Overview
The South West Coast Path is England’s longest waymarked long-distance footpath and National Trail and one of England’s national treasures. Stretching 1,013km from Minehead in Somerset, the route curls around the entire peninsula of Devon and Cornwall and rounds the south-western tip of England at Land’s End and follows the southern shore through the dramatic scenery of Dorset. This northern section undulates along the coast from Padstow to St Ives, visiting the surfer’s paradise of Newquay. These are of course popular epicentres for tourism in the summer months, but dotted along the coast are also tiny thatched-roofed villages, old tin and silver mining towns and harbours.
- Padstow’s old harbour
- Trevose Head Lighthouse
- Newquay
- St Agnes Head
- St Ives
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Padstow
Arrive in Padstow, a town named after St. Petroc, and where a church of the same name forms part of a trio believed to have been established by the saint. Spend the evening in Padstow, exploring its historic fishing port, the focal point of the town. Padstow has a thriving food scene, with a wide range of dining options from Michelin-starred to cosy cafes.
- Accommodation: The Old Ship Hotel or similar in Padstow
Day 2: Padstow – Porthcothan | 22.5km
To start the day, trace the shores of the Camel Estuary toward Stepper Point, maybe catching a glimpse of the infamous Doom Bar, an offshore sandbar responsible for countless shipwrecks over the centuries. Continue on past secluded coves to the natural limestone and slate arch of Porthmissen Bridge, before heading to Trevone Bay, and later Trevose Head Lighthouse, offering sweeping vistas of both St Ives and Newquay. Finally, follow the path southward to descend to Porthcothan Bay, where there’s a golden sandy beach and numerous rock pools and caves to explore.
- Walking for the day: 22.5km, ↑358m ↓357m
- Accommodation: Macdonald’s Farm or similar in Porthcothan
Day 3: Porthcothan – Newquay | 16.8km
Ascending from the bay, the trail leads up to Park Head, with vistas of Bedruthan Steps, a collection of rock formations that have captivated tourists since the railway reached Newquay in 1875. Passing through Mawgan Porth, the path follows the cliffs overlooking Watergate Bay. Before Newquay, the route meets Trevelgue Head, home to the largest Iron Age fort remnants in the county. End the day in Newquay, with its golden beaches earning its reputation as Britain’s surfing capital. Newquay is a bustling town with a wide variety of cafes and restaurants to visit in the evening.
- Walking for the day: 16.8km, ↑475m ↓454m
- Accommodation: Kilbirnie Hotel or similar in Newquay
Day 4: Newquay – Perranporth | 24.8km
Departing from the harbour, head up to Towan Head, passing by the whitewashed Huer’s Hut, once a lookout point where watchmen would announce the arrival of pilchard shoals to awaiting fishermen. Follow the cliffs around Pentire Point to the ferry crossing at Gannel River (payable locally). Continue on to Kelsey Head, the site of an Iron Age fort before descending to Holywell, named after an ancient well. Depending on tide levels, you can reach the village of Perranporth either via the beach or along the cliff path. While today the beach is a haven for surfers, during the 18th and 19th century Perranporth was smuggling central.
- Walking for the day: 24.8km, ↑404m ↓430m
- Accommodation: The Seiners Arms or similar in Perranporth
Day 5: Perranporth – Portreath | 19.6km
Today’s route is relatively gentle, along well-trodden paths, occasionally dipping into valleys. Take in abandoned mineshafts and the remnants of tin mines on the approach to St Agnes, before descending to Trevellas Porth then Trevaunance Cove, where a charming waterside pub awaits. Continuing on, the path descends past the ruins of Wheal Coates Mine to the sandy inlet of Chapel Porthand, and later Porthtowan beach, before following the cliff path to the harbour at Portreath.
- Walking for the day: 19.6km, ↑712m ↓710m
- Accommodation: Portreath Arms or similar in Portreath
Day 6: Portreath – Hayle | 18.9km
Start the day with a slightly challenging ascent of Tregea Hill, followed by North Cliffs, a stretch of land maintained by the National Trust. This section traverses Carvannel and Reskajeage Downs, offering stunning views out to sea. Along the way, take in the dramatic breach in the cliffs known as Hell’s Mouth and keep an eye out for grey seals at Navax Point. Continue on to Godrevy Point, home to the iconic lighthouse perched on Godrevy Island, believed to have inspired Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse. Finally the path winds through the Towans sand dunes to Hayle. Hayle has strong links with Cornwall’s mining history, with its harbour and foundry having UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
- Walking for the day: 18.9km, ↑400m ↓403m
- Accommodation: The White Hart Hotel or similar in Hayle
Day 7: Hayle – St Ives | 10.2km
Follow the path that skirts Hayle Estuary, a habitat to diverse seabirds and waders, then traverse the dunes above Porth Kidney before arriving in Carbis Bay. Continue on for the final stretch, walking trough St Ives Harbour with its sandy beach as far as St Ives Head. As this is a shorter day, you have ample time to explore this pretty town, renowned for its museums and galleries, including Tate St Ives and the iconic Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
- Walking for the day: 10.2km, ↑161m ↓152m
- Accommodation: Primrose House or similar in St Ives
Day 8: 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
- The Old Ship Hotel (Padstow)
- Macdonald’s Farm (Porthcothan)
- Kilbirnie Hotel (Newquay)
- The Seiners Arms (Perranporth)
- Portreath Arms (Portreath)
- The White Hart Hotel (Hayle)
- Primrose House (St Ives)
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 often have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village pubs and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rates as moderate, with daily distances ranging from 10-25km. 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 strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from March until October. It is best enjoyed in the spring and autumn when fewer people are on the trails; however, it is lovely during the summer months too, and the Coast Path takes you away from the main tourist haunts quite quickly.
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 Heathrow (LHR) in London.
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 at Bodmin Parkway then by connecting bus (28mins) to Padstow. For more details see GWR for timetables or use the Omio planner above.
- You can get back from St Ives by train to London and other major cities (via St Erth). Coach or taxi to Newquay Airport is also possible.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IIMPORTANT: 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
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (your 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
- 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
