A guidebook to walking the South West Coast Path, a long-distance National Trail from Minehead to Poole, along the north Devon, Cornish, south Devon and Dorset coastline. Covering 1015km (630 miles), this epic route takes in Exmoor National Park and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and takes around 4 weeks to walk. The route is described in 45 stages between 13 and 38km (8–24 miles) in length. 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. 1:50,000 OS maps for each stage GPX files available to download Detailed information about accommodation, refreshments and facilities along the route Advice on planning and preparation
This new guide covers the coastal route from Minehead to Bude (125 miles), the first section of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. This spectacular route passes through the Exmoor National Park following the highest coastline in England (over 800ft), through numerous idyllic villages such as Lynton and Clovelly, around Barnstaple Bay and Hartland Point to the seaside resort of Bude just over the border with Cornwall. · 5 town plans and 53 large-scale walking maps – at just under 1:20,000 – showing route times, places to stay, places to eat, points of interest and much more. These are not general-purpose maps but fully-edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers. · Itineraries for all walkers – whether walking the route in its entirety over a week to 10 days or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks · Practical information for all budgets – camping, bunkhouses, hostels, B&Bs, pubs and hotels; where to stay, where to eat, what to see, plus detailed street plans · Comprehensive public transport information – for all access points on the coast · Flora and fauna – four page full color flower guide, plus an illustrated section on local wildlife · Full information on the Exmoor National Park · Green hiking – understanding the local environment and minimizing our impact on it · Downloadable GPS waypoints
'I am already planning the next adventure. The wanderlust that infected me has no cure.' It all started in Fishguard in the mid-1970s when, aged fifteen, Martyn Howe and a friend set off on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path armed with big rucksacks, borrowed boots, a Primus stove and a pint of paraffin, and a thirst for adventure. After repeating the route almost thirty years later, Martyn was inspired to walk every National Trail in England and Wales, plus the four Long-Distance Routes (now among the Great Trails) in Scotland. His 3,000-mile journey included treks along the South West Coast Path, the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way and the West Highland Way. He finally achieved his ambition in 2016 when he arrived in Cromer in Norfolk, only to set a new goal of walking the England and Wales Coast Paths and the Scottish National Trail. In Tales from the Big Trails, Martyn vividly describes the diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture and heritage he encounters around the British Isles, and the physical and mental health benefits he derives from walking. He also celebrates the people who enrich his travels, including fellow long-distance hikers, tourists discovering Britain's charm, farmers working the land, and the friendly and eccentric owners of hostels, campsites and B&Bs. And when he is asked 'Why do you do it?', the answer is as simple as placing one foot in front of the other: 'It makes me happy.'
The perfect companion for those who love the great outdoors, the A-Z Adventure Series features OS 1:25000 mapping in a convenient book, complete with index.The South West Coast Path is a National Trail along the Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset coasts. This stunning walk from Minehead, Somerset covers 630 miles to South Haven Point in Poole Harbour, passing through two World Heritage Sites (the Jurassic Coast and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape), Exmoor National Park, Land's End and many areas of outstanding natural beauty.A series of five A-Z Adventure Atlases together cover the South West Coast Path: -SW Coast Path North Devon and Somerset-SW Coast Path North Cornwall-SW Coast Path South Cornwall-SW Coast Path South Devon-SW Coast Path DorsetThis A-Z Adventure Atlas of the SW Coast Path North Devon and Somerset features 36 pages of continuous OS mapping covering the route from Minehead to Bude. The trail is easy to follow, highlighted in yellow to stand out from other footpaths, with mileage markers to gauge distances when planning your own sections of the walk to enjoy.The book includes a route planner showing distances between places and indicates available amenities, including: -Information Centres-Visitor Centres-Hotels/B&Bs-Youth Hostels-Campsites (seasonal opening)-Public Houses-Shops-Restaurants-Cafes (seasonal opening)-Petrol stationsAlso featured is a selection of QR codes to access useful websites with your smartphone.Unlike original OS Explorer sheets, this A-Z Adventure Atlas includes a comprehensive index to towns, villages, hamlets and locations, natural features, nature reserves, car parks and youth hostels. Each index entry has a simple page reference and a six figure National Grid reference.OS 1:25000 is Ordnance Survey's most detailed leisure mapping, showing public rights of way, open access land, national parks, tourist information, car parks, public houses and camping and caravan sites.With a book size of 240mm x 134mm Adventure Atlases are the same size as a folded OS map, ideal for map pockets etc.Other National Trails available within the A-Z Adventure Series include: Coast to Coast, Cotswold Way, North Downs Way, Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Pennine Way, South Downs Way, The Ridgeway and Thames Path.
Often featuring in lists of the world's best walks, the South West Coast Path is 630 miles long, and passes through two World Heritage Sites. This guide to the path is a modern take on the traditional (turn right at the stile, and follow the footpath to the bridge) guidebook: instead of telling readers where to go step by step, Stephen gives fantastic ideas for what to do as they travel along the path. There are so many amazing adventures and places to visit (some 'secret' and some well known) and this guide highlights 1,000 of them, all situated along the route. After an Introduction giving a history of the path and the stories of the people who made it (Why is this path the most popular National Trail? Why is it so closely associated with tales of King Arthur? When is the best time to visit?) the bulk of the book focuses on all the amazing things you can do along the path itself. It is divided into regions, with over 70 adventures/highlights per region: West Somerset, North Devon, Torridge, North Cornwall, South Cornwall, South Hams, Torbay, Teignbridge, East Devon, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, Purbeck and Poole. Each region is introduced with a 'Best For' section, with the ten best places for secret swims, tidal woods, fossils etc. It then highlights where to go, each place accompanied by basic directions, a short description and postcode/map coordinates. Readers can use this guide whilst walking the path in either direction, and at home when planning – Stephen Neale's engaging writing and beautiful photography make this book a joy to spend time with.
Cornwall's coastal path gives access to many of Britain's finest marine landscapes, and a great many of the walks in this guide utilise sections of the path, which is maintained to a high standard. Two walks, starting at Polkerris and Little Petherick respectively, follow parts of the Saints' Way, which crosses Cornwall from coast to coast on a route pioneered by the early Christian missionaries. Other routes take in the ever-popular Land's End, romantic Prussia Cove (an old smugglers' haunt), and Bodmin Moor, a landscape that has altered little since the Iron Age, nearly 3,000 years ago.
This guide covers the coastal route from Minehead to Bude, the first section of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. This route passes through the Exmoor National Park following the highest coastline in England, through idyllic villages such as Lynton and Clovelly, around Barnstaple Bay and Hartland Point to the seaside resort of Bude
