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The South West Coast Path is England’s longest way marked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for a massive 630 miles, running from Minehead in Somerset, all the way to Poole Harbour in Dorset.
There are lots of towns along the South West Coastal path where you can pick up a small section of the National trail. Alternatively, if you fancy a challenge, you could take on longer sections over several days. And, if you have a few weeks to spare, you can even take on the full route!
Want to explore more of England’s South Coast? See my post on how to plan a full-day itinerary exploring Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
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A guide to walking the South West Coastal Path from Ifracombe, North Devon
When staying in Ilfracombe in North Devon, one of the best things to do is to walk the South West Coastal Path. This guide covers a great 8-mile section from Ilfracombe, to the neighbouring seaside resort of Woolacombe.
1. Setting off on the South West Coastal path from Ilfracombe
To start the walk in Ilfracombe, head to the Tourist Information centre, in Jubilee Gardens and follow the signs from there. If you are staying further out from the town centre, you can pick up the South West Coastal Path from behind the Avoncourt Lodge B&B, on Torrs Walk Avenue.
The South West Coastal Path is really well sign-posted, making it easy to follow without needing too many instructions or maps.
2. Ilfracombe to Lee Bay
The route from Ilfracombe will take you through Lee Bay beach- a quiet inlet with a tranquil pebble beach and small cafe. The village of Lee is very picturesque and offers some stunning local walks. So, if you don’t fancy doing the full 8-mile route to Woolacombe, I would recommend walking to Lee Bay Beach. Spend some time here, enjoying the pretty bay, then head back to Ilfracombe.
If you are doing the full route to Woolacombe, follow the path round the edge of Lee Bay, up a small hill. From here, you will be rewarded with stunning views across the coves near Lee Bay.
3. Lee Bay to Morthoe
Shortly after leaving Lee Bay beach, you have the option to veer off the coastal path and head inland towards the village of Morthoe. This is another great option if you want to shorten the walk and get a bus back to Ilfracombe from the village of Morthoe.
To continue onto Woolacombe, follow the path along the coastline. This section is beautifully dramatic with exposed cliff edges and unobstructed views out to sea. If you think walking the southwest coastal path will be relatively flat and leisurely, think again! The route does have some steep climbs and descents, particularly in the section between Lee and Woolacombe – so be prepared for that!
4. Morthoe to Woolacombe
After the steep climb (see above photo!), you’ll be glad to hear that the path starts to flatten out a bit. Next, you will start to skirt around the edges of the cliff as you turn the corner and see your first glimpse of Woolacombe.
5. Finish the walk in Woolacombe and enjoy a few hours in this seaside town
As you get closer to Woolacombe, you’ll notice an increase in holiday cottages and the number of cafes, bars and restaurants. Woolacombe is a popular beach town, particularly for families, with mini golf and arcades to keep the kids entertained.
Woolacombe is also a popular seaside town for surfing and many shops sell and hire out surfboards, body boards, and wet suits.
The cafes can get really busy in Woolacombe, particularly in the summer months, so I would recommend getting some takeaway fish and chips and heading to the beach to enjoy it by the sea.
From Woolacombe, you can take the bus back to Ilfracombe, for a small fee, which you just pay the driver. The bus does get busy as it will drop off at the two camp sites just outside of Woolacombe, but they are fairly regular.
I absolutely loved walking the southwest coastal path. This section might have only been 8 miles, but it had plenty of steep climbs to make it more challenging. It was also really nice to take a more leisurely pace, stopping along the way to enjoy the views. For more things to do in and around Ilfracombe, see my post, here.
