Enjoy the very best of the South West of England from our choice of four tours along the South West Coast Path.

Somerset & North Devon
Minehead to Woolacombe - Marking the official starting point of the South West Coast Path, discover the stunning Exmoor National Park all the way to the golden sands at Woolacombe.

Cornwall
Crantock to St Ives - Discover smugglers' coves, thatched villages and untouched sandy beaches as you follow the trail to the splendid harbour town of St Ives.

South Devon
Plymouth to Dartmouth - This magnificent route winds along dramatic cliff tops and peaceful sandy coves to the sailing town of Dartmouth.

Dorset
Lyme Regis to Lulworth Cove - Follow this stunning trail past fossil-rich beaches, beautiful villages and dramatic rock formations like Durdle Door, to the chalk cove at Lulworth.

Highlights The best of the 630 mile coast path Pretty thatched villages & stunning coastal scenery Idyllic sandy beaches Eat out and enjoy fine English food at traditional country pubs and restaurants Rugged coastline with secluded coves and bays

Detailed information

	Detailed itinerary
	Type of Walking
	Dates and prices
	Travel to and from your holiday
	Your accommodation and meals
	Average temperatures
	Extend your stay
	Why not try...

Detailed itinerary

Somerset & North Devon - Minehead to Woolacombe
Where better to begin your journey along this monumental national trail, than from Minehead, the official starting point of the South West Coast Path. Discover the stunning Exmoor National Park, ride the cliff railway from Lynmouth to Lynton, and relax on the golden beach at Woolacombe.

A harder itinerary from Minehead to Woolacombe Sands is also available - click here for further details.

Day 1: arrive at your friendly accommodation at Minehead, the official start of the South West Coast Path.

Day 2: experience the beautiful rugged landscape of the Exmoor National Park as you walk over Selworthy Beacon to the pretty hamlet of Porlock Weir. (9½ miles, 1,000ft of ascent)

Day 3: discover the lovely little church in Culbourne and walk to the famous twin towns of Lynmouth and Lynton. (11½ miles, 1,850ft of ascent)

Day 4: an easy day's walk as you continue along the trail, through the Valley of Rocks and along the coast to the inn at Heddon's Mouth. (5 miles, 1,300ft of ascent)

Day 5: a steep ascent to the top of the Great Hangman brings splendid views on the way to Combe Martin. (7 miles, 1,800ft of ascent)

Day 6: from Combe Martin visit the historic seaside town of Ilfracombe and complete your walk to the secluded cove of Lee Bay, before a short transfer to Woolacombe. (8½ miles, 1,400ft)

Day 7: depart after breakfast or extend your stay.

Cornwall - Crantock to St Ives
Rich in ancient history and Celtic traditions, the mystical Cornish coastline has been attracting visitors to its shores for thousands of years. From Crantock discover smugglers' coves, thatched villages and untouched sandy beaches as you follow the trail to the splendid harbour town of St Ives.

Day 1: arrive at your friendly accommodation in the peaceful village of Crantock.

Day 2: discover remnants of Cornwall's mining history and pass along the sweeping golden beach of Perran Sands until you reach the town of Perranporth. (9 miles, 750ft of ascent)

Day 3: continue along the coast from Perranporth to reach the lovely village of St Agnes with its interesting shops and art galleries. (6 miles, 550ft of ascent)

Day 4: round St Agnes Head, follow the path past Bawden Rocks, rich in wildlife, to the pretty beach at Portreath. (8 miles, 1,360ft)

Day 5: discover Hell's Mouth and Godrevy Island as you finish your trail walking to Gwithian for a transfer to the lovely harbour of St Ives. (8 miles, 330ft of ascent)

Day 6: free day to relax and enjoy a visit to the famous Tate gallery.

Day 7: depart after breakfast or extend your stay.

South Devon - Plymouth to Dartmouth
Starting in the historic naval city of Plymouth, this magnificent route takes you along dramatic cliff tops, past stunning wild flowers and down into peaceful sandy coves, before finishing in the sophisticated sailing town of Dartmouth.

An alternative harder itinerary covering the entire route from Plymouth to Dartmouth is also available - click here for further details.

Day 1: arrive at your friendly accommodation in the historic city of Plymouth.

Day 2: walk from the little village of Noss Mayo, and enjoy splendid coastal walking, past the rocks at Battisborough to the pretty hamlet of Mothecombe by the River Erme. (8 miles, 1,060ft of ascent)

Day 3: from Bantham, enjoy easy walking and admire the wildlife at South Milton Ley, before reaching the pretty village of Hope Cove. (7 miles, 700ft of ascent)

Day 4: walk from Hope Cove, past stunning views from Bolt Head, to Salcombe, where you have plenty of time to explore before a transfer to the lovely coastal town of Kingsbridge. (8 miles, 840ft of ascent)

Day 5: free day to relax and explore Kingsbridge.

Day 6: from Torcross, follow the path alongside the expansive beach at Slapton Sands, and continue to Dartmouth where you can visit the historic castle. (8 miles, 1,400ft of ascent)

Day 7: depart after breakfast or extend your stay.

Dorset - Lyme Regis to Lulworth Cove
Discover England's first Natural World Heritage Site - the 'Jurassic Coast' of Dorset. Beginning in Lyme Regis, follow the trail past fossil-rich beaches, beautiful villages and dramatic rock formations like Durdle Door, to arrive at the beautiful chalk cove at Lulworth.

Day 1: arrive at your friendly accommodation in the charming coastal town of Lyme Regis.

Day 2: enjoy stunning scenery as you walk over Golden Cap, the highest point on the South Coast, to West Bay. (10 miles, 2,250ft of ascent)

Day 3: after an initial ascent from West Bay enjoy easy walking along the coast to the beautiful village of Abbotsbury. (9 miles, 500ft of ascent)

Day 4: enjoy superb views over Chesil Beach as you follow the Alternative South West Coast Path inland, via the famous Hardy Monument to Upwey. (8 miles, 1,200ft of ascent)

Day 5: from Weymouth enjoy a shorter walk to Osmington Mills, leaving you time to relax and explore the town, including historic Nothe Fort. (4½ miles, 500ft of ascent)

Day 6: experience increasingly dramatic coastal scenery as you walk along the chalk cliffs from Osmington Mills, past the famous Durdle Door sea arch to complete your trail at Lulworth Cove. (7½ miles, 2,400ft of ascent)

Day 7: depart after breakfast or extend your stay.

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Type of Walking

	Somerset & North Devon - This section includes some steeper ascents and descents, but take your time and you'll enjoy some stunning cliff top views. A harder itinerary from Minehead to Woolacombe Sands is also available - click here for further details.
	Cornwall - Designed to cover the easiest section of the Cornish coastline, this trail offers easy to moderate walking along clearly waymarked, undulating paths.
	South Devon - The easiest of our four itineraries, this trail includes additional transfers to avoid the strenuous sections of the route. An alternative harder itinerary covering the entire route from Plymouth to Dartmouth is also available - click here for further details.
	Dorset - This section includes a mixture of easy walking and some steep ascents, but the excellent views are definitely worth the extra effort.

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Dates and prices

Daily departures from March to October 2008

We have designed our holidays to be completely flexible so that you have the freedom to decide when to go, where to go and for how long. The sooner you book your holiday however, the easier it will be to match your preferred holiday dates. If you wish to travel around bank holidays or during the peak summer season we recommend that you book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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Travel to and from your holiday

This is not included in the price of your holiday.

Somerset & North Devon
By road: Minehead is 45mins from the M5 at Taunton.
By train: to Taunton station, then by bus or taxi.

Cornwall
By road: Crantock is 2hrs 15mins from the M5 at Exeter.
By train: to Newquay station, then bus or taxi.

South Devon
By road: Plymouth is 1hr 30mins from the M5 at Exeter.
By train: to Plymouth, then walk or taxi.

Dorset
By road: Lyme Regis is 1hr from the M5 at Taunton.
By rail: to Axminster, then bus or taxi.

Parking
It is usually possible to park your car at one of the guesthouses at the start or the end of your trail, and we can check this for you once your booking has been confirmed. We provide you with details of how to make your way to the start of the trail, or to get back to your car at the end of your stay. The cost of this transfer is not included in the price of the holiday, but is usually quite inexpensive when travelling by local public transport. Direct taxi journeys can also be arranged. Parking is at guests' own risk. In places of very limited parking guesthouses and hotels may charge a small parking fee (approximately £3 per night).

The following websites should help you to plan your journey:

By road: www.theaa.com
By rail: www.thetrainline.com
By coach: www.nationalexpress.com

More detailed travel information is provided in the personal information pack.

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Your accommodation and meals

You stay in small, friendly guesthouses, family-run hotels, farmhouse bed and breakfasts and country inns all offering you the warmth of traditional British hospitality.

We offer en-suite rooms wherever possible, although in more remote regions where accommodation is limited they may not be available. You may stay for one night or spend several nights at one guesthouse and where this is the case we will provide a pick up and drop off service for your day's walk. You will receive a complete list of your accommodation with contact details in your personal information pack.

All accommodation is booked on a bed and breakfast basis, allowing you the freedom to choose where and when you would like to eat your lunch and evening meals. In many cases the guesthouses where you stay offer excellent evening meals or your personal information pack provides details of recommended restaurants and traditional British pubs.

Information about which of the guesthouses provide a packed lunch, and how much this costs is provided in our local information booklet included in your personal information pack. If the guesthouses en route are unable to offer this service we provide information about where you can buy food in local shops nearby. Alternatively, you may like to stop for lunch and sample the local cuisine at traditional pubs and cafes as you choose.

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Average temperatures

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Extend your stay

We can add rest days at the end of your trip to extend your holiday by as long as you wish.

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Why not try...

A guided walking trail along the South West Coast Path, click here for more information.

Why not explore further afield and spend some time at one of our lovely Country House accommodation in the St Ives, Exmoor or Dartmoor National Park. Guided walking is available from all of these locations.

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