South West Coast Path

The path exists because coastguards needed to see into every cove while hunting smugglers, so it follows the coastline closely rather than taking the sensible line inland. That decision produced a trail of roughly 1,014 kilometres and enormous cumulative ascent, dropping to sea level at each valley mouth and climbing straight back out. Almost nobody walks it whole. Most people take sections: the wild north Cornish cliffs at Bedruthan and Boscastle, the granite headlands from Land's End to Sennen, the sheltered creeks of south Devon, the shale and clay landslips of the east Devon coast. Signage is a simple acorn symbol and the route is well maintained, which makes day sections straightforward if you plan for buses back and for the fact that the map distance is never the honest measure.

What you actually see

• North Cornish cliffs - Atlantic headlands, stacks and slate ledges.
• Granite headlands near Land's End - the far western end of the peninsula.
• South Devon creeks - sheltered estuaries crossed by small passenger ferries.
• The acorn waymarks - the trail symbol that carries you through every stile.

When to go

April to June for wildflowers on the cliff slopes and stable weather; September and early October for quiet paths and warm sea. High summer means full campsites and booked-out beds in Cornwall. Winter walking is possible but daylight is short and several sections are exposed to gales.

Honest expectations

The ascent is what breaks people - some Cornish days climb more than a mountain walk while never going above 200 metres. Sections are eroded, and diversions after cliff falls are frequent. Accommodation on the popular stretches is expensive and must be booked far ahead. Water and food points can be 15 kilometres apart.

Nearby

The path links Exmoor, the Cornish coast, Dartmoor's southern edge and the Dorset coastline.