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The start of a New Year is the perfect time to set fresh fitness goals – and what better way to get healthy and challenge yourself at the same time than with a hearty hike along one of the world’s best walking routes, the South West Coast Path? Whether you want to tackle a short but demanding section, or take on the whole 630 miles, there’s a walk out there for all ages and levels of ability, and unlike the gym, you won’t have to pay a penny. Be warned, though – it is seriously addictive!  

Read on for the South West Coast Path team’s pick of the Top Five Best Challenging Walks for 2018.

• Langdon Hill, Golden Cap (above) & St Gabriel's Chapel walk, Dorset (4.3 miles)
  Here’s one to get the heart pumping – the challenge is to reach the summit of the 191-metre Golden Cap near WestBay in Dorset, the highest sea cliff in Southern England. Some steep ascents and descents, rewarded by spectacular coastal views.
• The Hangmen Hills, Exmoor (4.7 miles) A challenging but inspiring walk on the highest point on the Exmoor coast that amply rewards the effort involved, with far-reaching views over coast and hills, through an area rich in history.
• Sennen to Coverack, Cornwall (56 miles) A stunning five-day itinerary along wild and windswept Cornish cliff-tops. This walk passes spectacular granite rock formations around Land’s End, the most westerly point in England, and Lizard Point, the most southerly.
• Heddon's Mouth, North Devon (2.1 miles) A challenge for those with limited mobility – made easier with a Tramper all-terrain mobility scooter which can be hired from the National Trust at Heddon Valley and used to explore many of the paths in the area.

630-mile experience The South West Coast Path is perhaps the UK’s ultimate challenge for the long-distance hiker. A fast walker can complete the 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset in around 30 days, but a more leisurely pace is between seven and eight weeks. No matter how long it takes, it is a stunning achievement.