This guide covers the coastal route from Minehead to Bude, the first section of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. This route passes through the Exmoor National Park following the highest coastline in England, through idyllic villages such as Lynton and Clovelly, around Barnstaple Bay and Hartland Point to the seaside resort of Bude

A guidebook to walking the South West Coast Path, a long-distance National Trail from Minehead to Poole, along the north Devon, Cornish, south Devon and Dorset coastline. Covering 1015km (630 miles), this epic route takes in Exmoor National Park and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and takes around 4 weeks to walk. The route is described in 45 stages between 13 and 38km (8–24 miles) in length. Also described is the 17-mile South Dorset Ridgeway, from West Bexington to Osmington Mills, which can be used as a scenic way to shave 42 miles off the total distance. 1:50,000 OS maps for each stage GPX files available to download Detailed information about accommodation, refreshments and facilities along the route Advice on planning and preparation

This new guide covers the coastal route from Minehead to Bude (125 miles), the first section of the 630 mile South West Coast Path. This spectacular route passes through the Exmoor National Park following the highest coastline in England (over 800ft), through numerous idyllic villages such as Lynton and Clovelly, around Barnstaple Bay and Hartland Point to the seaside resort of Bude just over the border with Cornwall. · 5 town plans and 53 large-scale walking maps – at just under 1:20,000 – showing route times, places to stay, places to eat, points of interest and much more. These are not general-purpose maps but fully-edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers. · Itineraries for all walkers – whether walking the route in its entirety over a week to 10 days or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks · Practical information for all budgets – camping, bunkhouses, hostels, B&Bs, pubs and hotels; where to stay, where to eat, what to see, plus detailed street plans · Comprehensive public transport information – for all access points on the coast · Flora and fauna – four page full color flower guide, plus an illustrated section on local wildlife · Full information on the Exmoor National Park · Green hiking – understanding the local environment and minimizing our impact on it · Downloadable GPS waypoints

The South West Coast Path is repeatedly described as one of the world's greatest walks. Trekking an average of eleven miles a day, the 630-mile National Trail takes around eight weeks to complete, with most walkers undertaking the path in weekly sections spread over several years. Following this relaxing pace, A Leisurely Guide to the South West Coast Path takes an in-depth and entertaining look at the UK's longest and most scenic National Trail. Covering the first week of walking from Minehead to Westward Ho! the fully illustrated guide explores everything from the coast path's flora and fauna to local customs and traditions, stopping off at picturesque fishing villages with their centuries-old pubs en route. Additional chapters explore the counties of Somerset and Devon, Exmoor National Park and Lundy Island.