10 coastal paths around the country
Many of your journeys around and across Britain are to visit the coast, from Cornwall to Caithness. Read on to discover ten of our island’s finest coastal paths and walks: perhaps you might then be the one to write the next coast-path bestseller… If you discover any must-see cafés on your adventures, do let us know for the next edition of our Coastal Café Guide.
1. South West Coast Path (England)
- Length: 630 miles
- Route: Minehead (Somerset) to Poole Harbour (Dorset)
- Highlights: England’s longest National Trail, offering dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and charming fishing villages.
- Recommended guidebook: Walking the South West Coast Path by Paddy Dillon (Cicerone Press)
2. Pembrokeshire Coast Path (Wales)
- Length: 186 miles
- Route: St Dogmaels to Amroth
- Highlights: Traverses the UK’s only coastal national park, featuring rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and diverse wildlife.
- Get started: The Pembrokeshire Coast Path by Dennis Kelsall (Cicerone Press)
3. Causeway Coast Way (Northern Ireland)
- Length: 33 miles
- Route: Portstewart to Ballycastle
- Highlights: Showcases the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway, dramatic cliffs, and historic castles.
- A classic guidebook: Causeway Coast Way by Eoin Reilly (Rucksack Readers)
4. Fife Coastal Path (Scotland)
- Length: 117 miles
- Route: Kincardine to Newburgh
- Highlights: Passes through picturesque fishing villages, sandy beaches, and historic sites.
- A guidebook to consider: Fife Coastal Path by Sandra Bardwell and Jacquetta Megarry (Rucksack Readers)
5. Norfolk Coast Path (England)
- Length: 84 miles
- Route: Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea
- Highlights: Features expansive beaches, salt marshes, and nature reserves.
- For inspiration, see: Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path by Bruce Robinson (Cicerone Press)
6. Arran Coastal Way (Scotland)
- Length: 65 miles
- Route: Circular route around the Isle of Arran
- Highlights: Encircles the Isle of Arran, offering diverse landscapes from rugged cliffs to sandy shores.
- A guidebook to consider: Arran Coastal Way by Jacquetta Megarry (Rucksack Readers)
7. Ceredigion Coast Path (Wales)
- Length: 65 miles
- Route: Cardigan to Ynyslas
- Highlights: Offers stunning views of Cardigan Bay, opportunities to spot dolphins, and access to quaint coastal towns.
- Get a flavour: Walking the Ceredigion Coast Path by Liz Allan (Kittiwake Books)
8. Gower and Swansea Bay Coast Path (Wales)
- Length: 97 miles
- Route: Loughor to Kenfig Dunes
- Highlights: Traverses the Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, featuring dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, and rich biodiversity.
- Have a peek into: Official Guide: Carmarthen Bay & Gower (Wales Coast Path)
9. South Wales Coast and Severn Estuary Coastal Path (Wales)
- Length: 109 miles
- Route: Kenfig to Chepstow
- Highlights: Offers varied landscapes, from industrial heritage sites to natural reserves, and connects with the Offa’s Dyke Path at Chepstow.
- Find inspiration: Top 10 Walks: Wales Coast Path – South Wales Coast (The Trails Shop)
10.Tarka Trail (England)
- Length: 180 miles (figure-of-eight route)
- Route: Barnstaple to Meeth and back via various towns
- Highlights: Inspired by the novel Tarka the Otter, this trail combines coastal and inland paths, offering diverse scenery and wildlife.
- A walking, cycling, wheeling guide: The Tarka Trail Guide, by tarkatrailguide.co.uk.
Choose your path and walk it well
You could spend a lifetime walking the coasts of Great Britain, though for many the reality is the odd week and some memorable long weekends here and there. Wherever you go and however you get there, do keep your palate peeled for lovely new cafés that pop up at the roadsides you pass and the coast paths you cover, and let us know for the next editions of our café and local food guides.
Check out our three best-selling foodie guidebooks below, with The Coastal Café Guide perhaps being the best suited to fuelling your fun around the edges of our island this year. Good luck, happy trails, and bon appetit.
