Westward Ho! to Padstow
7 Nights accommodation with 6 Days Walking
Total Distance: 79 miles - Average Daily Distance: 13 miles
Prices from £449 per person based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
Westward Ho! to Clovelly. 11miles (18km)
Follow the easy route along the old railway track up on to the cliffs above Westward Ho! The Coast Path then begins to zigzag and rollercoaster making for some strenuous walking. Woodland paths along the second half of the route contrast with the open cliff tops at the beginning of the day. The Path continues above the village of Clovelly, but if you have had enough walking, Clovelly is a truly beautiful and fascinating place to end the day.
A historic fishing village with its links to smuggling and wrecking, it is here that Charles Kingsley found inspiration for his children's classic The Water Babies and the village has featured in many T.V programmes and films such as the 1990 version of the classic Treasure Island, starring Charlton Heston as Long John Silver and Oliver Reid as Captain Billy Bones
Clovelly to Hartland Quay 10.5miles (17km)
This section of Coast Path leads you through the stunning, contrasting landscapes of the Hartland Peninsula. You emerge from ancient woodland to follow the path through pastoral land on the open cliff tops and, on reaching Hartland Point, you turn to leave the valleys and woodland behind you as you suddenly enter a more barren and dramatic landscape along the rocky coast to Hartland Quay.Waterfalls crashing to the secluded rocky beaches of the Atlantic, wild flowers and sea birds all contribute to the sense of wilderness and distance from the busy settlements of the north coast.
Hartland Quay to Bude 15.5 miles (25km)
This spectacular section is said to be the toughest part of the entire South West Coast Path and involves a long hard day of walking, with some very relentless and tiring ascents and descents. It is, however, definitely worth the effort! The Coast Path climbs above the rocky shoreline, notorious for shipwrecks (over 150 ships lost on the rocky outcrops between Morwenstow and Bude), past tumbling waterfalls, across secluded combes, crossing ten river valleys before easing on the approach to Bude. There is a real sense of isolation here and the views are stunning, in particular those from Higher Sharpnose Point and Steeple point. A less strenuous section, following enticingly sandy beaches, leads you into Bude and the end of this challenging and extremely rewarding section of the South west Coast Path.
Bude to Boscastle 16 miles (26km)
Crossing a stone footbridge over the river Neet in Bude, and then over the canal, you will walk over easy rolling grassy cliff tops until you reach Upton. On to Higher and Lower Longbeak through flowery gorse land before reaching Widemouth Bay where food and drink are available.
Walk on past Millook, Dizzard, Cleave, Pencannow Point and then Crackington Haven which is popular with Geology students and was once a busy port with boats simply running aground onto the beach with their cargoes.
On to Cambeak and then Rusy Cliff where en-route you will walk past cliffs 223m in height and dodge feral goats! On past Gull Rock, Beeny Cliff, Penally Point and finally Boscastle.
Boscastle to Port Isaac 14 miles (22.5km)
Leave Boscastle Harbour, walk through 'Rocky Valley' over Bossiney Cliffs, as you progress you can look ahead at the masonry constituting Tintagel Castle, then the path drops to Castle Corfe. Walk on to Glebe Cliff and Bagalow. The path then drops to Trebarwith Strand before you reach backways Cove. The path continues on easy grass and then onto Tregardock Cliff, Dannonchapel, beyond which comes the toughest part. The stony path leads to Jackets point towards the sea. The path climbs above Barrets Zawn and through fields over the top of Bounds Cliff. The past Port Gaverne, the path then goes uphill and into Port Isaac.
Port Isaac to Padstow 12 miles (19km)
The Coast Path follows some truly beautiful, unspoiled sections of coast, including the remote inlet of Pine Haven and the historic promontory known as The Rumps. Views from here are spectacular. A strenuous first half to Polzeath, crossing small valleys and winding round exposed headlands, is followed by an easy walk and ferry crossing into Padstow. Once home to the composer Malcolm Arnold, Padstow is an idyllic, Cornish fishing town with beautiful surroundings and has been used as a backdrop for many films and television programmes, including the 70's film The Eagle Has Landed, which was filmed in the sand dunes at Rock. Padstow is also home to a fine selection of cafes and restaurants such as Rick Stein's famous seafood restaurant, making it the perfect place to end a day of walking the South West Coast Path.
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