South West Coast Path

How long it really is

We measure South West Coast Path at 1,035.8 km (643.6 miles), computed by walking the OpenStreetMap route geometry point by point across the 52 relations the route is mapped in.

Access rights along the way

The route stays within England, so one access regime applies along its length.

A waymarked route is a route you may walk — it does not follow that you may camp beside it, leave it, or take a dog on it. Long-distance paths cross farmland, estates and access land in turn, and byelaws and seasonal restrictions override the general position. This is general information, not legal advice. Check a specific spot with the access checker.

National parks on the route

The line passes through one national park, each with its own byelaws and camping position.

• Exmoor

The route in day stages

South West Coast Path cut into 49 stages of roughly 20 km, measured along the line itself. These are equal-distance splits computed from the geometry, not an official itinerary — they will not always land on a village, a bunkhouse or a station, and the real day you walk should be set by where you can sleep.

Positions are 8-figure (100 m) OS grid references for points on the line, computed from WGS84 coordinates. Flat-ground times are Naismith at 5 km/h with a 6 min/hour rest allowance and no ascent — add the climb in the walking-time calculator before you plan around them.

Conditions on the route

Daylight at the midpoint today

Sunrise

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Sunset

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Daylight

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Civil twilight ends

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Computed astronomically for 50.005, -5.164. Set a turnaround with the daylight safety planner.

Plan this walk

• Walking-time calculator — add ascent, terrain, pack weight and fitness to get a usable time.
• Pack-weight calculator — multi-day routes live or die on base weight.
• Kit-list generator — season and terrain aware.
• Access checker — what a specific grid reference on the route allows.
• Best month to walk — historical rainfall, temperature and wind by area.
• Safety notes — conditions change fast; build in margin.

Other long-distance paths nearby

• Saints Way · 65 km

Sources for this route

• Route geometry, name, waymark and operator: OpenStreetMap relation 2375770 and 51 further relations making up the route — © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
• Distance, stages, country crossings, park crossings and summit proximity: computed by OpenFell from that geometry.
• Boundaries: Office for National Statistics (OGL v3.0). Summits: Database of British & Irish Hills v18.3 (CC BY 4.0).
• Official route website: wiki.openstreetmap.org

OpenStreetMap data is licensed under the Open Database Licence. Our derived trail measurements are published under the same terms — see data sources.