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.