Dramatic headlands leading to majestic myths

Distance: 46.9 miles over 4 days.  Difficulty: Challenging

A strenuous stretch of Coast Path taking in the North Devon Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Hartland Peninsula before crossing the county boundary into Cornwall. There are some dramatic headlands that contrast with numerous picturesque river valleys, making this one of the most diverse sections of Coast Path. As it reaches Tintagel Head, the land of myths and legends comes to life in the majestic castle ruins.

Highlights

This stretch of Coast Path begins in the historic fishing village of Clovelly, which sits on a glorious estate carved out of the cliff face with beautiful steep and cobbled streets. It then takes you through ancient woodland and on to the stunning contrasting landscapes of the Hartland Peninsula.

The second day’s walk is one of the toughest sections of Coast Path but worth the effort as it takes you past the tumbling waterfall at Speke’s Mill Mouth to secluded combes and sandy beaches on the approach to Bude.

Another strenuous day’s walk leading to Crackington Haven is equally rewarding, with views for miles out to Lundy Island and along the coastline towards Hartland Point. From here, you’ll also get your first glimpse of the infamous site at Tintagel and upon reaching it, you cannot fail to be impressed by the 13th Century castle ruins on the headland.

Tintagel is thought to be the birthplace of King Arthur and this legendary site offers a variety of short walks surrounding it that are ideal for families.

To help you plan your trip, click on the Itinerary links or the diamonds on the map to link to the relevant section guide for further information about each day's walk.

Suggested Itinerary

Relevant section guides

We have split the path into 52 sections, and for each one have produced a section guide. These pages do not aim to replace the guidebooks, but aim to give a flavour of what each section is like, and show you about the highlights and places of interest along the route, along with links to accommodation information and much more. The relevant section guides for this walk are:

Travel

Trains run regularly between Exeter and Barnstaple.

The Stagecoach 319 service runs between Barnstaple and Hartland via Bideford and Clovelly.

The Western Greyhound 595 bus service runs between Bude and Crackington Haven and on to Boscastle, where you can take the hourly 594 to Tintagel.

For further information visit Traveline or phone 0870 6082608.

Short breaks

Accommodation Finder