5-Day Minehead to Bude Itinerary — Trail Runner Pace (SWCP Section 1)

Beginning at Minehead seafront, the trail immediately ascends steeply through North Hill woodland, offering dramatic views from England's highest coastline, peaking near Selworthy Beacon at 308 metres. Descending into Hurlstone Combe, you'll reach Bossington, a charming hamlet with thatched cottages, where Kitnors Tea Room awaits. Crossing Porlock Marsh, the path leads to Porlock Weir's historic harbour, with The Bottom Ship Inn and Harbour Gallery café for refreshments. Exiting the harbour, a steep climb through Yearnor Wood brings you to tiny Culbone church before plunging into atmospheric Culbone Wood. The route continues past Coscombe's stream, marking the Devon border, skirts the Foreland, and crosses Butter Hill's heather-clad slopes with sweeping sea panoramas. A short detour to the Blue Bell Inn at Contisbury offers further refreshment before the final, two-kilometre descent into Lynmouth's harbour basin.

Leaving Lynmouth harbour, the path ascends steeply through Yearnor Wood to Culbone, England's smallest church, before plunging into atmospheric Culbone Wood and crossing combes, passing Chubhill Wood and skirting the Foreland, Devon's most northerly point. After traversing Butter Hill for sweeping views, a detour to the Blue Bell Inn at Contisbury is possible before descending back to Lynmouth. Climbing Glen Lyn Gorge leads to Lynton, or the cliff railway, beyond which the trail follows exposed coastal terrain past Lee Abbey, a Christian retreat, to Lee Bay, a sheltered pebble cove with a summer café. Rounding Crock Point's jagged headland, the route navigates steep combes to Woody Bay, then climbs spectacular slopes before descending to Heddon Valley. A demanding ascent from Heddon Valley emerges onto exposed clifftops, traversing Trentishoe Down and Holdstone Down to Great Hangman, England's highest sea cliff, and then Little Hangman, before a steep descent into Combe Martin for refreshments. Departing Combe Martin, the path passes Broadsands Beach to Watermouth Cove, with its castle and boat café, then rounds Widmouth Head and Rillage Point to Hele village and the Old Corn Mill tea room. A challenging ascent of Hillsborough offers Ilfracombe views before a flat harbour section, then a steep climb via the Torrs Walk descends dramatically to Lee Bay, where The Grampus Inn offers refreshments. Beyond Lee, the path traverses spectacular headlands including Bull Point and Rockham Bay, then navigates the treacherous Morte Point, revealing sweeping views across to Woolacombe's magnificent beach, passing secluded coves like Grunta and Barricane Beach before reaching Woolacombe's resorts and cafés.

Departing Woolacombe's harbour, the route ascends steeply through Runnymede Gardens and onto the Seven Hills via the historic Torrs Walk, descending dramatically into tranquil Lee Bay, where refreshment awaits at The Grampus Inn. Traversing spectacular headlands like Bull Point and notorious Morte Point, famous for its treacherous reef and opportunities to spot seals, the path offers sweeping views back to Woolacombe's sandy beach. It then crosses Woolacombe Warren's dunes, passing Potter's Hill and Vention's historic limeburners' cottage, before ascending Napps Cliff towards Baggy Point, a National Trust headland with wildflower-edged clifftops and WWII dummy pillboxes. Beyond the National Trust tea room, the path descends to Croyde Bay, crossing the beach before skirting Saunton Down and Braunton Burrows, following the historic 'American Road'. Close to Crow Point, flood banks lead past Braunton Marshes and the medieval Braunton Great Field to Braunton village. Finally, the path joins the traffic-free Tarka Trail, a flat, tarmacked route following the old railway line past Chivenor airfield along the River Taw's banks, arriving at Barnstaple.

Leaving Barnstaple via its historic Long Bridge, the South West Coast Path joins the flat, tarmacked Tarka Trail, following the old railway line along the River Taw estuary. Past Fremington Quay's café, the route skirts marshlands before reaching Instow with its village pubs and deli. From Instow, the path continues towards Bideford, though a seasonal ferry offers a shortcut to Appledore. Beyond Bideford's medieval Long Bridge, the Tarka Trail hugs the River Torridge's eastern bank, passing lime kilns and Tapeley Park, before reaching Appledore's quayside. The route then enters Northam Burrows Country Park, a SSSI, and heads towards Westward Ho!, before climbing over Cornborough, Abbotsham, and Green Cliffs, offering spectacular views across Bideford Bay. After a descent to Babbacombe Mouth and further ascents, the distinctive red sandstone cliffs at Peppercombe lead to a steep climb through Sloo and Worthygate Woods, a SSSI alive with birdsong. Descending to Buck's Mills, the path then joins the dramatic 19th-century Hobby Drive, a broad carriage road winding through ancient woodland above Bideford Bay, ultimately arriving at the iconic cobbled fishing village of Clovelly.

Leaving Clovelly, the path immediately enters woodland, passing the Grade II listed Angel's Wings shelter before ascending to Gallantry Bower offering spectacular views before descending to Mouth Mill beach with its lime kiln and Blackchurch Rock. Traversing Brownsham Cliff, the route climbs steeply to Windbury Head, an Iron Age hillfort site, before continuing along Exmansworthy, Fatacott and Gawlish Cliffs, a challenging three kilometres of high clifftop. After rounding East Titchberry Cliff to Shipload Bay, the path crosses North, Blagdon and Upright Cliffs with remarkable rock scenery before descending to Blackpool Mill valley and climbing again past Dyers Lookout and the ruins of The Pleasure House to Rocket House and Hartland Quay. From Hartland Quay, tenacious ascents and descents begin, epitomising the demanding nature of this section, past Speke's Mill waterfall and Milford Common to Embury Beacon. The roller-coaster terrain continues around Nabor Point to Welcombe Mouth, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, before crossing Marsland Water into Cornwall. A short detour to Morwenstow offers refreshments before passing Hawker's Hut and descending into Tidna Valley to climb steeply to Higher Sharpnose Point's panoramic vistas, then past the GCHQ satellite station at Cleave Camp to Stanbury Mouth and Duckpool. After Sandy Mouth, where a seasonal cafe provides welcome refreshments, the final section crosses Maer Down and Maer Cliff, past Northcott Mouth, concluding at Bude's Crooklets Beach.