The South West Coast of England
Discover the South West Coast of England including the counties Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and the Isles of Scilly. Plan a coast and nature trip, staycation or holiday with our curated guide.
Articles
7 secret beaches in South West England
(Wanderlust)
Our top South West coast walks
(National Trust)
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly
The 8 Most Beautiful Coastal Walks in Cornwall
(Culture Trip)
7 enticing beaches in Cornwall
(Visit Great Britain)
Cornwall’s spectacular coastline
(Britain Magazine)
Best places to see sharks, dolphins and seals in Cornwall
(StayInCornwall)
Numerous articles on the Visit Cornwall blog…
Isles of Scilly holiday guide: what to do, plus the best beaches…
(The Guardian)
Devon
The Complete Guide To: Coastal Devon
(The Independent)
10 of the prettiest coastal walks in Devon
(Devon Life)
Dorset
The Complete Guide To: The Dorset Coast
(The Independent)
10 of the best geological features to see on the Jurassic Coast
(OS GetOutside)
Somerset
The hidden secrets of the Somerset coastline
(Somerset Life)
Thirteen stunning beaches in Dorset, Devon and Somerset
(Somerset Live)
Useful Websites
South West England beaches
South West England is justly famous for its diverse and intriguing coastline…
South West Coast Path
All you need to enjoy one of the world’s best long distance walks…
England Coast Path in the south west
Find out about Natural England’s progress with improving coastal access…
South West – England’s Coast
Explore the varied and spectacular coastline at England’s Coast. Find your perfect seaside or coastal locations.
SW Coast Path – National Trails
“One of the best walks in the world, where else can you walk along 630 miles of such superb coastline?…”
South West – Scenic Rail
With details of some spectacular train routes hugging the coastline.
Cornwall
Beaches in Cornwall – Council
General information and details of beaches, coastal wildlife…
North Cornish Coast – Cornwall Guide
A short guide to the North Cornwall coast with further details of places on the way.
At Sea – Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Explore the sea and shore, record species, Marine Protected Areas information and more.
Cornwall Beaches
Cornwall has no shortage of fantastic beaches and coves, over 150 to put a number on it…
Cornwall Coast – RSPB
Explore Nature Reserves and discover the work of the RSPB in the area.
Sealife – Cornwall Guide
Cornwall’s Seals, sharks, dolphins & whales. Also hosts articles such as rock pools, and bird watching.
Cornwall Marine and Coastal Code
“Making your marine & coastal encounter great for wildlife”.
Outdoor at Visit Cornwall
Extensive ideas and inspiration, mixture of free locations and commercial services. Filter by categories including Walking, Watersports, AONB’s, Cycling and Wildlife.
Flora and fauna of Cornwall
Including coastal and estuary flora and fauna, at Wikipedia.
Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust
Discover nature and special places on the Isles of Scilly with the Isles’ Wildlife Trust.
Explore Nature at Visit Isles of Scilly
Lots of information including numerous further articles of interest.
Simply Scilly – things to do
Extensive information with many commercial listings, find things to do by themes such as nature, or attractions including beaches and natural attractions.
Isles of Scilly at Wikipedia
With info on Geography, Fauna and more.
Isles of Scilly Travel
All the necessary practical information and bookings. Also see Inspire Me for itineraries and articles, or see Wildlife,
Devon
Beaches – Visit South Devon
Extensive information about all the beaches of South Devon.
North Devon Coast AONB
171 km² of distinctive and magnificent coastal landscapes between the Cornish border and Exmoor National Park…
Coasts and seas – Devon Council
At Devon County Council’s Environment pages find information on their Marine Strategy, Protected Areas and Maritime Forum.
South Devon Coast
With dramatic cliffs and rocky coastlines, family resorts, beach front cafes…
Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
The Jurassic Coast covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset…
South Devon AONB
The Coast and Countryside of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Explore Devons Landscape
With an interactive map and details of coastal sites.
The Exmoor Coast
The Exmoor coast has sandy beaches to rocky inlets, all waiting to be discovered…
Dorset
Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
The Jurassic Coast covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset…
Beaches and coast – Dorset Council
Lots of useful and practical information at Dorset County Council.
Beaches – Visit Dorset
Dorset’s Beaches are considered some of the best beaches in the south of England…
The Jurassic Coast at Wikipedia
In depth article with further pages on coves and other coastal features, geology…
Somerset
Somerset’s Coast – Somerset Wildlife Trust
With an interactive map of the coast and information on a number of coastal projects.
England Coast Path: Brean to Minehead
Detailed information at National Trails of the coast path in Somerset.
Coast News
Sponsored listings
Holidays
Rural Retreats with Sea Views
A wide selection of self-catering accommodation including charming cottages, beach huts and even lighthouse stays in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset .
Haven sites on the South West Coast
Good for camping and touring as well as hosting chalets and lodges. Haven has sites at Perran Sands and Riviere Sands in Cornwall, Devon Cliffs and a half dozen more sites on the coastline in Somerset and Dorset.
Hideaways in the South West
Cosy Cottages and secluded properties throughout the counties in the South West of England. Choose from Hideaways in Dorset, Cornwall or The Cotswolds.
The Best of Exmoor
A small independent agency offering cottages in the magical Exmoor National Park, Somerset and Devon. On the coast with sea views, on farms in the Park…
Recommended reading
The Salt Path
For Raynor Winn and her husband Moth, the cruellest of diagnoses and the simultaneous collapse of their business opens an unexpected door to salvation through a journey which over its length transforms into a sweeping narrative of inner courage and nature’s ability to heal.
“Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years is terminally ill, their home and livelihood is taken away.
With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.”
The South West Coast Path
“630 miles (1015km) from Minehead on the Somerset coast right round Devon and Cornwall to Poole in Dorset. The guidebook divides the route into 45 stages of between 12.5- 37.5km … packed with lots of information for planning your walk, including clear step-by-step route descriptions and OS map extracts, public transport links, accommodation and facilities along the way”
Also see: The Countryside of South West England.