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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. 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.

1,013 km25,665 m ascent20 walking daysEngland
Plan these dates and stays Vegan trail guide Packing list

Choose your pace

Compare South West Coast Path itineraries

7 days144.7 km a day14 days72.3 km a day20 days50.6 km a day30 days33.8 km a day40 days25.3 km a day43 days23.6 km a day46 days22.0 km a day49 days20.7 km a day51 days19.9 km a day52 days19.5 km a day60 days16.9 km a day

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.

  1. 1
    Day 1: Minehead → Martinhoe

    42.3 km · 1,790 m ascent · 13h46–19h25 (about 16h11, incl. ~2h42 of stops)

    Via Allerford, Bossington, Porlock, Oare, Brendon, Lynmouth, Barbrook, Lynbridge, Lynton
  2. 2
    Day 2: Martinhoe → Croyde

    46.6 km · 1,881 m ascent · 15h07–21h20 (about 17h47, incl. ~2h58 of stops)

    Via Combe Martin, Berrynarbor, Ilfracombe, Lee, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Georgeham
  3. 3
    Day 3: Croyde → Bucks Mills

    62.3 km · 555 m ascent · 15h52–22h23 (about 18h40, incl. ~3h07 of stops)

    Via Saunton, Braunton, Chivenor, Heanton Punchardon, Ashford, Barnstaple, Bickington, Fremington, Yelland, Instow, Westleigh, Bideford, Northam, Appledore, Westward Ho!, Abbotsham
  4. 4
    Day 4: Bucks Mills → Bude

    47.9 km · 1,820 m ascent · 15h14–21h31 (about 17h56, incl. ~2h59 of stops)

    Via Cranford, Woolfardisworthy, Clovelly, Welcombe, Morwenstow, Flexbury
  5. 5
    Day 5: Bude → Port Isaac

    49.0 km · 2,024 m ascent · 15h55–22h28 (about 18h43, incl. ~3h07 of stops)

    Via Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Poundstock, Higher Crackington, Middle Crackington, Crackington Haven, Boscastle, Tintagel, Treknow, Trebarwith Strand, Delabole, Treligga
  6. 6
    Day 6: Port Isaac → Mawgan Porth

    49.5 km · 966 m ascent · 13h45–19h25 (about 16h11, incl. ~2h42 of stops)

    Via New Polzeath, Polzeath, Trebetherick, Pityme, Splatt, Rock, Padstow, Trevone, St. Merryn, Harlyn, Constantine Bay, Treyarnon, Penrose, Trenance
  7. 7
    Day 7: Mawgan Porth → Portreath

    52.2 km · 1,190 m ascent · 14h52–21h (about 17h30, incl. ~2h55 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. 8
    Day 8: Portreath → Pendeen

    51.3 km · 1,281 m ascent · 14h50–20h56 (about 17h27, incl. ~2h55 of stops)

    Via Connor Downs, Angarrack, Phillack, Hayle, St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Uny Lelant, Carbis Bay, Halsetown, St Ives, Zennor, Porthmeor, Morvah, Bojewyan
  9. 9
    Day 9: Pendeen → Marazion

    47.9 km · 948 m ascent · 13h21–18h50 (about 15h42, incl. ~2h37 of stops)

    Via Boscaswell, Trewellard, Bosavern, St Just, Mayon, Sennen, Sennen Cove, Porthcurno, Treen, Lamorna, Mousehole, Paul, Tredavoe, Newlyn, Penzance, Heamoor, Gulval, Longrock, Ludgvan, Crowlas
  10. 10
    Day 10: Marazion → Kuggar

    48.1 km · 1,112 m ascent · 13h43–19h22 (about 16h09, incl. ~2h41 of stops)

    Via Perranuthnoe, Goldsithney, St. Hilary, Rosudgeon, Germoe, Praa Sands, Ashton, Breage, Porthleven, Mullion, Lizard, St. Ruan, Cadgwith, Ruan Minor
  11. 11
    Day 11: Kuggar → St. Mawes

    51.7 km · 801 m ascent · 13h56–19h40 (about 16h23, incl. ~2h44 of stops)

    Via Coverack, St. Keverne, Porthoustock, Manaccan, Helford, Porth Navas, Mawnan, Mawnan Smith, Maenporth, Budock Water, Falmouth, Flushing, Mylor Churchtown
  12. 12
    Day 12: St. Mawes → Pentewan

    46.1 km · 1,160 m ascent · 13h22–18h52 (about 15h43, incl. ~2h37 of stops)

    Via Bohortha, Gerrans, Portscatho, Trewithian, Veryan, Portloe, Gorran Haven, Gorran Churchtown, Portmellon, Mevagissey
  13. 13
    Day 13: Pentewan → Seaton

    51.1 km · 1,311 m ascent · 14h52–21h (about 17h30, incl. ~2h55 of stops)

    Via Charlestown, Par, St Blazey, Tywardreath, Fowey, Polruan, Lansallos, Polperro, Porthallow, Talland, Hannafore, Looe, West Looe, East Looe, St Martin
  14. 14
    Day 14: Seaton → Newton Ferrers

    53.9 km · 993 m ascent · 14h51–20h58 (about 17h28, incl. ~2h55 of stops)

    Via Downderry, Crafthole, Sheviock, Antony, St. John, Freathy, Millbrook, Cawsand, Kingsand, Torpoint, Plymouth, Down Thomas, Heybrook Bay, Wembury
  15. 15
    Day 15: Newton Ferrers → East Prawle

    52.9 km · 1,322 m ascent · 15h19–21h37 (about 18h01, incl. ~3h of stops)

    Via Mothecombe, Kingston, Ringmore, Bigbury-on-Sea, Bigbury, Thurlestone, South Milton, Galmpton, Hope, Malborough, Salcombe, East Portlemouth
  16. 16
    Day 16: East Prawle → Paignton

    54.0 km · 1,577 m ascent · 16h08–22h47 (about 18h59, incl. ~3h10 of stops)

    Via Chivelstone, South Hallsands, North Hallsands, Kellaton, Beesands, Beeson, Torcross, Stokenham, Slapton, Strete, Stoke Fleming, Dartmouth, Kingswear, Brixham, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton
  17. 17
    Day 17: Paignton → Otterton

    54.1 km · 1,255 m ascent · 15h28–21h49 (about 18h11, incl. ~3h02 of stops)

    Via Torquay, Stokeinteignhead, Ringmore, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Holcombe, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Cockwood, Starcross, Kenton, Exmouth, Knowle, Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh
  18. 18
    Day 18: Otterton → Eype

    48.3 km · 1,808 m ascent · 15h16–21h34 (about 17h58, incl. ~2h59 of stops)

    Via Sidmouth, Salcombe Regis, Branscombe, Beer, Seaton, Colyford, Axmouth, Lyme Regis, Uplyme, Wootton Fitzpaine, Charmouth, Morcombelake, North Chideock, Symondsbury
  19. 19
    Day 19: Eype → West Lulworth

    57.3 km · 757 m ascent · 15h08–21h22 (about 17h48, incl. ~2h58 of stops)

    Via Bridport, Bothenhampton, Shipton Gorge, Burton Bradstock, Swyre, Puncknowle, West Bexington, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Langton Herring, Fleet, Chickerell, Wyke Regis, Weymouth, Preston, Sutton Poyntz, Osmington
  20. 20
    Day 20: West Lulworth → South Haven Point

    46.2 km · 1,114 m ascent · 13h19–18h47 (about 15h40, incl. ~2h37 of stops)

    Via East Lulworth, Kimmeridge, Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Durlston, Swanage, Studland

Solve the practical questions

Plan South West Coast Path with confidence

Route-specific answers from Trailstrider's researched trail data, with the planner ready when you want to turn them into your own trip.

Trail transport Getting there and away Reach the start, leave the finish and understand the awkward one-way leg. Read the guide → Accommodation planning Where to stay 511 researched places, route pinch points and a direct path into the live check. Read the guide → Difficulty and confidence How hard is it? Hardest sections, terrain, bad-weather sensitivity and realistic escape options. Read the guide → Weather and seasons Best time to walk Best months, daylight, ground conditions, crowds and booking pressure. Read the guide → Services on the trail Food and resupply Longest mapped food and shop gaps with stage-level carry notes. Read the guide → Eating on the trail Vegan food guide Trail-specific meals, dependable restocks and the stretches to plan ahead for. Read the guide →