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South West

Simon Heptinstall
By Simon Heptinstall
Family South West Coast Path Lynmouth Devon UK
UK Minehead south west coast path
UK Hollerday Hill of the Valley Of The Rocks in Exmoor National Park
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Welcome to South West

The insider's travel guide to South West

Easily my favourite place in the UK to walk, although as it's my home patch I may be biased.

England’s southwestern peninsular of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire has the mildest climate and a varied coastline, which explains why it’s the UK’s most popular holiday area.

Across the southwest walkers will find some serious wild moorland areas and a few cities, but generally the landscape comprises rolling farmland that’s never far from the sea.

Expect crowds at holiday times but the positive side of the area’s popularity is a huge choice of accommodation that means inn-to-inn walks are an easy option. Organised self-guided walks are commonplace, with several specialist operators to choose from.

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The South West atlas

1 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere
Where
What

  • Distance: 630 miles/1,014kmDuration: 30 – 60 days, or shorter sectionsStart point: Minehead, SomersetEnd point: Poole, DorsetDifficulty: Moderate to hard, with repeated climbs and descentsSuitable 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.

  • South West Coast Path

    South West Coast Path

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Dispatches

Guides & field notes
Where
The best walking holidays in Europe
Guide

The best walking holidays in Europe

Paul Bloomfield
Paul Bloomfield

Europe is a famously popular and, in places, crowded travel destination. Escaping the bustle on a walking holiday in Europe's more-remote corners is a good way to escape the day trippers, tour buses and cruise ships that plague the continent’s busier hotspots.
The best walking holidays in the UK
Guide

The best walking holidays in the UK

Simon Heptinstall
Simon Heptinstall

The United Kingdom is a walking holiday paradise: Hundreds of thousands of miles of well-mapped public footpaths, beautifully varied landscapes, excellent hospitality, and easily accessible. It’s no wonder this is a nation of walkers.
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Encounter Walking Holidays

Self-guided walks in South West England & Wales
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