"The South West Coast Path - An Overview" Top 5 Page for this destination Devon Things to Do Tip by johngayton

When I first considered writing this little tip I was going to put it under "Off The Beaten Path" but doing a little background research I discover that the South West Coastal Path is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people every year. That makes it a pretty-well-beaten path!

The SWCP is Britain's longest footpath; following the coastline for 630 miles from Minehead in North Somerset, round the point at Lands End and then onwards to Poole in South Dorset (or of course vice-versa, depending on your start point). Devon is doubly-blessed in having two distinct sections by virtue of its twin coasts.

The northern section runs (east to west) from from the interestingly-named Glenthorne Pinetum to meet the Cornish border just after Welcombe, following variously: the Bristol Channel; the rivers Taw and Torridge and the rugged Atlantic shoreline.

The southern section (west to east) begins at the River Tamar, on the outskirts of Plymouth, to meet the Dorset border just before Lyme Regis keeping pretty-much to the English Channel as it variously bridges or uses the local ferries to traverse the river estuaries.

What makes the SWCP unique is that it has been a working footpath for several hundred years, having been established by the local Coastguard, in their role as Revenue Officers, to discourage smuggling.

Here's a couple of interesting facts:

Over the whole 630 miles there are:
2,473 signs and waymark posts
921 stiles (both wood and stone)
26,719 steps
and 302 bridges

PS There are also quite a few pubs! (Note to self: must look for a research sponsor ;))

Directions: All along the seaside!
othercontact: www.swcp.org.uk
Website: http://www.southwestcoastpath.com