Clovelly Harbour, Devon

South West Coast Path – Westward Ho! to Padstow

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Overview

Route

What’s Included?

Itineraries & Prices

Accommodation

Travel Info

Additional Days

Overview

Walking Holidays

7 - 9 Nights

78 miles / 126 km

Prices from: £995 per person
Start: Westward Ho!, Devon
Finish: Padstow, Cornwall
Availability: Any start date from March to October
Grading: Moderate
Way-marked: Yes

South West Coast Path (Westward Ho! to Padstow) Highlights

King Arthur & Tintagel Castle

Discover historic Tintagel Castle, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur.

Tranquil harbour villages

Explore hidden coves and beautiful fishing villages nestled amongst the stunning coastline.

Cobbled Clovelly

Visit the unique village of Clovelly, with its steep cobbled streets clinging to a 400-foot cliff.

Hartland Quay

Follow the trail out onto the rugged and uncompromising headland at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

A taste of Padstow

End your walk in picturesque Padstow, the gourmet capital of Cornwall, and enjoy a feast of fresh seafood.

The achievement

Take on the challenge of walking England’s longest long-distance footpath and enjoy a feeling of great achievement as you embark on this remarkable section.

A Rugged Treck along England’s Longest Trail

The South West Coast Path (also known as the SWCP) is England’s longest waymarked long-distance footpath, running 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. This section is the second stage, covering the 78 miles from Westward Ho! to Padstow.

This wonderful section of the South West Coast Path crosses from Devon into Cornwall, traversing a magnificent, untouched coastline made up of dramatic cliffs and valleys carved by the wild Atlantic Ocean. With 78 miles of undulating path, this is considered to be one of the most challenging sections of the entire trail.

Dipping in and out of peaceful sheltered inlets such as Port Quin, a National Trust fishing village, the trail eventually leads into the rugged and uncompromising headland at Hartland Quay, before passing through the quaint village of Clovelly, and on to medieval Tintagel Castle where the legend of King Arthur comes to life.

This section of the path would typically take 6 – 8 days to complete. We recommend that you plan to walk shorter distances than you normally would, due to the steep ascents and descents throughout the path. Additional rest days are highly recommended and are truly rewarding along this stunning coast.

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.

South West Coast Path (Westward Ho! to Padstow) Route Map

Recommended Itinerary

Our most popular itinerary is SWCP-WH-P2 which covers the route in 8 days / 9 nights.

Travel to Westward Ho! for your first night's accommodation

Arrive in Westward Ho!, a small seaside village in North Devon and the only place in the British Isles with an exclamation mark in its name. Spend the evening at your first night’s accommodation.

Day 1: Westward Ho! to Clovelly (11 miles / 18km)

Enjoy a relatively easy walk along clifftops and through woodland, before dropping down into the rocky secluded cove of Bucks Mills. The path continues onto Hobby Drive, where it moves away from the coast and arrives at the unique village of Clovelly.

Day 2: Clovelly to Hartland Quay (10.5 miles / 17km)

The path leads you along the rocky shoreline to Hartland Point. Spend a night in this remote setting, perched on one of the greatest defining headlands along the SWCP.

Day 3: Hartland Quay to Morwenstow (7.5 miles / 12km)

Start your day by passing St Catherine’s Tor before reaching the dramatic 15-metre high Spekes Mill waterfall, leading you to the Cornish Border. Stay overnight in the small village of Morwenstow – the most northerly parish in Cornwall.

Day 4: Morwenstow to Bude (7.5 miles / 12km)

Today is a less strenuous day which takes you past many irresistible beaches. After leaving Morwenstow, look out for the small clifftop hut known as Hawker’s Hut, which Reverend Robert Hawker regularly visited to seek peace and tranquillity. The path finally eases off as you approach Bude along Crooklets Beach.

Day 5: Bude to Crackington Haven (9.5 miles / 15km)

Follow a scenic path along Widemouth Bay before descending steeply into Millook Haven. Two deep and steep valleys await before you reach Castle Point, where you will be rewarded with tremendous views. Enjoy a rest in the unspoilt, hidden village of Crackington Haven.

Day 6: Crackington Haven to Tintagel (11.5 miles / 19km)

Ahead of you looms High Cliff – the aptly named highest cliff in Cornwall, which has a very steep path falling on the south side. Visit the beautiful harbour inlet of Boscastle for refreshments, before descending into Tintagel Haven, a hive of activity for all those eager to visit magnificent Tintagel Castle, the reputed birthplace of King Arthur.

Day 7: Tintagel to Port Isaac (8.5 miles / 14km)

Today’s walk is quite challenging. There are a large number of valleys to climb up and immediately back down after leaving Trebarwith Strand, followed by a gentle picturesque clifftop meadow that will lead you through Port Gaverne and onto the fishing village of Port Isaac.

Day 8: Port Isaac to Padstow (12 miles / 19km)

A rollercoaster of a path will lead you to Port Quin, before the path opens up, leading you to the headland of The Rumps and Pentire Point. The final leg of your walk passes through Polzeath, hugging the coast all the way to Rock, where a ferry will transport you over to Padstow.

A well-deserved rest awaits you in Padstow – the ‘foodie’ capital of Cornwall – where excellent food and drink is plentiful.

Onward travel

After breakfast, you will start your journey home after a wonderful walking holiday on the South West Coast Path – Westward Ho! to Padstow.

What’s Included?

Your South West Coast Path walking holiday includes:

Carefully selected accommodation along the route and trail transfers when applicable
En-suite or private bathroom facilities whenever possible
Daily door-to-door baggage transfers
Comprehensive information pack, kit list, guidebook and map (one set per room)
Personalised itinerary with details of your accommodation, route and recommendations for lunch and dinner
Traditional English breakfast
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your walking holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Transport to and from the start and end of the walk
Ferry crossings
Lunches and evening meals

Itineraries & Prices

We offer 2 suggested itineraries for walking the South West Coast Path from Westward Ho! to Padstow.

Our most popular itinerary is SWCP-WH-P2 which covers the route in 8 days.

Please note that due to the busy nature of the South West Coast Path and 2-night minimum stays at most accommodation 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.

Tour code

Itinerary

Average miles

Difficulty

Price per person

SWCP-WH-P1

6 Days / 7 Nights

13 miles per day

Moderate

From £995

Average miles : 13 miles per day

Tour code: SWCP-WH-P1

Difficulty : Moderate

6 Days / 7 Nights (SWCP-WH-P1)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Westward Ho! for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Westward Ho! to Clovelly 11 miles / 18km

Day 2 Clovelly to Hartland Quay 10.5 miles / 17km

Day 3 Hartland Quay to Bude 15 miles / 24km

Day 4 Bude to Boscastle 16 miles / 26 km

Day 5 Boscastle to Port Isaac 13.5 miles / 22 km

Day 6 Port Isaac to Padstow 12 miles / 19 km

Depart Onward travel from Padstow

Prices

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £995 per person

Good quality and comfortable B&Bs, guest houses and some hotels located as close to the trail as possible. We will prioritise en-suite facilities or a private bathroom, although in remote areas with limited accommodation this may not always be possible.

Enquire Now

SWCP-WH-P2

8 Days / 9 Nights

10 miles per day

Moderate

From £1225

Average miles : 10 miles per day

Tour code: SWCP-WH-P2

Difficulty : Moderate

8 Days / 9 Nights (SWCP-WH-P2)

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this package. Transfers are included when you are staying away from the trail.

Additional nights can be added at any stage along the walk and we would be delighted to adjust it for you.

All of our prices are per person based on two people sharing a room. Our packages include all accommodation, baggage transfers and full information pack.

Single room & solo walker supplements

Single rooms are available at a supplement which covers the additional costs of a single room or single occupancy of a twin or double room.

As we incur additional costs for transferring a single bag, there is a solo walker supplement in addition to the single supplement.

Arrive Travel to Westward Ho! for your first night's accommodation

Day 1 Westward Ho! to Clovelly 11 miles / 18km

Day 2 Clovelly to Hartland Quay 10.5 miles / 17km

Day 3 Hartland Quay to Morwenstow 7.5 miles / 12km

Day 4 Morwenstow to Bude 7.5 miles / 12km

Day 5 Bude to Crackington Haven 9.5 miles / 15 km

Day 6 Crackington Haven to Tintagel 11.5 miles / 19 km

Day 7 Tintagel to Port Isaac 8.5 miles / 14 km

Day 8 Port Isaac to Padstow 12 miles / 19 km

Depart Onward travel from Padstow

Prices

Standard

Good quality B&Bs, Guest Houses & Hotels

From £1225 per person

Enquire Now

South West Coast Path Accommodation

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.

Travel Information

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.

Getting to Westward Ho!

By Air

Nearest International Airports: London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport.

From Heathrow, the Heathrow Express operates regular services to London Paddington (journey time 15 min). From here, there are direct trains to Exeter St Davids (2 hours 15 min) and a further train to Barnstaple Station (1 hour 15 min).

From Gatwick, there are direct trains to Reading Station, where you can connect with a train to Exeter St Davids (1 hour 30 min), and a further train to Barnstaple Station (1 hour 15 min).

It is then a bus or taxi ride from Barnstaple Station to Westward Ho!

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Barnstaple.

Trains from London Paddington to Exeter have a journey time of 2 hours 15 min, and from here you can connect with a train to Barnstaple (1 hour 15 min).

As the train and bus services can be very busy, we recommend booking in advance.

It is then a bus or taxi ride from Barnstaple Station to Westward Ho!

By Car

There is parking available at Westward Ho! however leaving your car here is at your own risk and the parking is often very busy and expensive in the summer months, so we do advise that public transport is the best option.

Departing Padstow

By Air

Nearest International Airports: London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport.

From Padstow you can get a bus to Bodmin Parkway and connect to a direct train to London Paddington (journey time hours 45 min).

From London Paddington the Heathrow Express operates a train service to Heathrow (journey time 15 min).

For Gatwick, connect with the London Underground from London Paddington to Victoria Station, and from here the Gatwick Express runs a service to the Airport.

By Public Transport

Nearest Railway Station: Bodmin Parkway

From Padstow you can get a bus to Bodmin Parkway (journey time 1 hour 5 min) and connect to a direct train to London Paddington (journey time hours 45 min).

As the train and bus services can be very busy, we recommend booking in advance.

By Car

There is long term parking available in Padstow, however leaving your car here is at your own risk and the parking is often very busy and expensive in the summer months, so we do advise that public transport is the best option.

Additional Days

We would be delighted to arrange additional accommodation for you along the South West Coast Path – Westward Ho! to Padstow.

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.

Bude

Relax on Summerleaze or Crooklets Beach
Visit the Castle Bude Heritage Centre to learn more about the local history and geology
Hire a rowing boat or pedalo and relax on the Bude Canal

Tintagel

Immerse yourself in the legend of the mythical King Arthur at Tintagel Castle
Explore the sacred waterfall at St Nectan’s Glen
Visit the old Post Office, a 14th-century yeoman’s farmhouse with a wavy roof

Port Isaac

Discover this charming and picturesque village, perhaps the loveliest of all along this stretch of coast
Explore the famous nooks of the village used as a setting for the popular TV series Doc Martin
Spend time in the neighbouring village of Port Gaverne, a tiny sleepy hamlet
Indulge yourself at Outlaw’s Fish Restaurant – voted the best restaurant in the UK

Padstow

Explore Prideaux Place, a fine example of a 16th-century Elizabethan manor house
Enjoy some of the freshest seafood in Britain and dine at celebrity chef Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant
Take a boat trip from the picturesque harbour where you can spot seals, basking sharks, puffins and more

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