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Travel Information

Getting Here

It's easy to reach the South West Coast Path ....

By Car

The south west is well served by major trunk roads (M5, A303, A30) and most of the gateway start and finish points along the Coast Path are served by a network of A and B roads. However, they can all become very busy during the main summer season.

Car parks are readily available at all coastal towns. At more remote locations along the Coast Path you will find informal car parks, normally managed by landowners or Parish Councils. Some car parks are free, but there are normally charges (Pay & Display, staffed ticket kiosk, honesty box).  Driving directions can be obtained from the Google Map links on each walks page, and where possible we’ve included Postcodes of car parks for use by sat navs.

If you are planning to walk for two days or more, you will need to arrange longer term car parking. The accommodation listing maintained by the South West Coast Path Association and Luggage Transfers has details of those places that can offer long-term parking, but you are advised to confirm this with the proprietor when booking.

If you arrive in the region at one of the airports, ferry terminals or many of the mainline train stations, you can easily arrange to hire a car - click on the button for more details.

By Train

Catching the train. is a great way to get to the Coast Path, as you don't have to worry about returning to the start of your walk to pick up your car. The world famous Great Western Railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunels stretches down to Penzance, and branch lines head off to many of the resorts along the path - and the views out of your window are stunning. To make it easy to plan a walk along the Coast Path using the train, we've created a number of short break ideas - just click on the button to find out more.

Both ends of the Path can be reached from London by a combination of train and bus: 
To get to the Minehead end of the Path, take a train to Taunton (about 2 hours from London), and then a bus or bus and steam train to Minehead (about 1¼ hours). 
To reach the Poole Harbour end of the Path, take a train to Bournemouth (about 1 ¾ hours from London), and then two buses to South Haven Point via Sandbanks ferry (about 1 hour) 
Barnstaple, Newquay, Hayle, St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Par, Looe, Plymouth, Paignton, Dawlish, Exmouth, Weymouth and Swanage are towns along the Path with a rail service.

You can find out times, and prices click on the Trainline button, and if you book a ticket, we'll get a small commission which we'll put towards makin this website and the path even better.

By Coach

The following towns along the route of the Path are served by long distance coach/bus:
Minehead, Ilfracombe, Braunton, Barnstaple, Fremington, Instow, Bideford, Northam, Westward Ho!, Bude, Newquay, Perranporth, St Agnes, Hayle, Carbis Bay, St Ives, Penzance, St Erth, Porthleven, Mullion, Lizard, Falmouth, (St Austell), Plymouth, Brixham, Paignton, Torquay, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Starcross, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis, Charmouth, (Bridport), Weymouth, Swanage.

Click on the coach button, for timetable and booking information from National Express who are the main operator of coach services.

By Air

The nearest airports to the Coast Path are:

Exeter: approx 11 miles/18km from the path in South and East Devon

Newquay: 1 mile from the path in North Cornwall

By Ferry

You can reach the continent from our two main ports:

Plymouth (on the Path) - from France and Spain

Poole (5 miles/8km from Poole Harbour end of the Path) - from France

Both of these are served by Brittany ferries.

Local buses - getting around whilst you're here

Bus top signLocal buses run a fairly regular service along most of the coast, meaning that there are many sections of the path that you can do a day’s walk, without having to retrace your steps to the path. To help you find out times, on our walk maps you can find the nearest bus stops, and clicking on these will bring up timetable information.

If you are using the bus, it is better to catch it out a the beginning of the day, rather than the end, as that way, you’ve no worries about missing it if you end up taking longer than you anticipated, or if you are quicker not having to wait for it.

 

 

Baggage TransferBaggage TransferAccommodation and long-term parking too

TrainsTrainsTimetables and bookings

National Express coachesNational Express coachesTimetables and bookings

Car HireCar HireOur chosen car hire partner

Brittany FerriesBrittany FerriesBook tickets from France and Spain

Latest News

  • Coast Path Motographer of the Year 2013 competition

    The South West Coast Path team is encouraging budding mobile phone photographers of all ages to capture a moment in time on the Coast Path as part of its Coast Path Motographer of the Year 2013 competition.

  • New record set for completing the Coast Path!

    A new record has been set for the fastest completion of the South West Coast Path! Contours Walking Holidays' Managing Director, Mark Townsend and fellow runner, Julie Gardener, completed the full South West Coast Path in a record time of 14 days, 14 hours and 44 minutes.

     

  • Great South West Walk exceeds half a million!

    The South West Coast Path Association’s Great South West Walk came to a grand finale on Tuesday 7th May, raising over £500,000 for 90 improvement projects to the entire South West Coast Path covering Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

  • Latest news on path diversions

    Following numerous cliff falls over the past few months, many sections of the Coast Path have been diverted. Click for details of route changes.

  • Cliff fall near Lulworth Cove

    Following the landslide at St. Oswald’s Bay between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door on the morning of 30 April 2013, diversionary routes have been put in place by Dorset County Council and the Lulworth Estate, allowing the South West Coast Path to remain fully open and safe for visitors to this area. 

  • New slate waymarkers guide the way for Cornish walkers

    The sand dunes of west Cornwall attract thousands of local walkers and tourists every year who will now benefit from new slate waymarkers to guide the way along the South West Coast Path.

  • Five top family walks for summer

    Why not get out and about this summer and combine a family walk on the South West Coast Path with a host of other old-fashioned childhood pleasures, from crabbing in rockpools and exploring hidden coves, to following in the footsteps of giants.

  • Great South West Walk kicks off

    The Great South West Walk is underway - but still time to join up and help make the Coast Path even better.

  • Jurassic Coast Gateway nearing completion

    Exmouth is taking pride of place at the Western end of the Jurassic Coast as finishing touches are applied at the Jurassic Coast Gateway.

    The project will be completed in time for the Easter holidays, and will highlight its status as the oldest part of the World Heritage Site.

  • South West Coast Path To Receive £250,000

    The South West Coast Path Association is delighted to announce that it has secured £250,000 in funding for improvement projects around the entire South West Coast Path, before their fundraising event has even taken place.