7-Day Minehead to Bude Itinerary — Fastpacker Pace (SWCP Section 1)

Starting from Minehead's South West Coast Path sculpture, the trail immediately ascends steeply through North Hill woodland via zigzag paths; this dramatic climb reaches England's highest coastline, with clifftops soaring 250 metres. Following inland contours, you'll near the 308-metre summit of Selworthy Beacon, offering vast panoramas of the Bristol Channel towards Wales and Exmoor's highest point, Dunkery Beacon. The route then dips into Hurlstone Combe before emerging at the charming hamlet of Bossington, a haven of thatched cottages, where Kitnors Tea Room awaits refreshments. From Bossington, a traverse across the expansive Porlock Marsh leads to the shingle beach, ultimately arriving at the historic harbour of Porlock Weir, where The Bottom Ship Inn and the Harbour Gallery café offer welcome respite.

Beginning at Porlock Weir's historic harbour, the trail ascents steeply through dense Yearnor Wood, soon reaching the hamlet of Culbone with its tiny St Beuno's Church. Continuing through atmospheric Culbone Wood and crossing several combes, the path passes through Chubhill Wood and enters Devon at Coscombe's stream, before skirting the dramatic Foreland and crossing Butter Hill's heather-clad flanks with panoramic views across the Bristol Channel. After a brief detour to the Blue Bell Inn at Contisbury for refreshments, the path descends to Lynmouth's harbour, then climbs the Glen Lyn Gorge to Lynton. Beyond Lynton, exposed coastal terrain leads past Lee Abbey and Lee Bay, with refreshments available in summer. Rounding Crock Point, the route becomes wild and remote, demanding careful navigation across steep combes before reaching Woody Bay with its visible pier remnants. The trail then continues across steep coastal slopes before turning inland to descend into the spectacular wooded gorge of Heddon Valley.

From Heddon Valley, the path ascends steeply through mixed woodland onto exposed clifftops, traversing wild terrain across Trentishoe and Holdstone Downs, before reaching the dramatic Great Hangman. This is England's highest sea cliff, offering panoramic views encompassing Exmoor and the Bristol Channel. Descending to Little Hangman and then steeply into Combe Martin, where village pubs and cafés offer refreshment, the route continues past Broadsands Beach and Watermouth Cove, pausing at the Storm in a Teacup for drinks. Rounding Widmouth Head and Rillage Point, where distinctive white coastguard cottages stand, Hele village and its Old Corn Mill tea room provide another respite before a final, challenging ascent onto Hillsborough and its Iron Age earthworks, culminating in spectacular views over Ilfracombe's harbour.

Leaving the harbour at Ilfracombe, the challenging Torrs Walk ascends steeply, following ancient earthworks and offering spectacular views over the town before a dramatic descent into Lee Bay, where The Grampus Inn provides refreshment. Beyond, the route traverses spectacular headlands like Bull Point with its distinctive lighthouse, rounding the notorious Morte Point with its treacherous reef and offering sightings of seals, before sweeping views of Woolacombe's three-mile beach emerge; cafés await at Marine Drive. Crossing Woolacombe Warren's dunes, the path climbs towards Baggy Point, a National Trust headland with exceptional geology and WWII remnants, before descending towards Croyde Bay, its surf beach offering optional detours to the village and Sandleigh Tea Room. Skirting Saunton Down and golf course, the path then follows safe routes through the historic 'American Road' within Braunton Burrows, a WWII training ground, before flood banks lead past reclaimed wetlands and the medieval Braunton Great Field to the Quay Cafe in Braunton.

Leaving Croyde, the trail skirts Saunton Down and golf course before navigating Braunton Burrows' dunes, following the historic 'American Road' amidst visible WWII concrete structures, a reminder of its military past. Near Crow Point, flood banks lead past Braunton Marshes and the medieval strip farming of Braunton Great Field, before reaching Braunton village and its Quay Cafe for supplies. From Braunton, the flat, traffic-free Tarka Trail follows the old railway line past Chivenor airfield and the River Taw estuary to Barnstaple. Continuing from Barnstaple's Long Bridge along the Tarka Trail, the route passes Fremington Quay and its cafe, with pubs and a deli at Instow. A seasonal ferry offers a shortcut to Appledore, otherwise the path follows the Torridge Estuary to Bideford, passing lime kilns and historic shipyards before reaching the picturesque fishing village of Appledore. Finally, the path heads past the lifeboat station into Northam Burrows Country Park, a diverse SSSI, before passing the Royal North Devon Golf Course and pebble ridge to arrive at Westward Ho!.

Setting off from Westward Ho!, the path enters Northam Burrows Country Park, crossing Royal North Devon Golf Course and its protective pebble ridge before emerging onto the seafront. The route then embarks on a strenuous series of clifftop ascents and descents over Cornborough, Abbotsham, Green, Cockington, and Westacott Cliffs, eventually reaching Babbacombe Mouth. Peppercombe's distinctive red sandstone cliffs give way to woodland paths through Sloo Wood and ancient Worthygate Wood, leading down to picturesque Buck's Mills and then joining the historic Hobby Drive for three miles above Bideford Bay, offering glimpses of Clovelly below. Leaving the iconic cobbled village, the path traverses Gallantry Bower with its dramatic cliffs and Bronze Age remains, descends to Mouth Mill beach with its sea stack, before a steep climb takes you to Windbury Head. Further challenging terrain along Exmansworthy, Fatacott, and Gawlish Cliffs leads past East Titchberry Farm and Shipload Bay, with remarkable rock formations at North, Blagdon and Upright Cliffs before descending to Blackpool Mill valley, re-ascending to Dyers Lookout and The Warren, passing the 16th-century folly, before finally arriving at Hartland Quay.

The dramatic cliffs begin to rise beyond Hartland Quay, a historic port with its shipwreck museum and hotel, as the path embarks on a challenging stretch towards Bude. Leaving behind Angel's Wings shelter and the Bronze Age barrows of Gallantry Bower, the route traverses numerous steep river valleys, exemplified by the 48-meter Speke's Mill waterfall, a continuous cycle of demanding ups and downs across Exmansworthy, Fatacott, and Gawlish cliffs. The landscape offers Iron Age hillforts at Windbury Head, where a memorial commemorates a bomber crew crash, and Embury Beacon, before plunging to Welcombe Mouth's SSSI-designated rocks. Crossing into Cornwall near Marsland Water, refreshment options exist at Morwenstow, before approaching Hawker's Hut and the spectacular headland of Higher Sharpnose Point. The imposing GCHQ satellite station at Cleave Camp marks the challenging terrain before reaching Duckpool and the final stretch past Sandy Mouth's seasonal café. Gentler progress over Maer Down leads to Crooklets Beach in Bude, marking the culmination of this rugged section.