Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Walking
The sheer diversity of landscapes in Devon and Cornwall gives walkers itchy feet. Britain's
longest national trail, the South West Coast Path, dazzles and challenges as it careers
around the shores. Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor deliver hundreds of miles of wil-
derness walks rich in archaeology and laced with myth. Meanwhile, an irresistible network
of less-trodden footpaths meanders across the counties' rural heartlands, opening up green
lanes, woodlands and drovers' trails.
The South West Coast Path
It's billed as a 630-mile adventure - and it is. The South West Coast Path (SWCP) takes in
the entire shore of Devon and Cornwall on its journey from Poole in Dorset to Minehead in
Somerset. En route are cliffs crowned by tin mines, sparkling bays, pretty fishing villages
and swathes of rural idyll. It's so gorgeous you'll forgive it the painful combined gradient
of three Everests. In metric it's even more impressive: 1014km.
A whopping 65% of the trail is within AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty);
over half is Heritage Coast and 5% is National Park. Bird life is particularly impressive; ex-
pect to see peregrine falcon, gannet, fulmar, kittiwake and guillemot. Seals, dolphins and
sharks are often seen close to shore. The region's wildflowers are outstanding in spring and
summer: a palette of pink thrift, creamy bladder campion, purple heather and yellow gorse.
Day Walks
Superb, shorter clifftop hikes abound. Here are some local favourites:
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Lynmouth-Combe Martin
(13 miles) The realm of the red deer, where vertiginous cliffs meet open moor.
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Pendeen Watch-Sennen Cove
(9 miles) Cracking views and the working Levant Mine.
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Sennen Cove-Porthcurno
(6 miles) From surfing beaches to a cliffside theatre, via Land's End.
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Salcombe-Hope Cove
(8 miles) Happy wanderings from a chic sailing port to an enchanting Devon fishing village.
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Portreath-Trevaunance Cove
(9 miles) Mining heritage, a surfers' beach, sandy cove and 192m-high headland.
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Branscombe to Beer
(2 miles) From fishing village, via remarkable geology, to shipwreck beach. Bring a swimsuit.
