Experience the path as it follows the coast religiously, whether that’s leading you in and out of the stunning coves via rather knee-buckling descents, or delightfully traversing a promontory.
Journey through one of Cornwall’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Explore picturesque fishing villages and historic harbours such as Polperro and Mevagissey.
Indulge in Falmouth’s vibrant foodie scene and sample the delights of fresh Cornish seafood.
Walk through the historic Georgian harbour at Charlestown, featured in the popular period drama Poldark.
Experience the wonderful camaraderie of your fellow walkers, all with different motivations for being out on the path and stories behind their walk.
This beautiful section on the southern edge of the South West Coast Path (SWCP) between Falmouth and Plymouth has a new delight at every turn. 77 miles of trail takes you on an ever-changing journey through some of Cornwall’s most loved spots.
The route begins in vibrant Falmouth, one of Cornwall’s hubs and home to art galleries and a wealth of excellent restaurants. The trail winds its way down through lovely fishing villages, where the original fishing industries remain and the pace of life is set by the sea.
Authors have long found inspiration in this idyllic part of Cornwall. The trail passes through sites associated with the renowned author Daphne Du Maurier, including the isolated and unique house on Chapel Point.
In Charlestown, the Georgian harbour may be a familiar sight from the BBC series Poldark, where the harbour poses as 18th-century Truro. Fantastically diverse walking follows, and in the final sections, the trail opens up to expansive views of the endpoint in Plymouth.
As this section of the trail includes challenging steep ascents and descents throughout, we would suggest that you consider walking shorter distances than normal. Additional rest days are recommended, as there is no shortage of wonderful destinations along the route where you could soak up all that the Cornish coast has to offer.
Please note that due to the busy nature of the South West Coast Path and 2-night minimum stays at most accommodations in the area, we may need to accommodate you for 2 nights in one location with return taxi transfers from the trail. The cost of these transfers would be included in your package.
Our most popular itinerary is SWCP-F-P3 which covers the route in 8 days / 9 nights.
Arrive in Falmouth, the gateway to the beautiful Fal River known for its maritime heritage, and spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation.
Your journey on the South West Coast Path begins today not with walking, but with two wonderful ferry journeys across the River Fal to reach the pretty town of St Mawes.
At St Mawes, your walk starts off with generally easy cliff-top walking, boasting wonderful views back towards St Mawes and Falmouth. Some steep ascents and descents lead you to your overnight stop in the charming village of Portloe.
This morning’s climb along dramatic cliff-tops offers the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs. You are sure to be rewarded with awe-inspiring views. On a clear day, you can see as far as Devon!
Before reaching Mevagissey, you will pass the small village of Gorran Haven, nestled on the coast. On your way. You will also walk past the stunning property of Chapel Point, which featured in Daphne Du Maurier’s novel ‘The House on the Strand’.
From Mevagissey the trail hugs the coast, leaving the cliffs only to skirt around Sconhoe and Pentewan Beaches. Despite the short distance, this section has plenty of ascent and descent which makes for a challenging day. Ropehaven Cliffs Nature Reserve is a great place to spot nesting fulmars amongst the trees.
Your destination tonight in Charlestown is home to a lovely Georgian harbour, used in the filming of the period drama Poldark.
Today’s walk offers some respite from the steep ascents and descents of the previous sections of the trail. A stunning horizon stretches ahead of you as you make your way past sandy coves and into the sheltered estuary of Fowey, where you can end your day with some bird watching.
Before entering Fowey you may wish to take a small detour to visit St Catherine’s Castle, a small 16th-century artillery fort built by Henry VIII.
This is one of the most exceptional sections of the South West Coast Path, epitomising the combination of isolation and fantastic scenery that the trail is known for. You will begin your day with a short and relaxing ferry journey across the River Fowey.
Whilst the walking that follows is not easy, you will be rewarded for your efforts with truly magnificent views.
A shorter and easier walking day makes this section of the trail popular with walkers and provides an opportunity to explore the lush woodland and rocky coves along the trail. Your destination of Looe has been a popular holiday destination since Victorian times and remains a busy fishing port today.
The trail once again climbs up to the cliff-tops and traces their outline, providing fantastically diverse walking all the way down to the traditional fishing village of Crafthole.
Your final day on the South West Coast Path is a varied one, as you enjoy more stunning coastal walking, pass the ruins of a medieval chapel, and wander through secluded woodlands.
Your walk on the South West Coast Path will end with fantastic views of Plymouth Sound and a short ferry journey across the River Tamar, into your final overnight stop of Plymouth.
After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the South West Coast Path.
Your South West Coast Path walking holiday includes:
Your walking holiday doesn't include:
We offer 3 suggested itineraries for walking the South West Coast Path.
Our most popular itinerary is SWCP-F-P3 which covers the route in 8 days.
All of the accommodation that we reserve for you has been personally selected by our expert team to ensure it meets our exacting standards. We regularly review our extensive database.
We will always prioritise accommodation as close to the walking trail as possible. Occasionally, your accommodation may be located a short distance from the trail, or you may need to spend more than one night in the same place, in which case we will provide return transfers.
If you’d like to upgrade from Standard to Premium accommodation, please let us know when you enquire. Due to the limited availability of Premium accommodation on this trail, this is not currently listed as a selectable option on our website. However, upon request, we can upgrade you to the best available guest houses, inns, and hotels in each location. Keep in mind that upgrading to Premium options in certain locations could avoid off-trail transfers.
As an environmentally conscious tour operator, we actively encourage the use of public transport by providing clients with a detailed breakdown of travel options in their information packs. The following information may help with your pre-trip planning.
Nearest International Airports: London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
The Heathrow Express operates regular train services to London Paddington.
From Gatwick, you can take the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station and then connect to London Paddington via the London Underground.
From Paddington Station you can then connect with a train to Falmouth Docks station via Truro (journey time 5 hours 50 min).
Nearest Railway Station: Falmouth.
There are train services to Falmouth from The Midlands, the North West and North East of England, as well as from Scotland.
From London Paddington Station you can take a train to Falmouth Docks station via Truro (journey time 5 hours 50 min).
National Express coaches also serve Falmouth.
As the bus and train services can be very busy, we recommend booking in advance.
Falmouth is a 5 hour 30 min drive from London. There is limited long-term parking in Falmouth so we recommend using public transport wherever possible.
Nearest major International Airports: London Heathrow and London Gatwick.
London Heathrow and London Gatwick Airports are the closest major international airports to Plymouth. There are direct trains to London Paddington Station from Plymouth (journey time 3 hours 20 min).
From London Paddington, the Heathrow Express operates a regular service to the Airport. For Gatwick, take the London Underground from London Paddington to Victoria Station. From here, the Gatwick Express offers services to the Airport.
Nearest Railway Station: Plymouth
Direct train services operate from Plymouth to London Paddington (journey time 3 hours 20 min). There are also direct train services to The Midlands, the North West and North East of England, as well as to Scotland.
From Plymouth, there are regular National Express Coaches to many parts of the UK.
As the bus and train services can be very busy, we recommend booking in advance.
London is a 4 hour 30 min drive from Plymouth. There is limited parking in Plymouth so we always recommend public transport.
We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the South West Coast Path – Falmouth to Plymouth.
You may wish to plan a rest day or have an additional night at any of the locations along the route which offer activities or sightseeing opportunities – we’ve made some suggestions below. Please request this when you make an enquiry.
Need something more tailored?
Contact us via email:
enquiries@absoluteescapes.com