• Distance: 630 miles/1,014km
• Duration: 30 – 60 days, or shorter sections
• Start point: Minehead, Somerset
• End point: Poole, Dorset
• Difficulty: Moderate to hard, with repeated climbs and descents
• Suitable for: There’s a small scenic section for everyone but the whole route is for those with time and stamina.

Of all my favourite walks in the UK, this one easily tops the list.

The South West Coast Path is England’s longest trail but also one of its most famous and highly rated. In the Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain it is the first attraction mentioned and often features in lists of the world’s best walking trails.

Very few walkers complete the path in one go; for most it’s a longer-term project that’s broken up into more easily-manageable sections. Exactly how you split it up depends on how much time you have for each stretch, and how challenging you want to make it.