

Walking notes, maps, guidebooks and itinerary

"Great maps and notes. Couldn't follow the Saint's Way without them."

Luggage transfers

"No problems"

Accommodation

"Most of the accommodation was excellent. A couple remote areas had limited selection,"

Overall experience

"Loved the trip. Would use Encounter Walking again."

Would you choose Encounter Walking Holidays for future holidays? Yes

Would you recommend Encounter Walking Holidays to others? Yes