Many people have discovered the South West Coast Path by walking a section of it, some indeed with intent, but quite a few others have simply stumbled across it whilst on holiday. One can walk the whole 630 miles from Minehead to Poole Harbour, or simply enjoy a hour or two strolling on part of its spectacular course. It encompasses most of the peninsula of South West England. Starting at Minehead in Somerset, it traverses all North Devon, circumnavigates Cornwall, continues through all of South Devon and then takes in nearly all of Dorset, to finish at the south side of Poole Harbour.

The longest footpath in the British Isles awaits those few who wish to walk the whole, and those many who would walk a section.This book is an illustrated celebration of the footpath, extolling the spectacular landscape that can be found along its length utilising the superb aerial photography of Jason Hawkes. It is not intended to be a definitive ‘guidebook’, as these have already been successfully produced, although at the end of each chapter there are ‘suggestions for short walks’. These have been chosen to give a taste of what the Coast Path has to offer. They obviously have a geographical spread but they have also been chosen to give a variety of scenery and interest.

Happy walking!

Philip Carter is a Devonian by birth. After a working life mainly as a potter he sought further education. Having gained a degree with the Open University he obtained an MA in Local and Regional History at the University of Exeter. He has contributed articles to the Devon Historian and written a book about Newton Abbot on the history of that town. He has been involved with the South West Coast Path Association since its inception. Philip says: ‘I used to be Secretary to the Coast Path Association, and it was said that I had to know every mile of the path. My wife, a far more practical person, knew every tea shop!’

Imprint: Halsgrove. ISBN 978 1 84114 851 9, hardback, 214x230mm, 144 pages. Published March 2009.

REVIEWS: The Herald Express, The Mid Devon Advertiser.