South West Coast Path holds the record for the longest National Trail in England. The path stretches 630 miles (1,014 km) and follows the coast of the entire South West Peninsula… Yes, that’s right, 630 miles.

The path was designated a National Trail in 1978 and is a legendary walking route for any hiker to take on. To help keep the track in top shape, it’s managed by the South West Coast Path Association.

The hike starts at Minehead in Somerset and runs along the entire coastal path while passing through Exmoor, North Devon, and Cornwall. The walk then follows the Dorset coastline before reaching its final destination in Poole Harbour.

If you’re looking for the ultimate challenge or want to take a relaxed stroll across some of the UK’s most beautiful locations, South West Coast Path is the route for you.

The path follows dramatic coastlines with breathtaking scenery anyone can enjoy.

One of the most challenging aspects of the hike isn’t just the long-distance; it’s the 115,000 feet of ascents and descents you have to tackle. To put this in perspective, that’s like climbing Mount Everest FOUR TIMES.

Sounds crazy, right?

A lot of people can’t do the hike in one go due to time or fitness levels. If this sounds like you, don’t worry, many people tackle the trek in segments to make life easier. But more on that in just a moment:

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What does it look like?

How Long Does It Take?

As you can imagine, this hike is no walk in the park. Remember, it’s 630 miles of ascents and descents equivalent to walking Mount Everest four times.

If you’re looking to do the hike in one go, you can expect it to take you 7-8 weeks before reaching the finish line. Basically, you’ll have to walk 11 to 13 miles per day if you want to finish the route in that time frame.

Obviously, not everyone will be able to walk for 7-8 weeks due to work restrictions and fitness levels. For those people, you can split the hike into seven separate journeys:

• Somerset and Exmoor (35 miles)
• North Devon (90 miles)
• North Cornwall (66 miles)
• West Cornwall (144miles)
• South Cornwall (76 miles)
• South Devon (104 miles)
• Jurassic Coast (115 miles)

If you’re want to complete the hike in one go, but 7-8 weeks feels too long, you can get it done in 30 days.

But that means walking 21 miles a day!

And some people want to do it even quicker than that. As it stands, the record is 10-days, which was a whopping 63-miles per day.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you how serious you want to take the hike and how long you want it to take.

How To Get There And Back?

If you want to know the logistics of getting back and forth from the hike, this is the section you’ve been waiting for. As with most long-distance hikes, you have a few options for getting there and back:

• Train
• Car
• Bus

Most people start at Minehead in Somerset, which is easily accessible if you’re using a train service. Trains from the station run very regularly, so you shouldn’t have any problems there.

If you plan to drive, you might run into some troubles, especially if you’re going to be gone for 8-weeks. Most car parks won’t let your car stay there that long, not only that but it will get pretty expensive.

You might want to ring around local parking facilities to see if they can accommodate you.

You can also use bus services to get there, but they don’t run as regularly as the train, making things tricky.

The hike finishes at Poole Harbour, which also has a bus station nearby, and a train station right next to the end of the walk. Poole train station is pretty well connected, so you’ll only need to get 2-3 trains to get home.

The Best Time To Go

The weather in the South West is generally a lot better than than the north of England. But if you’re looking for the best time to go, it’s probably late summer.

During late summer, you’ll still have good weather, but the path will be slightly quieter. You’ll also be able to see the coast abloom with heather and gorse.

Another great time to go is during spring, where you’ll see the nearly born lambs grazing the pastures.

If you’re looking for more aggressive weather, there’s no better time than late winter, where you can watch the waves crashing against the cliff face.

Where To Stay On Your Journey

There’s plenty of camping spots along the way, so if you’re looking to do the walk on the cheap, you shouldn’t have any problems.

If staying in tents isn’t your style, the hike offers plenty B&Bs, hotels, and AirB&Bs for you to choose from.

But remember, this place is super popular; you’ll need to book your whole trip well in advance, so you get the room you want.

Where To Get Food And Drink Along The Way

You’re probably wondering where to get your food for such a long journey, but fear not, there are plenty of options for you.

Because the route is so popular, you’ll find loads of restaurants and cafes along the walk. The food supplied is delicious and can vary in price, so you have options for all budgets.

Another good thing is the walk passes through plenty of towns, so you can take advantage of local bakeries and shops to replenish your food stock.

Final Thoughts

The South West Coast path is brutally long, and not everyone can make it to the finish line.

But if you do, the sense of achievement will be overwhelming, and your memory will be full of some fantastic locations.

If you can’t finish the walk-in one shot, don’t worry; there’s plenty of places you can jump off, so you continue the walk later on.