South West Coast Path, National Trail along the southwest coast of England
The South West Coast Path is a long-distance hiking trail along the southwestern peninsula of England, stretching through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset for roughly 1015 kilometers (630 miles). The route runs mostly over clifftops and alternates between open grasslands, sheer slate cliffs, and sandy coves.
Coastguards once used these paths to track down smugglers landing goods in hidden coves. The final section gained official National Trail status in 1978.
The route passes through fishing villages where harbors with small boats and local pubs sit alongside pebble beaches. At many sections, old customs houses and stone markers show how the trail once served to monitor the coastline.
Anyone wanting to walk the entire trail should plan for 30 to 56 days, depending on pace and rest stops. Many towns with accommodations and public transport connections make it possible to hike individual sections separately.
Anyone completing the full route climbs a cumulative elevation of around 35,000 meters (115,000 feet), equivalent to scaling Mount Everest four times. This makes it the most elevation-intensive long-distance trail in England.
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