South West Coast Path Itinerary

South West Coast Path Itinerary

I thru-hiked the UK South West Coast Path during June and July 2018. As it turns out I timed my hike to coincide perfectly with a very hot, sunny UK summer.  The trail took 43 days in total, with a few short days and only 2 full rest days. I only had a couple of days of rain.

The South West Coast Path is obviously a completely different beast to New Zealand’s Te Araroa trail. It is 1014 kms (630 miles) – a third of the distance of Te Araroa trail but with half of the elevation gain – so don’t expect it to be too easy!

I was surprised at how easy it was to wild camp along the path, and I spent 14 nights camping in nature. In hindsight, I wish I’d done more of it. Click on the red links below to view my blog for that day.

South West Coast Path From > To

1. Minehead to Porlock Weir Countisbury (lift to Orchard b&b Lynmouth) – B&B
2. Countisbury to Combe Martin Newberry Valley Caravan Park – camp
3. Combe Martin to Woolacombe dunes – wild camp
4. Woolacombe to The Vicarage b&b Barnstaple – B&B
5. Barnstaple to Westward Ho (camp 2kms out of town towards Hartland) – wild camp
6. Westward Ho to Hartland Quay (camp in Smoothlands Valley between Hartland Point & Hartland Quay) – wild camp
7. Hartland Quay to Bude Upper Lynstone Caravan and Camping – camp
8. Bude to Crackington Haven (camp 2kms out of town) – wild camp
9. Crackington Haven to Tintagel Headland campsite – camp
10. Tintagel to  Polzeath Tristam Campsite – camp
11. Polzeath to Mawgan Porth Magic Cove Campsite – camp
12. Mawgan Porth to Trevaunance Cove Blue Hills Campsite – camp
13. Trevaunance Cove to Gwithian Farm Campsite – camp
14. Gwithian to Gurnard’s Head (camp above Treen Cliff) – wild camp
15. Gurnard’s Head to past Sennen Cove Maen Castle Fort – wild camp
16. Maen Castle Fort to Porthcurno Treen Farm Campsite – camp
17. Porthcurno to Marazion Dove Meadows Campsite – camp
18. Marazion rest day – camp
19. Marazion to Predannack Head (camp on headland) – wild camp
20. Predannack Head, Kynance, Lizard to Pedn Myn, Coverack (just before Lowland Point) – wild camp
21. Lowland Point to  Maenporth Campsite – camp
22. Maenporth to Falmouth Seaview Inn b&b – B&B
23. Falmouth to Black Rock, Porthlune Cove – wild camp
24. Porthlune Cove to Carlyon Bay Campsite – camp
25. Carlyon Bay to Polruan Caravan and Camping – camp
26. Polruan to Polperro House on the props b&b – B&B
27. Polperro to Trethill Cliffs beyond Porthwrinkle – wild camp
28. Trethill Cliffs to Plymouth (then off-trail to Bodmin) – stayed with friends
29. Bodmin rest day – stayed with friends
30. Plymouth Mountbatten Point to Gunrows Down Hilsea Point (below abandoned coastguard cottage) – wild camp
31. Hilsea Point to Soar Mill Cove – wild camp
32. Soar Mill Cove to Slapton Ley Nature reserve (middle car park) – wild camp
33. Slapton Ley to Sharkham Point Brixham Upton Manor Campsite – camp
34. Brixham to Torquay Glendower b&b – B&B
35. Torquay to Teignmouth – trail angel
36. Teignmouth to High Peak Hill (just before Sidmouth) – wild camp
37. Sidmouth to Stonebarrow Hill Charmouth – wild camp
38. Stonebarrow Hill to Fleet Sea Barn Farm – camp
39. Fleet to Island of Portland Royal Breakwater Hotel – B&B
40. Portland to Osmington Mills Rosewall campsite – camp
41. Osmington Mills to Lulworth Cove YHA – camp
42. Lulworth Cove to Langton Matravers Acton fields camping – camp
43. Langton Matravers to South Haven Point (ferry to Sandbanks)