The South West Coast Path begins at Minehead in Somerset and runs along the part of the Somerset coast, across North Devon, round Cornwall, then South Devon and Dorset to Poole Harbour - a distance of 630 miles. It is the longest path of its type in the country.

The South West Coast Path is unique and is based on a working footpath which was used by local people going about their everyday business and is now used by thousands of people enjoying themselves.

Over its entire lengths the views are exceptional as are the many coves and inlets along the way.

Those requiring accommodation along its route rather than camping will few problems. It is a traditional holiday area with plenty of facilities.

For those camping, there are numerous campsites near to the path and for the vast majority who walk small sections, access is good for both private and public transport.

The best times to walk are late Spring, early Summer or early Autumn. From a scenic point of view May is the ideal time to walk because the coastal flowers are at their best then. To enjoy swimming as well as walking the traditional summer holiday period is best.

Much of the landscape of Cornwall and West Devon was transformed in the 18th and early 19th centuries as a result of the rapid growth of pioneering mining. Many of the scars are still visible and are important.

Engine houses, mining ports and harbours are still a part of the landscape and a testimony to the contribution Cornwall and West Devon made to the industrial revolution.

More recently much of the area was declared a World Heritage site which covers ten distinct locations from West Penwith to the Tamar Valley and into West Devon including St Just, West Penwith, including Wheal Edward, The Crowns, Botallack and Levant along with the port of Hayle, Tregonning and Gwinear Mining area including Trewavas, Camborne and Redruth Mining District including Portreath Harbour, St Agnes area including Wheal Coates.

It is easy to get to the path by road and rail and there are also a number of air and ferry services.

Bristol (60 miles/97 km from Minehead end of the path.) Exeter (approx 11 miles/18km from the path in East and South Devon).

Plymouth (on the path).

Newquay (on the path).

Plymouth (on the path) - from France and Spain.

Poole (5 miles/8km from Poole Harbour end of the path) - from France Minehead (on the path).

Ilfracombe (on the path) - from South Wales and Bristol Lynmouth (on the path).

For more information about travelling to South West England see www.visitsouthwest.co.uk/main/travel/travel.cfm.

The south west is well served by major trunk roads M5, A303, A30 A39.

The route of the path involves rivers and 16 of these are crossed by ferries.

Useful links Cornwall County Council www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment Devon County Council www.devon.gov.uk Dorset County Council www.dorsetforyou.com/ Exmoor National Park Authority www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk Plymouth City Council www.plymouth.gov.uk Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust www.countryside-trust.org.uk Defence Estates (MOD) www.defence-estates.mod.uk The National Trust (Devon & Cornwall Region) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/regions/devoncornwall Cornwall AONB www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk Dorset AONB www.dorsetaonb.org.uk East Devon AONB www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk North Devon AONB www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk South Devon AONB www.southdevonaonb.org.uk English Nature www.english-nature.org.uk DEFR www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/rds/sw County Wildlife Trusts www.wildlifetrusts.org Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org Royal Society for the Protection of Birds www.rspb.org.uk/england/southwest Seaquest South West www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature/marine/seaquest English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk/southwest Clornish miningwww.cornish-mining.org.uk Devon Food Links www.devonfoodlinks.org.uk Taste of the West www.foodtrails.co.uk Maritime & Coastguard Agency www.mcga.gov.uk RNLI www.rnli.org.uk Beach safety code: www.beachsafety.org.uk Accommodation www.visitsouthwest.co.uk South West Coast Path Association www.swcp.org.uk Ramblers' Association www.ramblers.org.uk Long Distance Walkers' Association www.ldwa.org.uk The Youth Hostels' Association www.yha.org.uk Useful links Cornwall County Council www.cornwall.gov.uk/Environment . .Devon County Council www.devon.gov.uk . Dorset County Council www.dorsetforyou.com/ . Exmoor National Park Authority www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk . Plymouth City Council www.plymouth.gov.uk Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust www.countryside-trust.org.uk Defence Estates (MOD) www.defence-estates.mod.uk The National Trust (Devon & Cornwall Region) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/regions/devoncornwall Cornwall AONB www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk Dorset AONB www.dorsetaonb.org.uk East Devon AONB www.eastdevonaonb.org.uk North Devon AONB www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk South Devon AONB www.southdevonaonb.org.uk English Nature www.english-nature.org.uk DEFR www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/rds/sw County Wildlife Trusts www.wildlifetrusts.org Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org Royal Society for the Protection of Birds www.rspb.org.uk/england/southwest Seaquest South West www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature/marine/seaquest English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk/southwest Clornish miningwww.cornish-mining.org.uk Devon Food Links www.devonfoodlinks.org.uk Taste of the West www.foodtrails.co.uk Maritime & Coastguard Agency www.mcga.gov.uk RNLI www.rnli.org.uk Beach safety code: www.beachsafety.org.uk Accommodation www.visitsouthwest.co.uk South West Coast Path Association www.swcp.org.uk Ramblers' Association www.ramblers.org.uk Long Distance Walkers' Association www.ldwa.org.uk The Youth Hostels' Association www.yha.org.uk