path england longest long distance longest stretches miles running somerset coasts devon cornwall rises falls river mouth challenging trails total height climbed calculated times height voted britain route twice row readers magazine regularly features lists world best walks final section path designated landscapes crosses special status national park path passes world heritage sites known designated cornwall west devon mining landscape 1990s thought path brought million area year new research indicated generated million year total support jobs research recorded visitors region came path spent million year local people took million walks path spent million visitors contributed remainder study estimated figure risen million following investment detailed research undertaken found annual spend risen million time equivalent jobs history path path originated route walk lighthouse lighthouse patrolling needed able look bay cove result path closely coast providing excellent views rarely direct path points longer transformed practical defence system resource recreational path covered england right way laws amended historic open public pass private property sections path maintained owns parts coast path designated largely funded created stages final section somerset opening maintained dedicated registered charity exists support interests users path association formed campaigned improvements path considerable fundraising help care improve path services include accommodation guides completion certificates route description route described distance total ascent points direction obtained survey carried found time path included bridges steps practice calculation soon date path access changes weeks complete path dividing sections walked years contrast team taking turns pairs run hour sections completed path days runner ran entire path days hours minutes new records completing path set runners completed trail days hours minutes april runner completed trail days hours minutes record quickly broken june record held ran days hours minutes somerset starts western somerset marker erected partly paid path follows waterfront past harbour climbing path woodland entering cuts inland past regaining cliff passing follows beach connects way scenery rocky cliffs gained coast recognition recognised diversity species present path passes smallest parish church england path crosses county boundary devon yards north county gate big point path comes linking hill path intersects way river suffered catastrophic flood 1950s path passes valley rocks known herd goats duty point rocks path crosses small river skirts climbs feet highest point path cliff face feet described highest cliff mainland britain path leaves enters village claims longest village street england miles rounding path passes cottages enters seaside resort small harbour surrounded cliffs seasonal foot passenger ferry service runs harbour pleasure boats near trail path leaves follows cliff past small bays including passing rounds passing nearby village turning south enter long sandy includes divides larger forms wide sands takes merges largest sand system england particularly important includes complete range plant communities plant species short turf communities rich herbs rich rare plants animals include biodiversity action plans turns inland following canal north bank following route old past perimeter new forms closest bridge sea crossing medieval path turns west following disused line southern bank past joint estuary ferry operate ceased retirement revived ferry runs summer path goes upstream cross river 13th century long bridge site terminus path continues north estuary places following route railway past past shell submerged forest dates period ridge westward includes mark path follows coast bay small villages including lie inland cliffs path passes site iron age hill fort castle village historic village small natural harbour path continues past site iron age head point point features lighthouse radar tower marks western limit english atlantic_ocean west winter helicopter service point island visible points path border path crosses cornwall mouth continues south westwards rocky coast past higher walking easier popular resort returning cliffs path continues past south high cliff highest sheer drop cliff feet scene flooding castle associated conception legendary king arthur 15th century house later post office path continues strand small overlooking port 19th century scenery wild cliffs high iron age defences narrow neck path heads straight past swings eastwards estuary river forces away sea rock black ferry takes path runs low sea cliffs weather coast seen devon west path runs southwards constantine bay passes park head reach long sandy bay leads rail link trains london summer weekends helped town seaside resort popular far town lies river seasonal ferries low tide inland use road bridge path skirts point west reach beach passing round crossing sands path enters climbs stretch cliffs past village past head breeding ground lies ruins inlet ruins village passing firing ranges path drops busy port serving inland tin mines lies coast better known locally cove hell mouth path runs northwards pass point offshore lies lighthouse turning wide sweep drop sands low tide path follows line sand dunes known area explosives manufacture years sand ideal absorbing accidental explosions interrupted rivers small north end larger estuary south narrow estuary tidal fast flowing large mud flats docks lie path turns away bay round water crossed old railway bridge old railway followed town centre road roads bring path west tidal mud flats views area railway station official path slightly inland road regaining coast crossing golf links reach rising low cliffs path rounds enters bay follows alongside bay railway line town favoured artists 19th century home art gallery path passes east facing goes island north facing coast shows open ancient landscape district series wild lie offshore locally known seals seen close shore opposite lies head path leads village proper lies inland cove relief small rocky bays coast cliffs continue iconic disused path heads southwards sandy village end sands path turns westwards time reach westerly point english mainland passing path continues south past point turning fully eastward tiny village lies bay lies overlooked open air cable came ashore telegraph link india climbing bay path passes village series bays separated lighthouse built favourite artists birch lived small cottage rounding path turns northwards section path follows road diversion paul allows follow inland path busy fishing harbour favoured artists known merges path follows town passing railway station continuing past railway engine shed shore mount bay views mount island high tide reached causeway low tide path turns south passing village inland neck prussia cove cove larger sandy beach path climbs series cliff tops area shows signs cornwall mining history abandoned engine houses close path passing path crosses bank freshwater pool cliffs appear leading cove overlooked radio station cove offshore rounding spanish sighted july path leads cove lighthouse visible distance southerly point british mainland passing path turns northwards continuing past building radio experiments station station sheltered position cove passing path heads lowland point lie mile offshore reef wrecked ships path passes point lies crossed low tide follow lanes round head creek reach mouth cross wider river means following inland ferry north bank people short cut path following river open waters path skirts beaches passing beneath enter castle built twin protect deep water attack natural haven important harbour good shelter ships heading westwards atlantic_ocean path crosses harbour ferry passes northwards past village bay big coast path resumes northwards course fishing harbour busy dock sand path climbs reach harbour serve china clay industry featured films home heritage fleet sailing ships passing path comes china clay port par goes inland dock site passing village path regains coast par sands links saints way coast coast path cornwall follows cliff tops designated heritage coast path passes pronounced enter busy harbour time deep water situated river town river crossed ferry steep cliffs spectacular views bay lies larger cliffs small leading fishing village cars summer lies bay bird reserve known island shore path enters passing west crossing seven span bridge path continues cliff heads cliffs running past labyrinth carved turf long beach fast rising tide military firing range path runs inland fort reach head lies path turns northwards bay mount country park reach ferry lies combined estuary rivers south devon ferry lands devon towns modern city plymouth path follows roads past plymouth views crosses harbour skirts hill cross passing round edge tidal path regains countryside shores cliffs site special scientific interest follows cliffs past path travels east district warren point ferry river near river near kingston hour low tide path goes past point rock view southwest past hope cove known miles cliff paths past tidal estuary point belong estuary crossed close outstanding natural beauty path passes recognised important site solitary bees rare bee path continues bay start point lighthouse mile causeway freshwater lake nature reserve entering estuary historic port route uses lower ferry cross river terminus steam railway follows coast path climbs village opposite direction reach known english passes historic harbour seaside towns coast path passes wooded cliffs reach crossing river ferry long bridge brings coast path follows sea wall clerk rocks look sea passing beneath railway path climbs main road follows yards turning cliff stormy weather sea wall dangerous road followed way entering passed toll road coast path descends level railway follows slightly route necessary high tides sand spit nature reserve lies mouth route turns away coast follows estuary past seasonal crosses continues exeter ferry running possible catch train railway stations railway station eastern coast path climbs start town lies river path skirts bay sits mouth access beach wooden staircase known jacob ladder surrounded outstanding natural beauty erosion remains concern east mouth cliffs heavily eroded threatening cliff homes passes tops cliff bay avoiding path follows past beer man cave complex resulting beer stone going crossing border shortly reaching border coast path runs town seen film features film poster east shares route monarch way path passes highest point south coast near start mile long path leaves beach follow shores fleet reaches terminus beach villages path passing portland bill returns beach encompassing shores portland harbour resort coast path runs town centre shore eastern end near village alternative route portland reduces distance miles loop omitted reducing journey miles coast path heads bat head natural arch described features visited geological locality britain east deserted village bay rocky shore wave cut platform path passes open public ranges use mile road needed coast path reaches head south village head resort nature reserve chalk eastern tip eroded form old series arches caves sea bay marks end beach extensive system sand dunes formed stretching miles peninsula peninsula forms shore harbour largest natural world beach official beach ends commemorative marker links area eastern edge harbour intersecting connecting paths plymouth south west coast path forms route european coastal path runs miles cabo portugal estonia route crosses ferry plymouth path follows sea way option south downs way country walk saxon shore way dover returns continental europe network routes form covering wide area inevitably intersects local routes connects long distance paths offering opportunities longer expeditions miles sea hampshire celtic way runs west wales heads south west cornwall total miles channel channel path kilometres coast coast devon miles miles hills fringes coast miles devon runs miles river estuary miles somerset way lincolnshire miles somerset devon miles boston miles creates miles short cut total miles saint way miles cornwall way south west runs miles bristol section bristol path follows coastal section trail route paths follow course disused railway lines way devon miles miles combined forms miles wash west devon way plymouth miles path linking river trail miles public transport regular train services parts south west principal destination stations exeter plymouth places local trains buses connect points path airports exeter served range national international destinations public transport journey means plan walks start finish different places having circle start point collect cars railway stations options short walks longer walks days offers steam diesel services somerset end path connecting bus railway station steam railway connects long distance bus services connect coastal towns railway stations exeter railway station railway station parkway railway station railway station boat service runs interesting method path charity fundraising individuals organisations use walk path raise money charity
South West Coast Path