It's Britain's best-loved footpath, and no wonder! The South West of England is renowned for its superb and immensely varied coastline and there's no better way to enjoy it than on foot.
The South West Coast Path National Trail traces the coast of Exmoor, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset for 630 stunning miles.
Away from the hustle and bustle, you can slow down and soak up the stunning coastal scenery at your leisure. Take in a picturesque harbour or tranquil river estuary, stride out along the exhilarating Atlantic coast or discover your own secret cove. All this and more lie along the route. The sheer variety of the coast path means that there are plenty of short and gentle stretches as well as more dramatic headlands and steep coastal valleys.
It's easy to take a short stroll on the South West Coast Path, from a coastal village or car park or even from the beach. You'll find it's well-looked after and signed with the words 'Coast Path' and the National Trail acorn. You can't really get lost anyway if you keep the sea on one side!
The official South West Coast Path website (www.southwestcoastpath.com) has lots of information to help you get to know the local coastline, including descriptions of over 60 walks from all parts of the path.
They have all been recommended by people who know it well, who can tell you about things of interest along the way as well as the route.
To find the walk search page, click on the flashing acorn on the signpost on the home page. You can then choose a walk by location, length and difficulty or even by interest such as wildlife, geology, scenery or heritage.
Each walk can be downloaded complete with a map. There are even walks that are free of obstacles and steep slopes and so likely to be suitable for people with mobility problems, pushchairs, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Whether you choose a walk from the official website, or plan your own coast path walk, apart from the dazzling views, you’ll have the chance to discover so many other things:
Coast path wildlife: Carpets of flowers in spring and early summer, migrating birds and butterflies. If you’re really lucky a seal or that elusive pod of dolphins.
Coast path towns and villages: Fishing harbours, bustling ports like Falmouth and Plymouth, tiny hamlets, Regency and Victorian resorts.
Coast path geology: Millions of years of earth history laid bare in the cliffs, dramatically folded rocks, the newly created Torbay Geopark and the entire Dorset and East Devon Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Coast path heritage: Clifftop castles and hillforts, lighthouses and shipping daymarks, the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site
Where else in the world could you choose from 630 superb miles of coastal walking? Adventure and exhilaration or peace and tranquility - you can find them all and a lot more besides on the South West Coast Path National Trail.
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