South Cornwall
Walk the South West Coast Path through South Cornwall on a self-guided walking holiday. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included.
South Cornwall
https://www.contours.co.uk/south-cornwall
An epic walk along the coastline of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
From £355 per person
At 630 miles (1,008 km) in length, the South West Coast Path is Britain’s longest waymarked footpath and the ultimate challenge for any long distance walker. The route curls around the entire peninsula of Devon and Cornwall, rounds the south-western tip of England at Land’s End, and follows the southern shore through the dramatic scenery of Dorset, constituting a major portion of the England Coast Path.
Although we provide some gentler itineraries, on most holidays, expect stiff climbs on jaw-dropping coastal trails; mile after mile of sea views; and plenty of cream teas and Cornish pasties enjoyed in seaside towns. Walking the South West Coast Path is a challenge, but an immensely (and often tastily) rewarding one.
We’ve broken the full SWCP into ten stages so you can pick and choose your favourite stretches of coast. We also offer a choice of short breaks along the path, which you can find on the South West Coast Path Short Breaks page. If you’re looking for a circular tour, take a look at our walking holiday around the far point of Land’s End Peninsula and inland along St Michael’s Way.
Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.
We also organise trail running holidays along this route. Find out more.
From £775 per person
This section of the South West Coast Path is perhaps the most gentle. It tours tranquil estuaries, wooded inlets and sandy coves. Jutting headlands provide stunning vantage points over some of the prettiest villages in Cornwall, where whitewashed cottages jostle for the best view of their harbours.
Yet South Cornwall is not all softness: the Royal Citadel of Plymouth towers over its broad harbour, an imposing part of King VIII’s coastal defences.
Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
---|---|---|---|---|
SCOR0 | From Falmouth to Plymouth | 5 days walking | £775 | |
SCOR1 | From Falmouth to Plymouth | 6 days walking | £900 | |
SCOR2 | From Falmouth to Plymouth | 7 days walking | £1020 | |
SCOR3 | From Falmouth to Plymouth | 8 days walking | £1140 | |
SCOR4 | From Falmouth to Plymouth | 10 days walking | £1385 |
The Falmouth to St Mawes Ferry operates all year round. However, the St Mawes to Place/St Anthony’s Head Ferry only operates from 30th March to 1st November. If the ferry is not running the alternative is a water taxi. As the water taxi service during the winter months is limited, advance booking is essential; please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Travel to Falmouth where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Falmouth to Portloe/Veryan(L). 14 miles (22km) / 1886 ft (575 m) ascent
Portloe/Veryan(L) to Charlestown(L). 19.5 miles (31.5km) / 3553 ft (1083 m) ascent
Charlestown(L) to Polperro(L). 18 miles (28.5km) / 2575 ft (785 m) ascent
Polperro(L) to Portwrinkle(L). 13 miles (20.5km) / 2051 ft (625 m) ascent
Portwrinkle(L) to Plymouth. 14.5 miles (23.5km) / 1939 ft (591 m) ascent
Depart from Plymouth after breakfast
This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.
Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.
Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Absorbing the tranquillity of this quieter section of the South West Coast Path.
Visiting St Anthony’s Lighthouse, St Mawes Castle, and fortified Plymouth, with its rich naval history.
Touring the Georgian harbour of Charlestown, complete with square riggers.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
“Part of the country I had never walked in before. Lovely weather, astounding views, some very hard ups and downs, great accommodation. Already thinking about what to do next year. My age means something not too hilly!”Ms Currie, USA
“Another enjoyable trip and well organised by Contours again. Would absolutely recommend the holiday to others, and also spread the good word whilst on the walking holiday.”Mrs Campion, UK
“Lovely walking and weather.”Dr Pearlman, UK
“Fantastic scenery, lovely accommodation.”Mr Bond, UK
“This was a great holiday with superb walking along this rugged part of the Cornish coast. It visited tiny little fishing villages and the big city of Plymouth each was great to explore. Loved it all, the variety of places visited, the accommodation and the bag transfers were all excellent.”Mr Madge, UK
“Overall experience from Contours point of view was excellent but we experienced some ferry issues which were outside Contours control!”Mr Hemingway, UK