WEST IS BEST

Close your eyes and picture yourself running across the top of a steep clifftop. The rugged coastline stretches as far as the eye can see; powerful waves crash on the rocks below; rain and the blustery south westerlies add to the sense of drama.

It might not sound like everyone’s ideal conditions for a run, but the South West Coast Path (SWCP) is the ultimate place to experience mother nature in all her glory. Originally used by the coastguard to restrict smuggling during the 19th century, it is England’s longest waymarked trail – beginning at Minehead on the edge of Exmoor and stretching 630 miles around Land’s End and back up the Channel as far as Poole Harbour in Dorset. Should you complete the whole path, you’ll cover an elevation of 115,000 feet (35,024m) – which is just a little short of climbing Mount Everest four times! You’ll have to go some to beat the Fastest Known Time, however, which was set by ultra-runner Dave Phillips last year and stands at 10 days, 8 hours, 24 minutes and 44 seconds (yep, that’s over 60 miles a day).

But while the shifting tides and terrain of the SWCP certainly demand respect, you don’t need to be an extreme athlete to enjoy it. Indeed, trail running as a whole is booming in this part of the world and it’s easy to see why. From sweeping beaches and dramatic cliffs to remote headlands and sheltered coves, every section of this stunning route offers fresh adventure. Here are a few of my favourites…

8,600,000 Visitors every year

South West Coast Path In Numbers

KYNANCE COVE, CORNWALL

Situated near the tip of the Lizard peninsula, which marks the most southerly point in Britain, Kynance Cove is a unique and picturesque spot to incorporate on a run. Its serpentine rock stacks, stunning white sand and turquoise seas have been attracting sightseers since Victorian times, when it was visited by the likes of Queen Victoria and Alfred Tennyson, albeit probably not in a pair of trainers.

ST AGNES, CORNWALL

Though the nearby beaches of Trevaunance Cove and Chapel Porth are popular with summer tourists, the coast path here still feels remote and peaceful. It snakes high above the Atlantic Ocean in the shadow of the beacon, an area rich in Cornish mining heritage. Be sure to pass through the iconic relics of the engine house at Wheal Coates, from where you can enjoy an uninterrupted 13-mile view towards St Ives.

VALLEY OF THE ROCKS, NORTH DEVON

From its starting point in Minehead, the first 40 miles or so of the SWCP unfurls around the seaward edge of Exmoor National Park. The coastal cliff trails here are amongst the highest in Britain and will reward you with some spectacular views – not least The Valley of The Rocks. This dramatic landscape of rocky crags and towering pinnacles still puzzles geologists and will make you feel like you’re running through Middle Earth. Keep an eye out for the feral goats, which have been clambering around these parts for hundreds of years.

WHITE NOTHE & THE SMUGGLER’S PATH, DORSET

White Nothe (or ‘White Nose’) is a huge chalky cliff that dominates this section of the world famous Jurassic Coast. Standing 160 metres above the sea, on a clear day at the top you’ll witness layer upon layer of headlands stretching into the distance. The 4-mile route from here to Lulworth Cove takes in the picturepostcard arch at Durdle Door, while sure-footed runners can also tackle the Smuggler’s Path, a steep zigzag trail which plunges down the grassy face of White Nothe to the shoreline. And yes, it was used by actual smugglers!

HARTLAND QUAY, NORTH DEVON

Further down the North Devon coast lies Hartland Quay, a dramatic and awe-inspiring section of the path decorated by jagged ridges of folded rock that were formed during a tectonic collision 300 million years ago. It is arguably one of the most challenging sections of the SWCP but totally worth the effort. Around a mile south of the village you’ll also pass the majestic Speke’s Mill Mouth Waterfall, which cascades in three tiers down 157 feet of sheer rock.

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