Difference between revisions of "South West Coast Path"

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The path passes through the Prawle Point and Start Point SSSI, then  
 
The path passes through the Prawle Point and Start Point SSSI, then  
  
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The path then continues around [[Lannacombe Bay]] to [[Start Point]] and its lighthouse and then through Start Bay along a 3-mile shingle causeway between [[Slapton Sands]] and the [[Slapton Ley]] freshwater lake and nature reserve before entering the estuary of the [[River Dart]] and historic port of [[Dartmouth]].
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The path then continues around [[Lannacombe Bay]] to [[Start Point, Devon|Start Point]] and its lighthouse and then through Start Bay along a 3-mile shingle causeway between [[Slapton Sands]] and the [[Slapton Ley]] freshwater lake and nature reserve before entering the estuary of the [[River Dart]] and historic port of [[Dartmouth]].
  
 
From Dartmouth, the route uses either the Lower Ferry or Passenger Ferry to cross the river to [[Kingswear]].
 
From Dartmouth, the route uses either the Lower Ferry or Passenger Ferry to cross the river to [[Kingswear]].

Latest revision as of 15:36, 28 February 2021

The path on the cliffs at Ilfracombe, Devon

The South West Coast Path is one of the longest waymarked long-distance footpath in the United Kingdom and a National Trail. It stretches for 630 miles, running from Minehead in Somerset, westwards along the north coasts of Devon and Cornwall to Land's End and then on round the south coasts of Cornwall and Devon then Dorset to finish at Poole Harbour. It picks its way amongst some of the prettiest coasts in the land.

The path passes along the Jurassic Coast, which was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001,[1] and also through the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape, also so designated in 2007.[2]

Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, the South West Coast Path is reckoned one of the more challenging trails. The total height climbed has been calculated to be 114,931 feet; almost four times the height of Mount Everest.[3]

History of the path

The path originated as a route for the Coastguard to walk from lighthouse to lighthouse patrolling for smugglers. They needed to be able to look down into every bay and cove: as a result, the path closely hugs the coast providing excellent views but rarely the most direct path between two points.[4] The South West Coast Path is no longer used by the Coastguard but it has been transformed from a practical defence system into a resource for recreational walkers.

Sections of the path are maintained by the National Trust, which owns parts of the coast.

The path as a National Trail was created in stages, with its final section, Somerset and North Devon, opening in 1978.[5] It was largely funded by Natural England and is maintained by a dedicated South West Coast Path Team.

The path when completed was designated as a "National Trail" in 1978.[5] Many of the landscapes which the South West Coast Path crosses have special status, either as a National Park or one of the Heritage Coasts.

The South West Coast Path Association, a registered charity, exists to support the interests of users of the path. The Association was formed in 1973 and since then it has campaigned for improvements to the path. Its services include accommodation guides and completion certificates.

Route

The starting point of the South West Coast Path, Minehead

The route is described here anticlockwise, from Minehead to Poole. The distance and total ascent between any two points, in either direction, can be obtained from The South West Coast Path Association Distance Reckoner. A survey carried out in 1999 and 2000 found that at that time the path had 2,473 signposts or waymarks, and included 302 bridges, 921 stiles, and 26,719 steps.[6]

In practice, any such calculation is soon out of date because of path diversions due to landslips or access changes. Many walkers take about eight weeks to complete the path, often dividing this into sections walked over several years.[7] In contrast, a team of six Royal Marines, taking turns in pairs to run two-hour sections, completed the path in six days in 2004[8] and in 2012 Mal Law ran the entire path in a record 16 days, 9 hours and 57 minutes.[9]

Somerset

The South West Coast Path starts from the western side of Minehead, in Somerset, on the coast of the Bristol Channel. The path follows the waterfront past the harbour to Culver Cliff before climbing up on a zigzag path through woodland. Entering the Exmoor National Park, it cuts inland past North Hill, Selworthy Beacon and Bossington Hill before regaining the cliff top at Hurlestone Point. After passing through Bossington it follows the beach to Porlock Weir and connects with the Coleridge Way.

The scenery of rocky headlands, ravines, waterfalls and towering cliffs gained the Exmoor coast recognition as a Heritage Coast in 1991.[10] The Exmoor Coastal Heaths have been recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of species present.[11] The path passes the Church in Culbone, reckoned by to be the smallest parish church in Britain. The path crosses the county boundary into Devon a few hundred yards north of the National Park Centre at County Gate.

North Devon

Continuing west through Devon, the next big headland is Foreland Point, after which the path comes to Lynmouth where the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway linking it with Lynton on the hill above. At Lynmouth the path intersects with the Two Moors Way. The river here suffered a catastrophic flood in the 1950s.

Beyond Lynton the path passes through the Valley of the Rocks, known for its herd of goats,[12] then Duty Point and Lee Bay, then Crock Point and Woody Bay. After Highveer Rocks the path crosses the small River Heddon then skirts Trentishoe Down and Holdstone Down and climbs Great Hangman.

Great Hangman is the highest point on the path, at 1,043 feet.[13] With a cliff face of 800 feet, it is described as the highest cliff on mainland Britain.[14]

Lundy and Swansea ferries
Ferries for Lundy sail from Ilfracombe and a helicopter service flies from Hartland Point. From Ilfracombe the Waverley and pleasure boats ply to Porthcawl in Glamorgan across the Bristol Channel.

The path now leaves the Exmoor National Park and enters the village of Combe Martin, which claims to have the longest village street in England (two miles).

After rounding Widmouth Head, the path passes 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay and enters the seaside resort town of Ilfracombe, with its small harbour, surrounded by cliffs. A seasonal foot passenger ferry service runs from the harbour to Lundy Island and The Balmoral, The. From Ilfracombe to Bideford the Tarka Trail coincides with the South West Coast Path.

Saunton Sands

The path leaves Ilfracombe through The Torrs and follows the cliff top past several small bays including Lee Bay before passing Bull Point and the Bull Point Lighthouse, into Rackham Bay. It then rounds Morte Point, passing the nearby village of Mortehoe before turning south to enter the long sandy Morte Bay which includes Woolacombe and Putsborough. Baggy Point divides Morte Bay from Croyde Bay, and the major surfing venue, Croyde. Continuing west, the path brings you to the much larger Barnstaple Bay (and the North Devon Coast "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty").

Braunton Burrows SSSI
The dunes are particularly important ecologically because they contain the complete successional range of dune plant communities, with over 400 vascular plant species. The short turf communities are very rich in lichens and herbs, and the dune slacks are also rich. The many rare plants and animals include 14 with UK Biodiversity Action Plans.[15]

The wide expanse of Saunton Sands, which takes its name from Saunton, merges into Braunton Burrows, the largest sand dune system in Britain. From Braunton Burrows the South West Coast Path turns inland following the Braunton Canal to Braunton and then along north bank of the River Taw, following part of the route of the old Ilfracombe Branch Line, past the perimeter of the Royal Marines Base Chivenor towards Barnstaple.

After crossing mediæval Barnstaple Long Bridge, the path then turns west following the disused Bideford and Instow Railway line along southern bank of the Taw past Fremington Quay and the Fremington Quay Cliffs SSSI to Instow at the joint estuary of the Rivers Taw and Torridge (and the Taw-Torridge Estuary SSSI). The ferry which used to operate at Instow ceased on the retirement of the ferryman in 2007,[16] so the path now goes upstream to cross the river by the 13th century bridge at Bideford, which is the site of the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre and terminus of the North Devon Railway.

The path continues north beside the Torridge Estuary, in places following the route of the Bideford, Westward Ho! and Appledore Railway, past Northam to Appledore and around the promontory past the shell middens and a submerged forest, that dates from the Mesolithic period,[17] off the pebble ridge to Westward Ho!.

Westward Ho! is the only placename in the United Kingdom which includes an exclamation mark. From this unusual punctuation mark, the path follows the coast around Clovelly Bay where several small villages including Abbotsham lie inland, because of the cliffs. The path passes the site of the Iron Age Hill fort at Peppercombe Castle and the village of Bucks Mills. Clovelly itself is a historic village with a small natural harbour. The path continues on to Hartland Point, with its lighthouse and radar tower, which marks the western limit of the Bristol Channel with the Atlantic Ocean to the west. There is a winter helicopter service from Hartland Point to the island of Lundy, which is visible from many points along the path between Welcombe and the Cornish border.

North Cornwall

The path crosses into Cornwall at Marsland Mouth and continues south-westwards along this rocky coast, past Morwenstow then Higher and Lower Sharpnose Points. Beyond Sandy Mouth, the walking becomes easier through Bude, a popular surfing resort, and along Widemouth Bay. Returning to the cliffs, the path continues on to Crackington Haven, past Cambeak and further south (over "High Cliff", Southern Britain's highest sheer-drop cliff at 735 feet, and from there to Boscastle.

Tintagel and its castle are associated with the legends of King Arthur and here too is a fascinating 15th century house known as Tintagel Old Post Office.

The path continues to Trebarwith Strand, Tregardock, then to Port Gaverne, Port Isaac, and Port Quin, three small harbours. Overlooking Port Quin is Doyden Castle, a 19th century folly.

The Rumps, on Pentire Point

The scenery is now less wild, the cliffs less high. Rumps Point has Iron Age defences across its narrow neck[18] but the path heads straight past to Pentire Head then swings eastwards again into Polzeath. The estuary of the River Camel forces a detour away from the sea to Rock and the Black Tor Ferry that takes walkers into Padstow.

From Stepper Point the path again runs along low sea cliffs to Trevone and Harlyn Bay then around Trevose Head. From here-—weather permitting-—the coast can be seen from Hartland in Devon to beyond St Ives in the west. The path runs southwards through Constantine Bay to Porthcothan then passes around Park Head to reach Mawgan Porth.

Over Newquay Harbour and its surfing beaches

The long, sandy Watergate Bay leads to St Columb Porth and Newquay. A rail link with through trains to London and the North of England on summer weekends has helped the town prosper as a seaside resort popular with surfers and clubbers. On the far side of the town, beyond Fistral Beach, lies the River Gannel. There are seasonal ferries to Crantock and a footbridge which is passable at low tide, otherwise there is a detour inland to use the road bridge.

The path now skirts Pentire Point West and then Kelsey Head to reach Holywell Bay, another surfing beach. After passing round Penhale and crossing Penhale Sands the path enters Perranporth, then climbs out the other side back onto a stretch of cliffs past Kligga Head to the village of St Agnes. Past St Agnes Head, lies the ruins of Towanroath Mine and the inlet at Chapel Porth. Next are the ruins of Wheal Charlotte mine and then Porthtowan village.

After passing Nancekuke firing ranges, the path drops into Portreath, once a busy port serving inland tin mines around Redruth. Beyond lies Carvannel Downs with Samphire Island just off the coast, and then the Reskajeage Downs. Beyond the cove at Hell's Mouth, the path runs northwards to pass around Navax Point and Godrevy Point, offshore from which lies Godrevy Island with its lighthouse.

Lelant, looking towards Hayle Towans and Godrevy Island

West Cornwall

The Towans
This area was used for explosives manufacture for many years, the sand being ideal for absorbing any accidental explosions.[19]

Turning into the wide sweep of St Ives Bay, where many walkers drop down onto the sands at low tide, the path follows the line of the sand dunes or Towans as they are known here.

The Towans are interrupted by two rivers, the small Red River at the north end, and the larger River Hayle and its estuary]] towards the south. Although narrow, the estuary is tidal and fast flowing due to the large expanse of mud flats and docks that lie behind the Towans, so the path turns away from St Ives Bay to go round by way of Hayle. The water is crossed using an old railway bridge and then the old Hayle Railway is followed into the town centre then the A30 road to Griggs Quay where quieter roads bring the Path around to the west side of the tidal mud flats. Views of the birdlife can be had from Carnsew Pool at Hayle and from the area around Lelant Saltings railway station, although the official path is slightly inland on the A3074 road through Lelant village, regaining the coast by crossing golf links to reach the last of the Towans above Porth Kidney Sands.

St Ives
A bustling town, St Ives has been favoured by artists since the 19th century. It has a branch fof the Tate Galery - Tate St Ives - and the Barbara Hepworth Museum, and is a delightful seaside town in itself.

Rising back onto low cliffs, the path rounds Carrack Gladden and enters Carbis Bay, it then follows alongside the St Ives Bay railway line into the lively little town of St Ives. The path passes the east-facing Portminster Beach and goes around "The Island", a headland, to the north-facing Portmeor Beach.

Penwith and Land's End

The coast now shows the open and ancient landscape of the Penwith peninsula, along a series of wild headlands such as Clodgy Point, Hor Point, Pen Enys Point, and Carn Nuan Point. The Carracks lie just offshore, locally known as Seal Island (and seals can often be seen close to the shore opposite here), then there lies Zennor Head and Gurnard's Head as the Path leads into Morvah, although the village proper lies inland. Portheras Cove is a relief from the many small rocky bays along this coast but the cliffs then continue beyond the iconic, disused Botallack Mine.

Land's End, the most westerly point in England
Penwith
A vast outcrop of grantite basolith, Penwith is the western tip of mainland Cornwall. It is distinctive, romantric moorland, bearing lightly the scars of mining and quarrying. Its ancient name (in Old English Land’s End was recorded as Penwiþsteort, but it predates the English) became that of a Hundred.

From Cape Cornwall at St Just, the Path heads southwards to sandy Whitesand Bay and the village of Sennen. At the end of the sands the path turns westwards one last time to reach Land's End. This is the most westerly point of the English mainland.

After passing Land's End the path continues further south past Pordenack Point and Mill Bay before turning fully eastward at Gwennap Head. Beyond the tiny village of Porthgwarra lies St Levan. The next bay lies below Porthcurno. It is overlooked by the open-air Minack Theatre and is where the Eastern Cable Company's cable came ashore, the first telegraph link with India.[20][21] Climbing out of the bay the path passes the precarious Logan Rock.

The next village is Penberth, then a series of bays are separated by the headlands of Merthen Point, Boscawen Point, and Tater Du with its lighthouse built in 1965.[22] Lamorna Cove is a favourite with artists such as S. J. "Lamorna" Birch, who lived there in a small cottage. Then, after rounding Carn Du, the path turns northwards towards Mousehole and Penlee Point. This section of the path follows a road into Newlyn, but a diversion via Paul allows walkers to follow a quieter inland path. Newlyn has a busy fishing harbour and is again favoured by artists, known as the Newlyn School;[23] it merges into Penzance and the path now follows the promenade through the town, passing Penzance railway station and continuing past the railway engine shed along the shore of Mount's Bay with its views of St Michael's Mount. This is an island at high tide but can be reached from Marazion by a causeway at low tide.

The path now turns south again, passing the village of Perranuthnoe (or Perran) and Perran Sands, then skirting inland across the neck of Cudden Point to Prussia Cove and Bessy's Cove. A larger sandy beach is Praa Sands after which the path climbs up onto a series of cliff tops such as Trewavas Head. This area shows many signs of Cornwall's mining history with abandoned engine houses such as Wheal Prosper close to the path.

After passing through Porthleven the path crosses the shingle bank of Loe Bar with the freshwater Loe Pool behind. At Gunwalloe more cliffs appear, leading to Poldhu Cove overlooked by the radio station on Poldhu Point, then Porth Mellin on Mullion Cove with Mullion Island offshore. Rounding Predannack Head, Vellan Head, and Rill Head (where the Spanish Armada was first sighted on 29 July 1588),[24] the path leads to Kynance Cove from where the lighthouse at Lizard Point beckons the walker on. The path then continues to Lizard Point, the most southerly point of mainland Great Britain.

South Cornwall

Falmouth Harbour and Pendennis Castle

East of the Lizard the path turns northwards, continuing past Housel Bay and a building used by Guglielmo Marconi for radio experiments,[25] then Bass Point with its Coastguard Station. The Lizard lifeboat station is a sheltered position in Kilcobben Cove.

Passing through Cadgwith and across Kennack Sands, the path heads towards Black Head then into Coverack. Once around Lowland Point, The Manacles lie a mile offshore, a reef that has wrecked many ships.[26] The path passes through Porthoustock and Porthallow, then around Nare Point lies Gillan Creek. This can be crossed at very low tide, but most walkers follow the lanes round the head of the creek to reach Dennis Head at the mouth of the Helford River. To cross this wider river means following it inland to Helford where there is a ferry across to Helford Passage on the north bank. Some people take a short cut from Gillan Creek to Helford by a path through Manaccan.

Falmouth and Pendennis Castle
Pendennis Castle and its twin at St Mawes were built to guard the deep water of Carrick Roads. This natural haven is what made Falmouth such an important harbour, it being the last good shelter for ships heading westwards towards the Atlantic Ocean.[27]

After following the river back through Durgan to the open waters beyond Toll Point, the path skirts Falmouth Bay along Maenporth, Swanpool and Gyllyngvase beaches before passing around the headland beneath Pendennis Castle to enter bustling Falmouth, commanding the capacious Falmouth Roads.

The path crosses the harbour on the St Mawes Ferry and then passes St Anthony Head and Zone Point and northwards past the village of Portscatho and around Gerrans Bay. Beyond Nare Head is Portloe in Veryan Bay. The next big headland is Dodman Point after which the coast path resumes its northwards course through Gorran Haven and the fishing harbour at Mevagissey to Pentewan where the once busy dock has silted up with sand.[28] The path then climbs up around Black Head to reach Portpean and then Charlestown.

Charlestown
Charlestown was the first harbour to serve the china clay industry around St Austell and has featured in several films as it is home to a heritage fleet of sailing ships.

After passing Carlyon Bay the path comes to the much busier china-clay exporting port of Par, where it goes inland of the dock site. After passing through the village the path regains the coast at Par Sands and links with the Saints' Way, a coast-to-coast path across Cornwall, at Polmear. It then follows the cliff tops through Polkerris and around Gribbin Head. From here to Polperro is designated as a heritage coast.[29]

Withnoe Beach on Whitsand Bay

The path now passes Polridmouth (pronounced 'Pridmouth') and Readymoney Cove to enter Fowey, another busy harbour but this time the deep water quays are situated up river above the town. The River Fowey is crossed on the Polruan ferry, beyond which are some steep cliffs with spectacular views. Beyond Lantic Bay lies Pencarrow Head then the larger Lantivet Bay with further cliffs and small coves leading to Polperro, a fishing village which bans cars during the summer.

Beyond Polperro lies Talland Bay and Portnadler Bay, with the bird reserve of Looe Island off shore. The path now enters Looe, passing through Hannafore, West Looe then, after crossing the River Looe on the town’s bridge (or at high water a fery is available, just a few hundred yards below the bridge!)

From East Looe, the path continues up onto the cliff then heads towards Millendreath then along more cliffs, running past a 60-foot sevenfold labyrinth carved into the turf of the hillside[30] to Seaton, Downderry, and Portwrinkle.

The long beach of Whitsand Bay has a fast-rising tide and is a military firing range so the path runs inland behind Tregantle Fort to reach Freathy and Rame Head. Beyond this lies Penlee Point and then the path turns northwards into Plymouth Sound, skirting Cawsand Bay and Mount Edgcumbe Country Park to reach the ferry at Cremyll. Beyond here lies the Hamoaze, the combined estuary of the Tamar and other rivers.

South Devon

The Cremyll Ferry lands in Devon at Stonehouse, one of the Three Towns which make up the modern city of Plymouth. The path follows roads past Stonehouse Barracks and Millbay Docks to Plymouth Hoe with its views across Plymouth Sound. It then crosses Sutton Harbour close by the Mayflower Steps then skirts the hill of Cattedown to cross the River Plym by the Laira Bridge to Plymstock. Passing round the edge of the tidal Hooe Lake, the path regains the countryside above Jennycliff Bay, and follows the cliffs past Bovisand to Wembury.

Direction sign at Bigbury-on-Sea with Burgh Island behind

From Wembury the path travels east to the Warren Point Ferry, across the River Yealm, near Newton Ferrers. The River Erme near Kingston must be forded at Erme Mouth within one hour of low tide.[16] The view to the southwest is then over Bigbury Bay past Burgh Island and Hope Cove to the promontory known as Bolt Tail. The next six miles of cliff top paths from Bolberry Down past Bolt Head and the tidal ria of Kingsbridge Estuary to Prawle Point, belong to the National Trust. The estuary is crossed using the Salcombe Ferry, from Salcombe to East Portlemouth, close to Salcombe Castle and within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Prawle Point and Start Point SSSI
This site is is recognised as being an important site for solitary bees and wasps, the rare cuckoo bee Nomada sexfasciata, and the Cirl bunting.[31]

The path passes through the Prawle Point and Start Point SSSI, then

The path then continues around Lannacombe Bay to Start Point and its lighthouse and then through Start Bay along a 3-mile shingle causeway between Slapton Sands and the Slapton Ley freshwater lake and nature reserve before entering the estuary of the River Dart and historic port of Dartmouth.

From Dartmouth, the route uses either the Lower Ferry or Passenger Ferry to cross the river to Kingswear.

Kingswear is the terminus of the Dartmouth Steam Railway which follows the River Dart, but the coast path climbs out of the village in the opposite direction to reach Torbay. It passes the historic harbour of Brixham and the seaside towns of Goodrington, Paignton, Torquay, Babbacombe. The coast path then passes along wooded cliffs to reach Shaldon and the River Teign.

Crossing the river by ferry or the long Shaldon Bridge brings walkers to Teignmouth, beyond which the coast path follows the South Devon Railway sea wall to Hole Head where the Parson and Clerk rocks look out to sea. Passing beneath the railway, the path climbs up to the main road, which it follows for a few yards before turning back towards the cliff top (in stormy weather the sea wall is too dangerous and this road must be followed most of the way from Teignmouth). Entering Dawlish along a now by-passed toll road, the coast path descends back to the level of the railway which it follows to Dawlish Warren, although a slightly more landward route is necessary at high tides. Dawlish Warren is a sand spit and nature reserve that lies at the mouth of the River Exe.

On the Jurassic Coast east of Exmouth

The route frm Dawlish Warren turns away from the coast and follows north up the Exe estuary past Cockwood to Starcross where the seasonal Exmouth to Starcross Ferry crosses to Exmouth. The Exe Valley Way continues beyond Starcross towards Exeter, but when the ferry is not running it is possible to catch a train either from Dawlish Warren or from Starcross to Exmouth.

On the eastern side of Exmouth, the coast path climbs up onto the High Land of Orcombe. This is the start of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site.[32] The next town is Budleigh Salterton, beyond which lies the River Otter. The path then skirts Chiselbury Bay and Ladram Bay towards Sidmouth which sits at the mouth of the River Sid. Access to the beach is by a wooden staircase known as Jacob's ladder.

The cliffs from Sidmouth eastward have been heavily eroded, threatening cliff top homes and the footpath, which passes along the tops of the cliff, around Lyme Bay, avoiding The Undercliff towards Branscombe. The path then follows Seaton Bay past Beer, then Seaton before going through The Undercliff (yet another SSSI and a National Nature Reserve) and then the path crosses the border into Dorset just before Lyme Regis.

Dorset

Chesil Beach and Fortuneswell

Across the Dorset border, the Coast Path runs through the town of Lyme Regis. Further east, where it shares its route with the Monarch's Way, the path passes by Golden Cap, the highest point on the south coast,[33] and on through Charmouth and West Bay (near Bridport), to Burton Bradstock at the start of Chesil Beach.

At Abbotsbury, the path leaves Chesil beach to follow the shores of the Fleet lagoon, until it reaches the end of Chesil beach next to the villages of Fortuneswell and Chiswell on the Isle of Portland.

The path walks around the Isle of Portland, passing the lighthouses at Portland Bill and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Chiswell, and returns across Chesil beach to Wyke Regis (encompassing the Rodwell Trail) and along the shores of Portland Harbour to the Nothe Fort in the resort of Weymouth.

In Weymouth the coast path runs along Weymouth Harbour and the Wey Estuary up to Radipole Lake, through the town centre to the Esplanade on the shore of Weymouth Bay, and on to Ringstead Bay, with White Nothe at its eastern end, near the village of Osmington Mills. There is an alternative route around Weymouth and Portland along the South Dorset Downs, which reduces the footpath distance by just over 19 miles. Just the loop around the Isle of Portland can be omitted, reducing the journey by 13 miles.[34]

The Coast path then follows the shores of the Isle of Purbeck - past Bat's Head and Swyre Head, and on to Durdle Door, a natural arch which has been described as "one of Dorset's most recognisable features".[35] This lies just to the west of the Lulworth Cove, "the most visited geological locality in Britain".[36] Further east lies the ghost village of Tyneham, beside Worbarrow Bay, and Kimmeridge, next to Kimmeridge Bay, with its rocky shore and wave cut platform. Between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge the path passes through the Lulworth Military Range, which is not always open to the public. When the ranges are in use a 12-mile road detour is needed.

Studland Beach
Behind Studland beach is an extensive system of sand dunes, stretching for miles across the Studland peninsula. The peninsula forms one shore of Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in the world. Part of Studland beach is the National Trust's only official naturist beach.

The coast path then reaches St Alban's Head, just to the south of the village of Worth Matravers. Between St Alban's Head and the resort of Swanage is Durlston Country Park nature reserve. North of Swanage is the chalk Ballard Down, the eastern tip of which has been eroded to form Old Harry Rocks, a series of stacks, arches and caves jutting into the sea between Swanage Bay and Studland Bay. This headland marks the end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.

Sculpture at the end of the path

The South West Coast Path ends at South Haven Point, where there is a commemorative marker. The Sandbanks Ferry links this to the Sandbanks area of Poole on the eastern edge of the harbour.

Intersecting and connecting paths

The South West Coast Path, covering such a wide area, inevitably intersects with other, more local, routes, and it connects with many other long-distance paths offering opportunities for even longer expeditions:

Economics

Tourism

Natural England fund the path. In the 1990s the Countryside Agency reported that the path brought £15 million into the area each year,[37] but new research in 2003 estimated that it generated around £300 million a year in total, which could support more than 7,500 jobs.[5] This research also recorded that 27.6% of visitors to the region came because of the Path, and they spent £136 million in a year.

Local people took 23 million walks on the Path and spent a further £116 million, and other visitors contributed the remainder. A further study in 2005 estimated this figure to have risen to around £300 million.[38]

Charity fundraising

Many individuals or organisations use a walk on all or part of the path to raise money for charity.[39][40][41]

Outside links

References

  1. ↑ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Dorset and East Devon Coast". http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=1029. Retrieved 2007-11-27. 
  2. ↑ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape". http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1215. Retrieved 2007-11-26. 
  3. ↑ South West Coast Path Association. "Distance reckoner". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071024195604/http://www.swcp.org.uk/walk/reckoner.html. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  4. ↑ "This is the South West Coast Path!". South West Coast Path Association. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071024195615/http://www.swcp.org.uk/walk/swcp_intro.html. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Countryside Agency – Coast Path is a £300M Money Spinner for the South West
  6. ↑ | SWCPA - GPS Survey Results
  7. ↑ SWCPA. "This is the South West Coast Path". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071024195615/http://www.swcp.org.uk/walk/swcp_intro.html. Retrieved 2007-11-29. "We estimate that 8 weeks are required for the average walker to complete our path." 
  8. ↑ "Marines near the end of path run". The BBC. 30 April 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3673043.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 
  9. ↑ New Coast Path record set - The South West Coast Path Team
  10. ↑ "Flying High". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/west/series6/exmoor.shtml. Retrieved 2007-12-03. 
  11. ↑ "Exmoor Coastal Heaths" (PDF). English Nature. http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1004152.pdf. Retrieved 2006-08-12. 
  12. ↑ "Poisoned peppers meant for goats". BBC News. 2007-03-20. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/6470297.stm. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  13. ↑ "South West Coast Path". National Trails. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/trail.asp?PageId=31. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 
  14. ↑ "Combe Martin and the Hangmans". Exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk. http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/visiting/visitor-map-old/gw-hangmans. Retrieved 11 October 2012. 
  15. ↑ | Sand Dunes - North Devon Biosphere
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 SWCPA. "River crossings". Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071024195609/http://www.swcp.org.uk/walk/river_crossings.html. Retrieved 2007-11-19. 
  17. ↑ Berridge, Peter; Alison Roberts (1986). "The Mesolithic Period in Cornwall" (PDF). Cornish Archeology 25. http://cornisharchaeology.org.uk/documents/CAS25-1s.pdf. 
  18. ↑ "A Time-Line for Cornwall". Golowan. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071117174509/http://www.golowan.org/Timeline.html. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  19. ↑ Cornwall Wildlife Trust – Uypton Towans
  20. ↑ "Porthcurno Telegraph Museum". Brunel 200 legacy. http://www.brunel200.com/legacy/sw_arts_projects/porthcurno_telegraph_museum.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  21. ↑ "The Evolution of Cable & Wireless, Part 2". History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications. http://www.atlantic-cable.com/CableCos/CandW/Eastern/. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  22. ↑ "Tater Du Lighthouse". Trinity House. http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/tater_du.html. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  23. ↑ Bednar, George (1999). Every Corner was a Picture: A checklist compiled for the West Cornwall Art Archive of 50 artists from the early Newlyn School painters through to the present. Penzance: Patten Press. ISBN 1-872229-36-0. 
  24. ↑ "Porthleven, Cornwall to the Lizard, Cornwall". Cornwall Coastal Path. http://www.cornishman.com/penzance-to-lizard/porthleven_to_the_lizard.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  25. ↑ A brief history of the station - Lizard Wireless
  26. ↑ A Diver's Guide to The Shipwrecks of The Lizard - St Keverne.com
  27. ↑ Falmouth and Truro Ports Handbook
  28. ↑ Cornwall Industrial Settlements Initiative – Pentewan - Historic Cornwall
  29. ↑ "Heritage Coast in Cornwall". Natural England. http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/DL/heritage_coasts/Cornwallhc.asp. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  30. ↑ "Millendreath and Bodigga Loop". National Trust. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/things-to-see-and-do/view-page/item903855/. Retrieved 26 January 2013. 
  31. ↑ Prawle Point and Start Point Site of Special Scientific Interest - English Nature
  32. ↑ UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Dorset and East Devon Coast
  33. ↑ National Trust. "Coastal walk" (PDF). http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-walk-golden_cap.pdf. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  34. ↑ SWCPA. "Distance Calculator". http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/walks_content/distancecalculator.cfm. Retrieved 2007-11-19. 
  35. ↑ BBC Dorset. "Coast: Durdle Door". http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/panoramas/durdle_360.shtml. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  36. ↑ West, Ian. "Lulworth Cove, Dorset". http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Lulworth.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-25. 
  37. ↑ Andrews, Philip (1997). "The Countryside Agency and Regional Development Agencies". Countryside Agency. http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/archive/board_meetings/annexes/CA_AP99_02.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-01. 
  38. ↑ "Mapping the gaps in England's coastal access". Natural England. 31 July 2009. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2009/310709.aspx. Retrieved 2009-07-31. 
  39. ↑ SWCPA. "Walks for charities". Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080103024250/http://www.swcp.org.uk/walk/charity-walks.html. Retrieved 2008-01-09. 
  40. ↑ Water Aid. "Coast along: Thank you". http://www.coastalongforwateraid.org/. 
  41. ↑ https://sites.google.com/site/coastpathrun/home

Books

  • Tarr, Roland (2007). National Trail Guide: South West Coast Path, Minehead to Padstow. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-269-6. 
  • Macadam, James (2007). National Trail Guide: South West Coast Path, Padstow to Falmouth. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-270-X. 
  • Le Messurier, Brian (2006). National Trail Guide: South West Coast Path, Falmouth to Exmouth. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-194-0. 
  • Mason, John HN (1989). Walk the Cornish Coastal Path. Edinburgh: Bartholomew. ISBN 0-7028-0902-0. 
  • Tarr, Roland (2007). National Trail Guide: South West Coast Path, Exmouth to Poole. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-271-8. 
  • South West Coast Path Association (2007). 2007 annual guide. SWCPA. ISBN 0-907055-13-3.  (new edition published in March every year; free to members)
  • South West Coast Path Association (2006). Reverse Guide. SWCPA.  (describes route from Poole to Minehead; available from the Association)
  • Carter, Philip (2005). The South West Coast Path, an illustrated history. South West Coast Path Association. http://www.swcp.org.uk/assoc/historybook.html. 
  • Dillon, Paddy (2003). The South West Coast Path. Cicerone. ISBN 978-1-85284-379-3. 
Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom

Cleveland Way • Cotswold Way • Glyndŵr's Way • Great Glen Way • Hadrian's Wall Path • Icknield Way • North Downs Way • Norfolk Coast Path • Offa's Dyke Path • Peddars Way • Pembrokeshire Coast Path • Pennine Bridleway • Pennine Way • The Ridgeway • Scottish National Trail • South Downs Way • Southern Upland Way • South West Coast Path • Speyside Way • Thames Path • Ulster Way • West Highland Way • Yorkshire Wolds Way

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