England Coast Path - South West

This easy 5.5 mile (9Km) circular walk starts in Kipling Tors car park in Westwood Ho! Westward Ho! is the only settlement in England named after a book.

The route follows quiet country lanes, public footpaths, green lanes, and coast path. There are toilets near the start. 

This walk was created by North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and has been reproduced with their permission. 

Take in the old haunts of Saxons and smugglers, lush coastline and glittering sea, then amble back through the green fields of South Devon on this 3.5 mile circular walk. 

All of maritime life is here on this 3.75 mile circular walk; Start Bay’s great sweep of sea and land, traditional fishing communities, and the mysterious and tragic lost village of Hallsands. The walk wends it way home again along green lanes and footpaths. 

The walk starts at the seafront car park at Beesands. It follows the coastal path, surfaced roads, field footpaths, and green lanes. There are 2 flights of steps and 1 stile. 

This walk has been reproduced with the kind permission of South Devon AONB. 

The many faces of maritme South Devon in one 4.5 mile walk; wild open sea and rugged coast, sheltered estuary, wooded riverbanks, and the waterfront village of Noss Mayo with its chocolate box charm.

The walk starts at Warren car park, and follows good footpaths and tracks. 

This walk has been reproduced with the kind permission of South Devon AONB. 

This is a self-guided, circular, 6 mile walk around Combe Martin.

This walk through the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a six mile, circular route that takes you on a journey through Combe Martin's industrial heritage.While you walk you will be looking at evidence that can still be found, to this day, of industry in the landscape. Combe Martin's heritage is different to that of its neighbouring towns, in that its remoteness and industry, which left it a 'shammick' of a town, dirty and industrial, meant that it was not visited by tourists until relatively recently. In the landscape today you can see evidence of silver mines, lime burning, maritime industries and market gardening, all the while taking in the beautiful coastal landscape of North Devon. As we walk thorough Combe Martin, names, buildings and fields reveal the industrial past of Combe Martin.

This walk was created by the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and has been reproduced with their permission. 

This is an easy walk in an award-winning park and recreation area. Apex Park is a gem with 42 acres of land including lakes, wildflowers, trails and play areas formed from former clay pits. The lake supports a good population of water birds and attracts swallows and house martins in the summer. It also supports toads and water voles with many insects and butterflies in the surrounding parkland. Meanwhile the England Coast Path section of the walk offers great views of Bridgwater Bay and Hinkley Point to the southwest and the River Brue with its sail boats and tidal shores. Distance:  1.25 miles / 2km Duration:  30 minutes Map:  OS Explorer 153:  Weston-super-Mare & Bleadon Hill Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

This easy walk has fantastic open coastal views as well as shaded woodland paths. On the shore it takes in the wreck of the Nornen, still clearly visible after running aground during a storm in 1897. Luckily, all ten crew and the ship’s dog were rescued by Burnham lifeboat. Berrow is part of one of Europe’s longest strips of sand and is backed by dunes. Because of this, it has become a favourite for film and television companies. This walk is tidal - please check tide times here before setting off to ensure you can complete the walk safely - Burnham-on-Sea is the closest recording station. Distance:  2.3 miles / 1.5km Duration:  1.5 hours Map:  OS Explorer 153: Weston-super-Mare & Bleadon Hill Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

This walk travels the length of Brean Down; a natural pier standing 97m high and offering stunning views across the Bristol Channel to South Wales, north to Weston-super-Mare and south to Exmoor and the Somerset Levels. Its height has made it an ideal site for coastal defences as far back as the Iron Age and in 1862 a Palmerston Fort was built in response to the threat from France and Napoleon III. The rocky limestone soil on its southern slopes is the perfect habitat for some of our rarest blooms, while the northern slopes offer a dazzling display of Bluebells in Spring. Distance:  3 miles/4.8km Duration:  2-2.5 hours Map:  OS Explorer 153: Weston-super-Mare & Bleadon Hill Grade:  Easy to Moderate Download the .gpx file here

An easy flat walk on pavements and paved pathways that explores the historic market town of Bridgwater, home to Europe’s largest illuminated carnival which lights up the streets every November. Along the route are Bridgwater Arts Centre - one of the first in the country - as well as the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum, and the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and Docks. Bridgwater’s rich commercial, mercantile and often bloody political history is celebrated in the Blake Museum, birthplace of one of England’s greatest naval heroes Admiral Robert Blake, of whom Nelson said “I am not the equal”. Distance:  2 miles/3.5km Duration:  2 hours Map:  Download a free town guide here Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

Burnham-on-Sea sits at the mouth of the River Parrett and the end of the second longest strip of sand in Europe. It is a town of surprises from its independent shops to its short pier and three lighthouses. In the 19th century Burnham was fast becoming a popular seaside town and it owed much of its prosperity to George Reed. Born in Bristol in 1805, George moved here in 1841 and used his inherited wealth to begin improving the town. His achievements included creating the first Local Board of Health, which improved sanitation, bringing in clean piped water and gas, and perhaps his biggest improvement, bringing the railway to Burnham-on-Sea generating more visitors, trade and wealth. Distance:  3.4 miles/5.5km Duration:  1.5 - 2 hours Map: OS Explorer 153:  Weston-super-Mare & Bleadon Hill Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

The full Castles & Coast Way is 13 miles or 21km, but we have divided it into two loops that join in Stogursey. The Castles loop starts at Nether Stowey Castle and takes you over the hills to Stogursey Castle and church. There are fantastic views inland to the Quantock Hills, west to Exmoor and across the Severn Estuary to Wales. The Coast loop takes in the England Coast Path between Lilstock and Hinkley Point with stunning views of the Severn Estuary. Turning inland it passes through the old Acland-Hood Estate to Stogursey before returning to the coast through the village of Shurton. Distance:  13 miles/21km Duration:  8 hours Map:  OS Explorer 140: Quantock Hills & Bridgwater Grade:  Easy to Moderate Download .gpx files for the full walk, the Castles Loop, or the Coast Loop Download walking notes for the Castles Loop or Coast Loop

Dunster originated as “Dunn’s Torre”, a craggy fortification overlooking the Bristol Channel which William the Conqueror gave to the powerful de Mohun family in 1086. In 1375 the feudal barony was purchased by the Luttrell family, who owned the Castle until 1976 when it was gifted to the National Trust. The village of Dunster retains much of its old world feel and exploring its lanes reveals old cottages, mills and a dove cote. In the middle of the village the Yarn Market signifies the high importance in Somerset of the cloth trade where there were broadcloths called “Dunsters” and “Watchets”. Distance:  3.5 miles/5.5km Duration:  2.5 hours Map:  OS Explorer OL9: Exmoor Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

This easy walk has historical interest as well as some wonderful views across to Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor and the Welsh coast. The walk includes areas of Medieval forest dating back to King Alfred in 873 AD, as well as the remains of an attempt to extract oil in Somerset! On the headland you pass the Royal Navy Quadrant Range Hut, which was used during air gunnery practice by fixed wing aircraft until 1995, when it was re-designated as a helicopter gunnery range. It remains in occasional use today and is attached to RNAS Yeovilton. Distance:  3.4 miles/5.5km Duration:  2 hours Map:  OS Explorer 140: Quantock Hills & Bridgwater Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

This walk takes you through Kilve and East Quantoxhead on the borders of the Quantock Hills with lots of geological interest, local history and fantastic views. The walk takes in the churches at Kilve and East Quantoxhead and the ruins of an old chantry in Kilve. This dates to 1329 and has been used for prayer and as a home for farm animals and a store for smugglers! The coast here is in the Lilstock to Blue Anchor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); the same Jurassic Blue Lias rock that runs under West Dorset re-emerges on Somerset’s coast and the limestone deposits here are rich in fossils. Distance:  4 miles/6.5km Duration:  2.5 hours Map:  OS Explorer 140: Quantock Hills & Bridgwater Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

This walk explores parts of the old Acland-Hood Estate, now known as the Fairfield Estate. The walk takes in the beautiful, abandoned churches of St Andrew’s in Lilstock and St Nicholas Wayfarer’s in Kilton before heading into the open coastal farmland of the estate. On reaching the coast it explores the ruins of what was once a thriving port established by the Acland family in the first half of the nineteenth century. Dating as far back as 1589, its heyday was in the mid-19th Century when it was busy with goods for the estate and welcoming pleasure steamers travelling between Lilstock, Ilfracombe, Cardiff and Burnham-on-Sea. Distance:  3.7 miles / 6km Duration:  2 hours Map:  OS Explorer 140: Quantock Hills & Bridgwater Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

This walk takes in the England Coast Path with stunning views across West Somerset and over the channel to Wales, and the foothills of the Quantocks - the first place in England to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nature lovers will be able to spot flowers including Pyramid and Bee Orchids, Wild Rose, and Bluebells as well as birds like Oyster Catchers, Turnstones, Dunlin and Peregrine Falcons. This walk is tidal - please check the tide times here before setting off to ensure you can complete the coastal section at the end of this walk safely - Watchet is the closest recording station. Download the .gpx file here

St Audries Bay is a popular beach for families, with great amenities and wonderful wildlife and geology. The beach has something for everyone from fossils dating back millions of years to rockpools full of seashore life. It is also home to the spectacular St Audries Bay Waterfall surrounded by limestone pavements and multi-coloured rock formations. This walk is tidal - please check tide times here before setting off to ensure you can complete the walk safely - Watchet is the closest recording station. Distance:  1.5 miles/2.4km Duration:  1.5 hours Map:  OS Explorer 140: Quantock Hills & Bridgwater Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

The Stert Peninsular has been internationally recognised as an important site for wintering wildfowl and migratory birds since 1954. Taking in both the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and Bridgwater Bay nature reserves, these walks offer all round views of the Poldens, Mendips, Exmoor and Brecon Beacons, as well as providing hides and screens for keen bird watchers. Much of the route is also accessible for disabled access. Once an area of drained, reclaimed land, today it is being returned to its original state as a working wetland and now provides local flood defences, productive farmland, a thriving nature reserve and a carbon sink that contributes to climate change mitigation. Distance:  3 or 6.5 miles/5 or 10.5km Duration:  1.5 or 3.5 hours Map:  OS Explorer 140: Quantock Hills & Bridgwater Grade:  Easy Download the .gpx file here

The walk starts at the Esplanade in Watchet where you have a view of the Harbour and West Pier and the new East Quay Arts Centre. You then walk down the Old Mineral  Line and under the railway bridge. On this walk you have a choice of three different ways. You can go and visit Cleeve Abbey or you can continue on the circular walk or you can go to the heritage site of Dawes Castle. You can enjoy views of Wales, Steep Holm, Flat Holm and the Mendip Hills. The section of walk between Blue Anchor and Watchet is currently closed due to cliff falls, please check the main trails map here before you set out. This walk is 7.5 miles long with toilets and cafes in the villages you pass. Download the .gpx file here