Day-by-day trail itinerary
South West Coast Path: 30-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
30 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 → Lynmouth
35.0 km · 1,307 m ascent · 11h04–15h37 (about 13h01, incl. ~2h10 of stops)
Via Allerford, Bossington, Porlock, Oare, Brendon -
2
Day 2: Lynmouth → Berrynarbor
23.3 km · 1,468 m ascent · 8h18–11h43 (about 9h46, incl. ~1h38 of stops)
Via Barbrook, Lynbridge, Lynton, Martinhoe, Combe Martin -
3
Day 3: Berrynarbor → Croyde
30.6 km · 917 m ascent · 9h15–13h04 (about 10h53, incl. ~1h49 of stops)
Via Ilfracombe, Lee, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Georgeham -
4
Day 4: Croyde → Bideford
38.2 km · 122 m ascent · 9h16–13h05 (about 10h54, incl. ~1h49 of stops)
Via Saunton, Braunton, Chivenor, Heanton Punchardon, Ashford, Barnstaple, Bickington, Fremington, Yelland, Instow, Westleigh -
5
Day 5: Bideford → Clovelly
30.7 km · 748 m ascent · 8h47–12h24 (about 10h20, incl. ~1h43 of stops)
Via Northam, Appledore, Westward Ho!, Abbotsham, Bucks Mills, Cranford, Woolfardisworthy -
6
Day 6: Clovelly → Bude
41.3 km · 1,464 m ascent · 12h57–18h17 (about 15h14, incl. ~2h32 of stops)
Via Welcombe, Morwenstow, Flexbury -
7
Day 7: Bude → Tintagel
35.2 km · 1,332 m ascent · 11h08–15h44 (about 13h07, incl. ~2h11 of stops)
Via Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Poundstock, Higher Crackington, Middle Crackington, Crackington Haven, Boscastle -
8
Day 8: Tintagel → Padstow
34.3 km · 983 m ascent · 10h14–14h27 (about 12h02, incl. ~2h01 of stops)
Via Treknow, Trebarwith Strand, Delabole, Treligga, Port Isaac, New Polzeath, Polzeath, Trebetherick, Pityme, Splatt, Rock -
9
Day 9: Padstow → Newquay
39.3 km · 738 m ascent · 10h50–15h18 (about 12h45, incl. ~2h08 of stops)
Via Trevone, St. Merryn, Harlyn, Constantine Bay, Treyarnon, Penrose, Trenance, Mawgan Porth, Trevarrian, Tregurrian, St. Columb Minor, Porth -
10
Day 10: Newquay → Porthtowan
35.9 km · 777 m ascent · 10h08–14h19 (about 11h56, incl. ~1h59 of stops)
Via Crantock, Holywell, Cubert, Bolingey, Perranporth, Perrancoombe, Trevellas Downs, Mithian, Goonbell, St. Agnes -
11
Day 11: Porthtowan → St Ives
34.5 km · 590 m ascent · 9h25–13h17 (about 11h04, incl. ~1h51 of stops)
Via Portreath, Connor Downs, Angarrack, Phillack, Hayle, St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Uny Lelant, Carbis Bay, Halsetown -
12
Day 12: St Ives → Sennen Cove
37.2 km · 1,024 m ascent · 10h58–15h29 (about 12h54, incl. ~2h09 of stops)
Via Zennor, Porthmeor, Morvah, Bojewyan, Pendeen, Boscaswell, Trewellard, Bosavern, St Just, Mayon -
13
Day 13: Sennen Cove → Perranuthnoe
37.0 km · 597 m ascent · 10h01–14h08 (about 11h46, incl. ~1h58 of stops)
Via Porthcurno, Treen, Lamorna, Mousehole, Paul, Tredavoe, Newlyn, Penzance, Heamoor, Gulval, Longrock, Ludgvan, Crowlas, Marazion -
14
Day 14: Perranuthnoe → Lizard
37.5 km · 788 m ascent · 10h32–14h52 (about 12h23, incl. ~2h04 of stops)
Via Rosudgeon, Germoe, Praa Sands, Ashton, Breage, Porthleven, Mullion -
15
Day 15: Lizard → Helford
36.9 km · 643 m ascent · 10h06–14h15 (about 11h53, incl. ~1h59 of stops)
Via St. Ruan, Cadgwith, Ruan Minor, Kuggar, Coverack, St. Keverne, Porthoustock, Manaccan -
16
Day 16: Helford → Portscatho
32.9 km · 346 m ascent · 8h30–12h (about 10h, incl. ~1h40 of stops)
Via Porth Navas, Mawnan, Mawnan Smith, Maenporth, Budock Water, Falmouth, Flushing, Mylor Churchtown, Halwartha, St. Mawes, Bohortha -
17
Day 17: Portscatho → Portmellon
30.3 km · 843 m ascent · 8h58–12h40 (about 10h33, incl. ~1h46 of stops)
Via Trewithian, Veryan, Portloe, Gorran Churchtown, Gorran Haven -
18
Day 18: Portmellon → Fowey
29.5 km · 641 m ascent · 8h20–11h46 (about 9h48, incl. ~1h38 of stops)
Via Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown, Par, St Blazey, Tywardreath -
19
Day 19: Fowey → Crafthole
33.6 km · 1,014 m ascent · 10h05–14h14 (about 11h52, incl. ~1h59 of stops)
Via Polruan, Lansallos, Polperro, Porthallow, Talland, Hannafore, Looe, West Looe, East Looe, St Martin, Seaton, Downderry -
20
Day 20: Crafthole → Down Thomas
39.2 km · 608 m ascent · 10h34–14h55 (about 12h26, incl. ~2h04 of stops)
Via Antony, St. John, Freathy, Millbrook, Cawsand, Kingsand, Torpoint, Plymouth -
21
Day 21: Down Thomas → Bigbury-on-Sea
29.6 km · 655 m ascent · 8h24–11h51 (about 9h53, incl. ~1h39 of stops)
Via Heybrook Bay, Wembury, Newton Ferrers, Mothecombe, Kingston, Ringmore -
22
Day 22: Bigbury-on-Sea → East Prawle
30.9 km · 713 m ascent · 8h49–12h27 (about 10h23, incl. ~1h44 of stops)
Via Bigbury, Thurlestone, South Milton, Galmpton, Hope, Malborough, Salcombe, East Portlemouth -
23
Day 23: East Prawle → Dartmouth
27.2 km · 743 m ascent · 8h01–11h19 (about 9h26, incl. ~1h34 of stops)
Via Chivelstone, South Hallsands, North Hallsands, Kellaton, Beesands, Beeson, Torcross, Stokenham, Slapton, Strete, Stoke Fleming -
24
Day 24: Dartmouth → Torquay
31.2 km · 895 m ascent · 9h17–13h07 (about 10h56, incl. ~1h49 of stops)
Via Brixham, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton, Paignton -
25
Day 25: Torquay → Exmouth
34.5 km · 984 m ascent · 10h15–14h29 (about 12h04, incl. ~2h01 of stops)
Via Stokeinteignhead, Ringmore, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Holcombe, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Cockwood, Starcross, Kenton -
26
Day 26: Exmouth → Beer
34.2 km · 1,063 m ascent · 10h20–14h36 (about 12h10, incl. ~2h02 of stops)
Via Knowle, Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh, Otterton, Sidmouth, Salcombe Regis, Branscombe -
27
Day 27: Beer → Eype
29.3 km · 970 m ascent · 9h–12h43 (about 10h35, incl. ~1h46 of stops)
Via Seaton, Colyford, Axmouth, Lyme Regis, Uplyme, Wootton Fitzpaine, Charmouth, Morcombelake, North Chideock, Symondsbury -
28
Day 28: Eype → Weymouth
38.0 km · 298 m ascent · 9h37–13h34 (about 11h18, incl. ~1h53 of stops)
Via Bridport, Bothenhampton, Shipton Gorge, Burton Bradstock, Swyre, Puncknowle, West Bexington, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Langton Herring, Chickerell, Fleet, Wyke Regis -
29
Day 29: Weymouth → Kimmeridge
31.0 km · 906 m ascent · 9h16–13h04 (about 10h53, incl. ~1h49 of stops)
Via Preston, Sutton Poyntz, Osmington, West Lulworth, East Lulworth -
30
Day 30: Kimmeridge → South Haven Point
34.5 km · 666 m ascent · 9h34–13h30 (about 11h15, incl. ~1h52 of stops)
Via Kingston, Worth Matravers, Langton Matravers, Durlston, Swanage, Studland
Solve the practical questions
Plan South West Coast Path with confidence
Route-specific answers from Get Oot's researched trail data, with the planner ready when you want to turn them into your own trip.