Coastal Path Diary – The story so far (updated 3rd April 2025 – We have walked 810km (503 miles) along the coast path but a total of 1518km (943 miles). We have rounded Lands End and reached Newquay.
How it began
15th September 2020
A beautiful sunny day and I walked from Milford-on-sea to Barton-on-sea, where I had a quick swim in the surprisingly warm September sea. On the way back I met a lady walking with a couple of small dogs, who asked the simple question “How far does this path go” – I think that my answer “about 600 miles” rather surprised her, until I explained that there is a Coastal Path along the Hampshire coast, through Bournemouth and Poole, that joins the South West Path from the Chain Ferry at Studland.
September 2020 is a rather depressing time, despite the wonderful warm weather the Corona virus infections were increasing alarmingly and only a couple of days ago the government had introduced the “rule of six”. The use or public transport was not being encouraged and we faced a long winter.
Over a couple of beers that evening I wondered how far along the coast we could walk, without using public transport, before the Corona virus restrictions finally ended and we could resume “normal” life, whatever that may mean in the future.
To make a meaningful challenge of course there needed to be some rules, or at least guidance, as the over the last few months government had kept demonstration that rules are always subject to change, and only apply to those who choose to follow them – so here are our first set of rules, subject to change at any time.
Rules or Guidance
- Start from home and follow the coast continuously clockwise.
- Start, or finish, each walk as close as possible to the previous finish.
- Each walk will have a coastal path section and one or two inland sections – they can be on any order or direction.
- We will follow the Covid19 guidance and so may need to pause if “non-essential” travel is banned.
- We will continue, hopefully with about one walk per week, until all Covid19 restrictions are removed and normal travel can resume
In September and October 2020 we walked from home, Lymington, to Sandbanks – the East side of the entrance to Poole Harbour. This was 5 separate days walking and it was and easy journey home at the end of each day
Click on the title or the button below to see the details of each walk
South West Coastal Path
Between October 2020 and July 2021 we walked along the Jurassic Coast – click on the title or the link below for details of each day’s walk and maps.
Between September 2021 and May 2022 we walked from Starcross to Plymouth – click on the link below to see details of each day’s walk.
We are now walking along the West Cornwall Coast and here are details of 2025 walks.
7.8km along the coast and 7.3km inland
2025-03-24 Godrevy to Portreath
11.4km along the coast and 10.63km inland
2025-03-25 Portreath to Porthowan
6.39km along the coast and 7.87km inland
2025-03-26 Porthowan to Perranporth
13.83km along the coast and 19.4km back by bus inland
2025-03-27 Perranporth just East of Holywell Bay
9.74km along the coast and 9.76km Inland
2025-03-28 Just East of Holywell Bay to Newquay (Harbour)
7.73km along the coast and 5.46km Inland