If you’re planning your next holiday and want to stay in the U.K., whether to save money or to avoid flying due to concerns about the contribution that carbon emissions are believed to make to climate change, a walking holiday is a great option.
The South West Coast Path is the longest of the U.K’s National Trails, stretching for 630 miles and passing through four counties. The path begins at the town of Minehead, in Somerset, and continues along the North Devon coast, the North Cornwall coast, the South Cornwall coast, the South Devon coast, the East Devon coast and the Dorset coast, finishing at Poole Harbour.
Highlights along the trail include Land’s End, Tintagel Castle, the car-free village of Clovelly, the Minack Theatre, the Lizard Peninsula and Lulworth Cove. There are beautiful views from the coastal path and the South West is also the perfect place to visit if you enjoy wildlife. You may be able to spot peregrine falcons or seabirds, such as guillemots and kittiwakes, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of dolphins, seals or basking sharks in the sea.
It would take about seven or eight weeks to walk the entire South West Coast Path, but if you want a shorter walking holiday, you can choose to walk a section of it, as its easily accessible from many towns and cities along the way. The South West Coast Path website has detailed guides to the trail and divides it into 53 separate sections that you could walk in a day, so you can design your own itinerary for your walking holiday.
For example, you could simply spend a day walking the first section of the trail, from Minehead to Porlock Weir and then catch a bus back to your starting point. Alternatively, you could spend several days walking from the popular Cornish seaside resort of Newquay to the town of St. Ives, where you’ll find the Tate St. Ives art gallery.
The South West Coast Path website is an essential resource for anyone wanting to explore the trail, as it features information about things to see along the way, accommodation near to the coast path and safety tips. It also provides details of shorter walks in the South West which are perfect for days out with the family.
Image: Herbythyme
Tags: climate change, Clovelly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Land's End, Lizard Peninsula, Lulworth Cove, Minack Theatre, Minehead, National Trails, Newquay, Poole Harbour, Porlock Wier, Somerset, South West Coast Path, St Ives, Tate St Ives, Tintagel Castle, UK, Walking Holidays
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