The Full South West Coast Path

You can use public transport, local taxis or our baggage van may be able to move you to the next overnight stop. Full details are provided.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate hikers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation.

As this is a big undertaking, we suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalized, as the regions in the South West Coast Path are extremely popular over the summer months. Due to the logistics of booking over 50 accommodations, we cannot accept last-minute bookings and need at least a month's notice.

No, this tour is not suitable for anyone suffering from vertigo or fear of heights, as there are sections where you are hiking along steep cliff-side paths.

You can purchase train tickets on the day of departure directly at the station. However, if your journey involves a major city (e.g. London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Manchester), we strongly recommend booking your tickets and reserving seats in advance. This is especially important for your arrival and onward travel. Booking early ensures availability and often provides better fares.
For convenience, consider using Trainline, a user-friendly platform for purchasing train tickets. Trainline allows you to store e-tickets on your phone, eliminating the need to collect physical tickets at the station. All ticket inspectors are familiar with this system, making it hassle-free.

Top Tip:
When booking UK train travel, avoid peak travel times to ensure a less crowded journey and access to cheaper fares. Typically, we suggest:

Avoiding departures before 10:00 am.

Steering clear of travel between 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm, as these are peak commuting hours.

Traveling off-peak can make your experience more comfortable and cost-effective.

The South West Coast Path is approximately 630 miles (1,014 kilometers) long. It is the longest continuous National Trail in the UK, running along the coastline of southwest England, from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset, passing through Devon and Cornwall along the way.

Our standard itinerary to complete the full South West Coast Path takes 57 days, or about eight weeks of continuous hiking. Adding rest days every 7 to 10 days is recommended to stay energized, recover, and prevent injury, bringing the total closer to 65 days. Popular spots for rest days include Westward Ho!, Padstow, Newquay, St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Plymouth, Lyme Regis, and Lulworth. If completing the entire trail at once isn’t an option, don’t worry—we offer flexible itineraries to tackle it in stages, so you can enjoy the adventure at your own pace.

Did you know: In 'The Salt Path' memoir and film, Raynor Winn and her husband Moth walked the entire path over 100 days. With no fixed schedule and faced with the challenges of homelessness and Moth’s deteriorating health, they moved at a gentler, more flexible pace—showing that there’s no one “right” way to take on the trail.

No, the South West Coast Path is officially a hiking trail and is not suitable for bikes. For those looking to cycle on the South West Coast Path, why not check out our Cornwall Cycling tour?

The South West Coast Path National Trail officially starts in Minehead and follows the coastline through Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset, ending at Poole Harbour.

The South West Coast Path officially ends at Poole Harbor in Dorset. This marks the conclusion of the 630-mile journey that begins in Minehead!

630 miles (1,014 kilometers) long, making it the longest continuous national trail in the UK.

The South West Coast Path is safe but comes with some challenges. Sections near cliffs require caution, especially in windy or wet weather, and uneven terrain with steep ascents can be tough. Coastal weather changes quickly, so check forecasts and watch out for high tides on certain sections.

Although the water along the trail may look clear and refreshing, it's not safe to drink directly from streams or rivers. These natural sources can contain harmful bacteria, parasites, or agricultural runoff that could make you unwell. To stay safe and hydrated, we recommend filling up your water bottle before leaving your accommodation or picking one up from a local shop. Or why not try a Water-to-Go bottle with a built-in filtration system? Thanks to our partnership with Water-to-Go, Macs Adventure customers can enjoy cleaner, safer drinking water wherever the path takes them. Our customers and staff can get 30% off Water-to-Go with code MA30 and help reduce single-use plastic on the trails.

The South West Coast Path runs around the southwest of England following the westernmost tip of the Cornwall Peninsula. It begins in Minehead, Somerset, on the edge of Exmoor (about 180 miles from London), and follows the dramatic coastline through North Devon, the entire length of Cornwall, along the South Devon coast, and finishes in Poole Harbour, Dorset. Along the way, it takes in an incredible variety of scenery, from towering cliffs and sandy beaches to quaint fishing villages and historic harbors.

There’s no fixed rule for which direction to walk the South West Coast Path, but most people choose to go anti-clockwise around the peninsula—starting in Minehead and finishing in Poole. At Macs, this is the only direction we currently offer for all our South West Coast Path itineraries.

If you can't commit to walking the full 630 miles of the South West Coast Path? No worries! At Macs, we offer the route in manageable stages, allowing you to explore at your own pace. Each stage has its unique charm, but the most popular ones include Stage 2 - Westward Ho! to Padstow, Stage 3 - Padstow to St Ives, and Stage 4 - St Ives to Penzance. For those looking to do things with a bit more comfort on the South West Coast Path, we also offer a Slow Adventure and In Style tour in Cornwall.

Catching ferries along the South West Coast Path adds a charming and practical twist to the journey, linking stretches of rugged coastline where bridges are few and far between. These small passenger ferries, often seasonal and tide-dependent, provide a unique way to cross rivers and estuaries—such as at Dartmouth, Fowey, and the Helford River—offering hikers a welcome break and a scenic ride. Typically operating from April to October, ferry crossing details are conveniently available on the Macs App.