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South West Coast Path

South West Coast Path — the trail guide

The South West Coast Path is a 1014 km trek in England, typically walked in 7-8 weeks, with 18689 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (18 m of gain per km, topping out at 315 m).

Britain's longest National Trail runs 630 miles (1,014 km) from Minehead in Somerset, around the whole south-west peninsula, to South Haven Point on Poole Harbour. It began as a coastguard patrol route, which is why it clings so stubbornly to the cliff edge — dropping into every combe and climbing straight back out. The authority puts the total at over 35,000 m of up and down, roughly four times Everest from sea level, yet the highest point is only 318 m on Great Hangman. It crosses two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape and the Jurassic Coast. Almost nobody walks it in one push: National Trails' own guidance is that most people complete it in sections over several years, while a continuous walk takes seven to eight weeks, or about thirty days at pace. Because it threads through towns and villages the whole way, resupply is easy and the pack can stay light.

Quick facts

Distance1014 km
Total ascent18689 m
Typical duration7-8 weeks
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness18 m gain per km
High point315 m
CountryEngland
RegionEngland

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Elevation profile

Low point -2 m · high point 315 m · 18689 m total ascent over 1014 km.

Planning notes

Frequently asked questions

How long is the South West Coast Path?

The South West Coast Path is 1014 km, and most hikers complete it in 7-8 weeks. Total elevation gain is 18689 m.

How difficult is the South West Coast Path?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 18 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 315 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

Where is the South West Coast Path?

In England. The route starts near 51.212, -3.474 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

More treks in England

See all England treks →