This epic route takes in Exmoor National Park, several designated Areas of Outstanding National Beauty and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. No other stretch of coastline compares for scenic splendour, historical sites and availability of refreshments, accommodation and public transport, making it easy to split the SWCP into week or weekend-long sections.

Written by prolific outdoor writer Paddy Dillon, this guide provides a wealth of detailed knowledge to help tackle this immense route with confidence, with lots of information for planning a trek, including public transport links, accommodation and facilities along the way. Also described is the 17-mile South Dorset Ridgeway, from West Bexington to Osmington Mills, which can be used as a scenic way to shave 42 miles off the total distance.

The South West Coast Path

Stage 1 Minehead to Porlock Weir

Stage 2 Porlock Weir to Lynmouth

Stage 3 Lynmouth to Combe Martin

Stage 4 Combe Martin to Woolacombe

Stage 5 Woolacombe to Braunton

Stage 6 Braunton to Westward Ho!

Stage 7 Westward Ho! to Clovelly

Stage 8 Clovelly to Hartland Quay

Stage 9 Hartland Quay to Bude

Stage 10 Bude to Boscastle

Stage 11 Boscastle to Port Isaac

Stage 12 Port Isaac to Padstow

Stage 13 Padstow to Porthcothan

Stage 14 Porthcothan to Newquay

Stage 15 Newquay to Perranporth

Stage 16 Perranporth to Portreath

Stage 17 Portreath to St Ives

Stage 18 St Ives to Pendeen Watch

Stage 19 Pendeen Watch to Porthcurno

Stage 20 Porthcurno to Penzance

Stage 21 Penzance to Porthleven

Stage 22 Porthleven to Lizard Point

Stage 23 Lizard Point to Porthallow

Stage 24 Porthallow to Falmouth

Stage 25 Falmouth to Portloe

Stage 26 Portloe to Mevagissey

Stage 27 Mevagissey to Polmear

Stage 28 Polmear to Polperro

Stage 29 Polperro to Portwrinkle

Stage 30 Portwrinkle to Plymouth

Stage 31 Plymouth to Wembury Beach

Stage 32 Wembury Beach to Bigbury-on-Sea

Stage 33 Bigbury-on-Sea to Salcombe

Stage 34 Salcombe to Stoke Fleming

Stage 35 Stoke Fleming to Brixham

Stage 36 Brixham to Shaldon

Stage 37 Shaldon to Budleigh Salterton

Stage 38 Budleigh Salterton to Seaton

Stage 39 Seaton to Seatown

Stage 40 Seatown to Abbotsbury

Stage 41 Abbotsbury to Ferrybridge

Stage 42 Isle of Portland circuit

Stage 43 Ferrybridge to Lulworth Cove

Stage 44 Lulworth Cove to Swanage

Stage 45 Swanage to South Haven Point

South Dorset Ridgeway

West Bexington to Osmington Mills