Now take a walk on the wild side...
IT MeAsUres more than 600 miles and takes in some of the best scenery in england – so pull on your walking boots and explore the stunning south West Coast Path…
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK
A relatively short, 13-mile stretch of the South West Coast Path runs through Somerset, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in drama. Enjoy the views on a jaunt from the Victorian resort town of Minehead into the hilly, open moorland of Exmoor National Park.
As you walk the Exmoor Heritage Coast, you’ll encounter 820ft-high cliffs, hidden coves and secluded beaches. Exmoor can feel very remote, a feeling that isn’t always easy to find in the UK.
Enjoy the views and keep an eye out for wild ponies.
JURASSIC COAST
Devon has a double dose of the South West Coastal Path – it runs along both its northern and southern shores. Tucked away near the border with Dorset on the Jurassic Coast Unesco World Heritage Site is a 12.5-mile stretch of the path that is book-ended by two lovely towns.
Start in the seaside resort of Exmouth, with its picturesque harbour on the Exe estuary, which is a haven for birdlife. Just along the coast, the Exmouth Geoneedle at Orcombe Point marks the beginning of the fossil-strewn World Heritage Site. Follow the dramatic and rugged stretch of coast northeastwards, and scour the sand for ammonite fossils as you make your way to the Regency town of Sidmouth.
THE SOUTH DORSET RIDGEWAY
On the beach at West Bexington, near Weymouth, the South West Coast Path splits into two routes. The southern route hugs the coastline, while the shorter, northern route heads inland for 17 miles to Osmington Mills. However, you will rarely lose sight of this amazing coastline.
In addition to Neolithic and Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age hill forts and ceremonial stone circles, this section of the path also encompasses a landscape of villages, river valleys and farmland.
THE RUMPS, NORTH CORNWALL
Jutting into the Atlantic Ocean is the twin headland known as the Rumps. This basalt geological feature was a defensive bastion during the Iron Age and marks the approximate halfway point of a 12-mile hike between Port Isaac and Padstow.
It’s part of a section of the South West Coast Path considered by many to be the toughest the trail has to offer, but there is also an easier way to experience this dramatic coastline.
Instead of opting for the full 12 miles from Port Isaac to Polzeath, why not embark on a three-and-ahalf-mile walk (and ferry crossing) from Padstow to Polzeath, then a five-mile round-trip to the Rumps. Discover more holiday ideas at VisitEngland.com