The South West was a runaway winner in the Coast Awards 2012 in association with Joules, with nine out of ten of the awards presented to people, places and providers of the best coastal experiences in the region.

The sponsors award went to the South West Coast Path for the Best Coastal Path. The founder of Joules chose to support this particular category as representative of all that is great about the UK coastline.

The judging panel included the likes of Ben Ainslie, our Olympic sailor and a host of other coastal experts, all of whom nominated those they thought had shone in 2011, then Coast readers voted for their favourites from this shortlist. Cornwall in particular proved to be a firm favourite and indeed its coastal scenery is hard to beat.

With 33% of a total 40,000 votes cast by readers of Coast magazine, the UK’s longest and most popular National Trail was a clear winner, proving that the South West as a whole arguably has the most stunning coastline in the UK and Europe. The award helps to raise its profile among walkers and visitors to the region as truly one of the world’s greatest walks!

Eight other category winners were based on or near to the Coast Path in Devon, Dorset and Cornwall and all of them have a great Coast Path walk that links in with their location. Two runners-up were also South West businesses and worthy of their recognition among the best in the UK.

Clcik on the links below for more information about award winners and to download a stunning Coast Path walk with full route description and a printer friendly version that includes an OS map of the walk. Take in three miles of golden sands on a Coast Path walk from the Best British Beach at Woolacombe to the dunes at Saunton or follow a Treasure Trail route to the Best Seaside Holiday Destination at St Ives. From the Harbour Lights cafe at Coverack to Hugh-Fearnley Whittingstall's latest venture in Plymouth there's some award-winning eateries along the Coast Path that are worth walking up an appetite and a whole host of other fantastic coastal experiences to choose from.

The 2012 Coast Award winners and runners-up include:

Recommended walk – Hayle to St Ives (or vice versa)

Runner-up: Fifteen Cornwall: Watergate Bay, Cornwall. Recommended walk – Porthcothan to Newquay

Recommended walk – The Three Sides of the Lizard

Recommended walk – The Lizard to Coverack

Runner-up: Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock. Recommended walk – Burton Bradstock

  • Best Hotel by the Sea: The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Recommended walk – Constantine Bay to Mawgan Porth

Recommended walk – Woolacombe to Saunton or via Ilfracombe

Runner-up: Gwithian, Cornwall. Recommended walk – Godrevy Head

  • Best Seaside Holiday Destination: St Ives, Cornwall

Recommended walk – Lelant to St Ives Treasure Trail

Recommended walk – Porthgwarra to Porthcurno

  • Best Coastal Hero: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

    Hugh won the award for his pioneering expose on discards in the Fish Fight campaign and for encouraging the use of sustainable fish. You can eat at his new canteen just off the Coast Path in Plymouth and take in this waterfront walk while you're there.

Recommended walk - Plymouth Waterfront Walkway

All the winners and runners-up are featured in the July issue of Coast magazine, which goes on sale on 28 May. Pick up a copy to find out why they were crowned Britain's best.

Best Coastal Path Award

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2012 Coast Awards