Cornwall: South West Coast Path

Walking holidays & cycling tours in Cornwall

England’s longest and, many would say, finest trail is the 630 miles long South West Peninsula Coastal Path from Poole to Minehead, of which almost half is in Cornwall.

Cornwall is very much a holiday county with beaches, famous Cornish pasties, pirates, shipwrecks and the roaring sea. It has been voted Britain’s favourite holiday region and for many good reasons. Of course there are many popular tourist centres that you pass through when walking in Cornwall, but on the Cornish Coastal Path you can really escape the crowds, dipping in and out of coves and harbours and ascending beside dramatic cliffs, up to high viewpoints, along promontories and back down to expansive beaches which out of the high season can be all but deserted. The climate is mild and even in bad weather the Cornwall coastal landscape perhaps becomes even more dramatic.

Walkers' Britain offers a number of week-long, self guided Cornwall walking holidays along our favourite sections of the South West Coastal Path.

We have also designed a cycling holiday that helps you explore about two thirds of Cornwall, winding in and out of coves and bays. This ride tries to follow the quieter roads of Cornwall, parallel as much as possible with both the sea and the South West Coastal Path, offering an enormous wealth of coastal scenery. From rugged cliffs to sandy beaches, from sleepy coves to marsh, cape and headland. The cycle ride does not and cannot follow the coast path – that is a walker’s domain, and even if some of the trail could be cycled, there would be a lot of technical mountain biking.

Discover Cornwall and the South West Coast Path on a self-guided walking or cycling holiday with Walkers' Britain.

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Cornwall highlights

 

Why travel with us

Personal Experience of Cornwall

England is our home and our team have been walking and cycling Cornwall and the South West Coast Path for over 4 decades. We are passionate about the UK, active holidays and delivering exceptional service. Combined, we’ve travelled to virtually every corner of England and bring a multi-disciplined, multicultural and whole-hearted love of all things travel.

Great Value & Quality Trips in Cornwall

Our active holidays in Cornwall are well priced offering great value for money. Included in your package are comprehensive route notes, maps & guide books along with bag transfers and locally run accommodation. When you book, your trip will be fully organised by a dedicated member of our in-house team, so you will always know who you are dealing with. We take the stress out of organising your trip in England.

Local Knowledge of Cornwall

We place great emphasis on researching, planning and crafting innovative Cornwall itineraries to ensure you get the very best experience out of your trip. We believe relationships are important and have been working with many of our hoteliers and local suppliers for years and years. This means that they know exactly what our travellers expect from their active holiday in England.

Responsible travel

 

Reducing waste

Our Waste Management Policy encourages our travellers to take their own reusable water bottles, coffee cups and reusable stuff sacks to avoid single use plastics.

Supporting local

In the English regions that we travel through tourism is the main source of income for many local people. We support them by working with local family run accommodations and suppliers so that your money actually assists the community that hosts you.

Paddock to plate

The paddock to plate concept is one we encourage by choosing to work with accommodations that source produce from local farms. This provides you with fresher meals and ensures your money directly assists local economies.

Accommodation

Hotels

Often family run, these charming hotels range from 2 to 4 stars and provide access to local living thanks to your hosts. The hospitality is generous and their local knowledge is invaluable. Where possible, we choose locations that add to your experience.

Guesthouses

Similar to bed & breakfasts, these family-owned accommodations are clean and comfortable. Rooms with en suites generally have a shower but no bath due to space. There may be a separate room with a bath tub.

Trip reviews

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South West Coast Path

Essential information

Currency

Pounds Sterling

International Dialing Code

+44

Electricity

Electricity in The United Kingdom is 230 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is G (UK – 3 prong).

Visas

Visas are not required for citizens of Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand for up to 90 days in a period of 180 days for all Schengen countries (see www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/ for countries part of the Schengen). Please ensure your passport is stamped on arrival in the Schengen area. For all other nationalities and for longer stays in countries covered by the Schengen Agreement (Australian New Zealand, Canadian and US passport holders), please contact the relevant embassy. Stays of longer than 90 days in the Schengen area require a long stay visa for the country you are spending most time in. However long stay visas are unlikely to be issued unless there is a valid reason (eg. studying in country). Unfortunately we cannot assist in obtaining visas for long stays due to individual country visa requirements.

Safety

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us. Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice. We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration. We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements. Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.