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. On this itinerary, you take on the Westward Ho! to Padstow section, heading from Devon into Cornwall. En route you follow some spectacular coastal undulations and valleys, dip down into tiny traditional fishing villages such as Clovelly and Port Isaac, and to the vast beach of Bude. The trip comes to a close in the pretty town of Padstow, one of England’s most famous foodie and fish spots.
- Hartland Devon Heritage Coast Nature Reserve
- Hartland Cornwall Heritage Coast Nature Reserve
- Blackchurch Rock
- Bideford Bay
- Tintagel Castle
- Port Isaac
- Padstow
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Westward Ho!
Arrive in Westward Ho!, a seaside town in Devon named after Charles Kingsley’s book of the same name. Westward Ho! is a popular spot for surfers and swimmers with its long sandy beach and numerous rock pools to explore. Spend the day exploring the town or indulge in a cream tea on the seafront.
Accommodation: The Waterfront Inn or similar in Westward Ho!
Day 2: Westward Ho! – Clovelly | 18.4km
Head south from Westward Ho! up onto clifftop paths to take in panoramic coastal views to start the day. Cross the stream at Peppercombe Valley, following the path into ancient oak woods. Continue on past Buck Mills Cove before descending to the fishing village of Clovelly, tonight’s final destination. Clovelly is a privately-owned village, and a beautiful place to wander around, with ancient cobbled streets and traditional flower-strewn cottages.
- Walking for the day: 18.4km, ↑697m ↓596m
- Accommodation: The New Inn or similar in Clovelly
Day 3: Clovelly – Hartland Quay | 16.7km
Heading off from the village you pass through ancient woodland offering the occasional glimpse out to sea. The path then heads around the Hartland Peninsula, passing the uniquely shaped Blackchurch Rock, where you often spot grey seals as well as a variety of sea birds. The area feels increasingly remote as it takes you past waterfalls and small rocky beaches before reaching Hartland Quay. Hartland Quay is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a significant history linked to shipwrecks and smuggling.
- Walking for the day: 16.7km, ↑773m ↓801m
- Accommodation: Hartland Quay Hotel or similar in Hartland Quay
Day 4: Hartland Quay – Morwenstow via Milford | 15.9km
As you enter Cornwall, you take on the first half of one of the most challenging, yet rewarding sections of the South West Coast Path. The path ascends and descends past waterfalls and river valleys as far as Morwenstow, once home to Parson R.S. Hawker, author of the famous Trelawney, often referred to as the Cornish national anthem. Morwenstow has a history of shipwrecks in the area, including the Caledonia of Arbroath in the 19th century, whose figurehead is still displayed in the Church of St Morwenna and St John the Baptist.
Please note: the route currently heads via Milford due to a diversion in place while damage to the path is repairs.
- Walking for the day: 15.9km, ↑797m ↓696m
- Accommodation: The Bush Inn or similar in Morwenstow
Day 5: Morwenstow – Bude | 12.3km
Continue south from Morwenstow along the rolling hills of the coastal path. Pass Hawker’s Hut, an iconic preserved hut built from the remains of old shipwrecks that dates back to the 1800s. Continue on to where the cliffs gradually dip down to beaches, and the path gets easier in its approach to the town of Bude, which has an enormous sea swimming pool. Bude has been a popular seaside spot since Victorian times with award-winning beaches as well as the Bude canal, a relic of 19th-century engineering opening out into the sea.
- Walking for the day: 12.3km, ↑599m ↓707m
- Accommodation: The Brendon Arms or similar in Bude
Day 6: Bude – Crackington Haven | 16.2km
Start the day around Efford Down on the southern bay of Bude’s enormous sandy beach and walk past Phillip’s Point Nature Reserve toward Widemouth Bay. The path then continues along clifftops that showcase extraordinary geology, while dipping into the occasional valley with secluded beaches. At the end of the day, you come to the village of Crackington Haven, popular with visitors for its secluded beach location and sandstone cliffs.
- Walking for the day: 16.2km, ↑695m ↓692m
- Accommodation: The Coombe Barton Inn or similar in Crackington Haven
Day 7: Crackington Haven – Tintagel | 18.5km
Continuing south through Cornwall, today’s walk features sheer cliffs and steep valleys, such as High Cliff, Cornwall’s highest cliff (223m). There is a strong mystical legend and archeological presence here too, as legends of King Arthur surround the area. It is said that more Roman pottery has been excavated here than in the entirety of the rest of Britain combined. Spend the night in Tintagel with a visit to Tintagel Castle or Merlin’s Cave if time allows.
Please note: there is an option to skip one of the more challenging sections of today’s hike at Beeny Cliff with a diversion to reduce the total elevation gain by 150m. This route can also be split with an extra night at Boscastle.
- Walking for the day: 18.5km, ↑1,213m ↓1,132m
- Accommodation: The Cornishman or similar in Tintagel
Day 8: Tintagel – Port Isaac | 14.4km
Leaving Port Isaac, the landscape and geology begin to change here as slate rock and grasslands become prevalent. Take the time to pause along the clifftops to catch a glimpse of the peregrine falcons that often appear here. The day ends in Port Isaac, a village with narrow, winding streets and whitewashed cottages overlooking the harbour. Port Isaac has a longstanding link with fishing dating back to the early 14th century.
- Walking for the day: 14.4km, ↑932m ↓977m
- Accommodation: The Slipway or similar in Port Isaac
Day 9: Port Isaac – Padstow | 19.1km
Start the day with a climb out of Port Isaac, overlooking the sheltered port, before continuing along the path as it undulates through valleys, coves and beaches as you reach the north of Padstow. The walk ends with a ferry across the River Camel from Rock into Padstow (payable locally). Spend the evening in Padstow, a historic fishing port with a thriving food scene.
- Walking for the day: 19.1km, ↑1,113m ↓1,156m
- Accommodation: The Old Ship Hotel or similar in Padstow
Day 10: 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 Waterfront Inn (Westward Ho!)
- The New Inn (Clovelly)
- Hartland Quay Hotel (Hartland Quay)
- The Bush Inn (Morwenstow)
- The Brendon Arms (Bude)
- The Coombe Barton Inn (Crackington Haven)
- The Cornishman (Tintagel)
- The Slipway (Port Isaac)
- The Old Ship Hotel (Padstow)
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 each day. 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 classed as moderate to strenuous, with daily distances ranging from 12-19km. while not consistently 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 there are fewer people 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. Check out our blog for Everything you need to know about the South West Coast Path national trail. and Best time to visit England.
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 Devon and Cornwall without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail and bus with a train station in Barnstaple and then by connecting bus (25mins) to Westward Ho! For more details see GWR for timetables or use the Omio planner above.
- You can get back from Padstow by taking a bus or taxi (28mins) to Bodmin Parkway train station to catch the train to major UK cities.
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
- 9 nights accommodation
- 9 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
- 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
