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. 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 · 1,256 m ascent · 10h58–15h28 (about 12h53, incl. ~2h09 of stops)
Via Allerford, Bossington, Porlock, Oare, Brendon -
2
Day 2: Lynmouth → Berrynarbor
23.3 km · 1,456 m ascent · 8h17–11h43 (about 9h46, incl. ~1h38 of stops)
Via Barbrook, Lynbridge, Lynton, Martinhoe, Combe Martin -
3
Day 3: Berrynarbor → Croyde
30.6 km · 959 m ascent · 9h20–13h11 (about 10h59, incl. ~1h50 of stops)
Via Ilfracombe, Lee, Mortehoe, Woolacombe, Georgeham -
4
Day 4: Croyde → Bideford
38.2 km · 104 m ascent · 9h14–13h02 (about 10h52, 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 · 784 m ascent · 8h52–12h31 (about 10h25, incl. ~1h44 of stops)
Via Northam, Appledore, Westward Ho!, Abbotsham, Bucks Mills, Cranford, Woolfardisworthy -
6
Day 6: Clovelly → Bude
41.3 km · 1,487 m ascent · 13h–18h22 (about 15h18, incl. ~2h33 of stops)
Via Welcombe, Morwenstow, Flexbury -
7
Day 7: Bude → Tintagel
35.2 km · 1,395 m ascent · 11h17–15h55 (about 13h16, incl. ~2h13 of stops)
Via Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Poundstock, Higher Crackington, Middle Crackington, Crackington Haven, Boscastle -
8
Day 8: Tintagel → Padstow
34.3 km · 1,051 m ascent · 10h23–14h40 (about 12h13, incl. ~2h02 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 · 811 m ascent · 11h–15h32 (about 12h56, incl. ~2h10 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 · 752 m ascent · 10h05–14h15 (about 11h52, 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 · 668 m ascent · 9h35–13h32 (about 11h16, incl. ~1h53 of stops)
Via Portreath, Connor Downs, Angarrack, Phillack, Hayle, St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Uny Lelant, Carbis Bay, Halsetown -
12
Day 12: St Ives → St Just
30.8 km · 996 m ascent · 9h23–13h15 (about 11h02, incl. ~1h50 of stops)
Via Zennor, Porthmeor, Morvah, Bojewyan, Pendeen, Boscaswell, Trewellard -
13
Day 13: St Just → Penzance
34.7 km · 711 m ascent · 9h44–13h45 (about 11h28, incl. ~1h55 of stops)
Via Mayon, Sennen, Sennen Cove, Porthcurno, Treen, Lamorna, Mousehole, Paul, Tredavoe, Newlyn -
14
Day 14: Penzance → Mullion
33.2 km · 646 m ascent · 9h13–13h (about 10h50, incl. ~1h49 of stops)
Via Heamoor, Gulval, Longrock, Ludgvan, Crowlas, Marazion, Perranuthnoe, Goldsithney, St. Hilary, Rosudgeon, Germoe, Praa Sands, Ashton, Breage, Porthleven -
15
Day 15: Mullion → Porthoustock
34.7 km · 774 m ascent · 9h51–13h54 (about 11h35, incl. ~1h56 of stops)
Via Lizard, St. Ruan, Cadgwith, Ruan Minor, Kuggar, Coverack, St. Keverne -
16
Day 16: Porthoustock → St. Mawes
37.1 km · 518 m ascent · 9h52–13h56 (about 11h37, incl. ~1h56 of stops)
Via Manaccan, Helford, Porth Navas, Mawnan, Mawnan Smith, Maenporth, Budock Water, Falmouth, Flushing, Mylor Churchtown -
17
Day 17: St. Mawes → Gorran Haven
37.1 km · 932 m ascent · 10h45–15h10 (about 12h38, incl. ~2h07 of stops)
Via Bohortha, Gerrans, Portscatho, Trewithian, Veryan, Portloe -
18
Day 18: Gorran Haven → Fowey
33.7 km · 743 m ascent · 9h32–13h28 (about 11h14, incl. ~1h52 of stops)
Via Portmellon, Mevagissey, Pentewan, Charlestown, Par, St Blazey, Tywardreath -
19
Day 19: Fowey → Crafthole
33.6 km · 1,042 m ascent · 10h09–14h20 (about 11h56, 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
39.1 km · 624 m ascent · 10h35–14h56 (about 12h27, incl. ~2h04 of stops)
Via Antony, St. John, Freathy, Millbrook, Cawsand, Kingsand, Torpoint, Plymouth -
21
Day 21: Down Thomas → Bigbury-on-Sea
29.7 km · 683 m ascent · 8h29–11h58 (about 9h59, incl. ~1h40 of stops)
Via Heybrook Bay, Wembury, Newton Ferrers, Mothecombe, Kingston, Ringmore -
22
Day 22: Bigbury-on-Sea → East Prawle
30.8 km · 762 m ascent · 8h54–12h34 (about 10h28, incl. ~1h44 of stops)
Via Bigbury, Thurlestone, South Milton, Galmpton, Hope, Malborough, Salcombe, East Portlemouth -
23
Day 23: East Prawle → Dartmouth
27.2 km · 750 m ascent · 8h02–11h20 (about 9h27, incl. ~1h34 of stops)
Via Chivelstone, South Hallsands, North Hallsands, Kellaton, Beesands, Beeson, Torcross, Stokenham, Slapton, Strete, Stoke Fleming -
24
Day 24: Dartmouth → Torquay
31.3 km · 882 m ascent · 9h17–13h07 (about 10h56, incl. ~1h49 of stops)
Via Kingswear, Brixham, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton, Paignton -
25
Day 25: Torquay → Exmouth
34.4 km · 891 m ascent · 10h02–14h10 (about 11h48, incl. ~1h58 of stops)
Via Stokeinteignhead, Ringmore, Shaldon, Teignmouth, Holcombe, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Cockwood, Starcross, Kenton -
26
Day 26: Exmouth → Beer
34.3 km · 1,121 m ascent · 10h29–14h49 (about 12h20, incl. ~2h04 of stops)
Via Knowle, Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh, Otterton, Sidmouth, Salcombe Regis, Branscombe -
27
Day 27: Beer → Eype
29.2 km · 996 m ascent · 9h02–12h44 (about 10h37, 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 · 313 m ascent · 9h39–13h37 (about 11h21, incl. ~1h53 of stops)
Via Bridport, Bothenhampton, Shipton Gorge, Burton Bradstock, Swyre, Puncknowle, West Bexington, Abbotsbury, Portesham, Langton Herring, Fleet, Chickerell, Wyke Regis -
29
Day 29: Weymouth → Kimmeridge
31.0 km · 905 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 · 653 m ascent · 9h32–13h28 (about 11h13, 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 Trailstrider's researched trail data, with the planner ready when you want to turn them into your own trip.