Overview
Walking the South West Coast Path is a journey along the UK’s longest walking trail at over 1,000km, clinging to the coasts of Somerset, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. This seven day, self-guided walking holiday covers the section from Mevagissey to Plymouth, staying in a mix of small, locally-owned hotels. The walk includes iconic Cornish natural reserves on the approach to Plymouth, the largest city on the path. You also pass through some of Cornwall’s prettiest villages with Charlestown, Looe and Polperro topping the list, and historic sites at every headland. If secret coves, rocky peninsulas and paths that take you well away from crowds appeal, then walking the South West Coast Path hits the spot.
- Ropenhaven Cliffs Nature Reserve
- Mount Edgemund Country Park
- Battern Cliffs
- Rame Head
- Charlestown
- Looe
- Polperro
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Mevagissey
Arrive in the historic village of Mevagissey. Now a popular destination for walkers and holidaymakers alike, its 14th-century roots as a fishing settlement are still maintained with an active and sizeable fishing fleet. Explore the bays around the twin harbour and narrow alleyways laced with pubs and restaurants, which showcase the best of Cornish culture.
- Accommodation: The Wheelhouse or similar in Mevagissey
Day 2: Mevagissey – Charlestown | 11.6km
Setting off from the fishing village of Mevagissey, this route takes you to sea cliffs and hidden beaches. Climb and descend staircases around the edge of the coast, passing Pentewan and its beach, before climbing to Black Head and continuing into the woodlands of Ropehaven Cliffs Nature Reserve. The cliff steps continue to rise and fall past Dunporth, eventually arriving at Charlestown, a lovely fishing village with unspoiled Georgian port and architecture, on the outskirts of St Austell.
- Walking for the day: 11.6km, ↑545m ↓533m
- Accommodation: Rashleigh Arms or similar in Charlestown or St Austell
Day 3: Charlestown – Fowey | 16.9km
Walk from Charlestown’s harbour, passing the china clay works which are still active, and continue through the dunes of Par Sands and Polmear. From here, the path breezes past the waterfront village of Polkerris, zig-zags through beech woodlands and around Gribben Head, where the path becomes gradually more rugged. End the day exploring the nooks and crannies of Fowey village, where the narrow, winding streets boast rich and varied history from The Tristan Stone, a 6th century monolith, to Norman churches and Tudor castles.
- Walking for the day: 16.9km, ↑368m ↓374m
- Accommodation: The Ship Inn or similar in Fowey
Day 4: Fowey – Polperro | 11.5km
Begin with a ferry across the harbour (payable locally) to Polruan quay and walk around the coastal edge of the village. From here, the rugged cliff paths ascend and descend, featuring staircases and footbridges that connect high, clifftop headlands with streams, waterfalls and beaches below. Much of this section, protected by the National Trust, has inspired generations of artists and writers including Daphne du Maurier. End the day in Polperro, which, though increasingly popular with tourists, still maintains a small fishing fleet from its narrow harbour.
- Walking for the day: 11.5km, ↑503m ↓507m
- Accommodation: Penryn House or similar in Polperro
Day 5: Polperro – Portwrinkle/Crafthole | 22km
Cliff paths mark the way from Polperro to Talland Bay, with steps heading up, down and around the headlands surrounding Portnadler Bay. Take in views of St George’s Island as the route passes through Looe. The path then climbs to continue along Battern Cliffs, with one of the highest points in Cornwall offering views ahead to Portwrinkle and the expansive sands of Whitsand Bay beyond. Continue down from the Battern Cliffs and over Britain Point to Portwrinkle, with its small beach and 17th century harbour, before heading slightly inland to end the day in Crafthole, a village that was notorious for smuggling rum until the late 19th century.
- Walking for the day: 22km, ↑675m ↓593m
- Accommodation: The Liskawn or similar in Crafthole
Day 6: Portwrinkle – Plymouth | 23km
This final section leads to the largest city on the South West Coast Path and marks the eastern edge of Cornwall. The rugged Cornish landscape still presents some challenges, with short, steep ascents and descents, although the path mellows through long stretches of woodland for the latter half. Dotted with historic sights including Shallow Grotto and Rame Church, this section eventually drifts through Mount Edgecumbe Country Park to the final ferry into Plymouth (paid locally).
- Walking for the day: 23km, ↑308m ↓325m
- Accommodation: New Continental Hotel or similar in Plymouth
Day 7: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village pubs and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated as moderate/strenuous, with daily distances ranging from 11-23km. While not too demanding, the route follows the coast quite closely, and it includes plenty of elevation gains and losses and some steep sections (read more about difficulty grades). The route is well waymarked and easy to follow, we will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from March to October. It is best enjoyed in the spring and autumn when there are fewer people on the trails. However, it is best during the summer months, too and there will always be spots where you won’t see a soul. You may see a seal though.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season. For more information, see our blogs, Best time to visit England and Everything you need to know about the South West Coast Path.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens).
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Bristol Airport (BRS) and London Heathrow (LHR).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Cornwall without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail and bus with a train station in St. Austell and then by connecting bus to Mevagissey. For more details see GWR for timetables or use the Omio planner above.
- Departing from Plymouth couldn’t be easier, with a major train station offering direct trains to Bristol, London and beyond.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the UK is implementing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many countries around the world. Up until 08 January, the ETA requirement only applied to nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
On 08 January 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to visitors from eligible non-European countries, including Australian, Canadian and US nationals. Then, on 02 April 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to eligible European countries, referring to most of Europe.
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 6 nights accommodation
- 6 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (accommodation list, GPS map of the route, baggage transfer information, itineraries, route information of cafes, restaurants, local bus timetables, etc.)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office / representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Local ferries across rivers and estuaries on the route
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
