International Trails

Trails have been used as cultural and trading routes to connect communities for thousands of years, allowing the sharing of goods and ideas. There are several historic pilgrim routes in the South West of England which pass along the South West Coast Path including the Mary and Michael Way, Cornish Celtic Way, St Michaels Way and the Cornish Camino.

The South West Coast Path is also part of a more contemporary network of national and international routes such as the King Charles III England Coast Path and UK National Trails, the International Appalachian Trail and European E9 Coastal Trail.

The South West Coast Path Association is a proud member of the World Trails Network which shares knowledge and understanding across the trails sector and champions support for trails at international levels. This helps us manage the Coast Path as one of the world’s great trails.

At the 2021 World Trails Summit it was agreed to champion and celebrate World Trails Day on the first Saturday in June.

In 2024 we were honoured to work with the Canadian Bruce Trail Conservancy to create a Friendship Trail between the Coast Path and the Bruce Trail. A section of the Coast Path running between Cornwall, Plymouth and Devon has been twinned with a section of the Bruce Trail around Cape Chin, Ontario.  

Download the trail map and guide