Route changes

The South West Coast Path owes its unique character to natural processes. Our coastline would not look so beautiful and dramatic if it wasn't for cliff and beach erosion. The downside is that sometimes cliff falls or landslips close sections of the Coast Path resulting in temporary inland diversions, which can occasionally be quite lengthy, being needed. In these instances, always follow signing and information on the ground.

We are also constantly looking for opportunities to improve the route in the few places where it is not as good as it could be.

If you have recently seen a route change in our magazine or Complete Guide which isn't listed below, please assume that this is because the route is now open once again. This page is kept up to date to the best of our ability.

Exmoor and North Devon: Minehead to the Cornwall border (8 route changes)

Braunton Burrows Diversion

Temporary path diversion at Braunton Burrows

Exmoor

20th December 2024 - Update on damage from Storm Darragh - The section between Culbone and Countisbury is still closed and blocked by fallen trees and is likely to remain blocked till the New Year. Many of the adjoining routes are also blocked so there is currently no alternative route available. Our trails partners Exmoor National Park Authority and Exmoor National Trust team have been working hard to reopen the Coast Path. The path from Minehead to Porlock Weir and down to Culbone church as well as the section from Woody Bay to Countisbury is now open. All users need to take extra care, especially in wooded sections and in windy weather, as while the trail partners have been able to clear major obstacles there are still issues with weakened trees, hanging branches, damaged surfaces where root plates have torn up, and some trees which have been made safe and passable but are still in place.

Exmoor Route Improvement - North Hill and Hurlstone Point

There have been 6x route change improvements to the South West Coast Path along the 35 mile Exmoor section. These improvements have been created as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIII ECP) establishment works. These changes enhance the experience of the South West Coast Path, bringing the Trail more seaward. The South West Coast Path remains the National Trail starting in Minehead, Somerset, and finishing in Poole, Dorset, and will become part of the 2,700 mile KCIII ECP.

Exmoor Route Improvement - Worthy

There have been 6x route change improvements to the South West Coast Path along the 35 mile Exmoor section. These improvements have been created as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIII ECP) establishment works. These changes enhance the experience of the South West Coast Path, bringing the Trail more seaward. The South West Coast Path remains the National Trail starting in Minehead, Somerset, and finishing in Poole, Dorset, and will become part of the 2,700 mile KCIII ECP.

Exmoor Route Improvement - Glenthorne

There have been 6x route change improvements to the South West Coast Path along the 35 mile Exmoor section. These improvements have been created as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIII ECP) establishment works. These changes enhance the experience of the South West Coast Path, bringing the Trail more seaward. The South West Coast Path remains the National Trail starting in Minehead, Somerset, and finishing in Poole, Dorset, and will become part of the 2,700 mile KCIII ECP.

Exmoor Route Improvement - Lee Abbey

There have been 6x route change improvements to the South West Coast Path along the 35 mile Exmoor section. These improvements have been created as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIII ECP) establishment works. These changes enhance the experience of the South West Coast Path, bringing the Trail more seaward. The South West Coast Path remains the National Trail starting in Minehead, Somerset, and finishing in Poole, Dorset, and will become part of the 2,700 mile KCIII ECP.

Exmoor Route Improvement - Cobblers Park, Combe Martin

There have been 6x route change improvements to the South West Coast Path along the 35 mile Exmoor section. These improvements have been created as part of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIII ECP) establishment works. These changes enhance the experience of the South West Coast Path, bringing the Trail more seaward. The South West Coast Path remains the National Trail starting in Minehead, Somerset, and finishing in Poole, Dorset, and will become part of the 2,700 mile KCIII ECP.

Speke's Mill

23rd November 2024 - The bridge at Speke’s Mill has been washed away and there is no access across the watercourse. There is an alternative route using Public Footpaths to Milford.
North Cornwall: Devon border to Newquay (3 route changes)

Upton, near Bude: Route Realignment

Dec 2019: Cornwall Council has closed a short section of the South West Coast Path National Trail at Upton, located between Bude and Widemouth Bay. This is due to instability of the cliff. A new route is in place following a public bridleway and a pavement alongside Marine Drive.

Bedruthan: Temporary Path Closure and Diversion

January 2021: Cornwall Council has temporarily closed a short section of the South West Coast Path near Bedruthan Steps. This is due to coastal erosion. A diversion is in place.

Whipsiderry Beach, Cornwall: Temporary Path Closure and Diversion

April 2021: Cornwall Council has temporarily closed part of the South West Coast Path between Whipsiderry Beach and Porth Beach near Newquay. This is for public safety reasons due to cliff instability. An alternative route is available.
West Cornwall: Newquay to Falmouth (5 route changes)

Gillan Creek to East of Pennare House - diversion due to collapsed bridge

April 2022 - SWCP Diversion from just East of Pennare House to Gillan creek on footpath 65 in the Parish of St Keverne between grid references SW7953224917 and SW7959524881. An alternative route is provided.

Marazion

August 2018: Further to an initial temporary closure, a section of the coast path remains closed at Marazion due to an unstable cliff. A diversion of approximately 1km is in place.

Gunwalloe, Lizard. Short diversion due to cliff fall

Due to a cliff fall severing the Coast Path, a 250 metre section of Coast Path has been re-routed onto a roughly parallel footpath about 50 - 100 metres further up the coastal slope.

Durgan - short diversion due to cliff fall

March 2016: Due to a cliff fall on the southern approach to Durgan the Coast Path has been diverted inland. The diversion adds about 300 yards / metres to the walk.

Gillan, St Anthony, Cornwall: Temporary Path Closure

Cornwall Council have had to close a short section of the South West Coast Path due to storm damage and a land slip in Spring 2019. A local diversion is in place.
South East Cornwall: Falmouth to Plymouth (2 route changes)

Polhawn Cove, Rame

March 2024 - Temporary diversion in place due to a landslip at Polhawn Cove near Rame

St Martins - Monkey Sanctuary - diversion due to landslip

Nov 2013: Following a landslip, in the woods below the Monkey sanctuary much of the path between Millendreath and Seaton has been diverted inland.
South Devon: Plymouth to Exmouth (5 route changes)

Neptune Park, Plymouth

Improved route at Neptune Park, Plymouth.

Royal William Yard

December 2024 - The Stairway linking Royal William Yard to Devil's Point has been removed for refurbishment. A diversion has been put in place until the stairway is reinstalled in February 2025.

Turnchapel to Mount Batten: Path Closure and Diversion

January 2021: A short section of the South West Coast Path National Trail has been diverted for public safety reasons. An alternative route is available to bypass this closed section of path.

Beacon Lane Kingswear

15th December 2023 - A diversion has been put in place due to a path blockage on the Coast Path at Beacon Lane, Kingswear.

Little Dartmouth, South Devon: Path Diversion

Feb 2021: A short section of the South West Coast Path has been diverted due to coastal erosion. An alternative route is available.
East Devon & Dorset: Exmouth to Poole Harbour (8 route changes)

Ladram Bay

June 2024: A short section of the SWCP has been diverted at Ladram Bay after a landslip. An alternative route is available.

Peak Hill near Sidmouth

27th October 2024 - A short diversion has been put in place after a large landslip at Peak Hill near Sidmouth.

Coxe's Cliff, Weston

A path diversion has been put in place at Coxe's Cliff, Weston to the West of Branscombe following a series of landslips.

West Bay to Burton Bradstock

Feb 2024 - Due to a landslip the Coast Path between West Bay to Burton Bradstock is diverted. Please follow the diversion route signed on site.

Ferrybridge, Weymouth

July 2023 - The trail alongside the Fleet at Ferrybridge is diverted due to erosion. Please follow the diversion as shown on the map below marked by the red line. Please do not walk along the Fleet foreshore as this is a tidal area and very important for Wildlife.

Diversion Tout Quarry, Portland

Due to coastal erosion an inland diversion has been put in place with the path now running through Tout Quarry.

Route change from Lyme Regis Golf Club to Charmouth

June 2022 - Since Major cliff falls back in 2001 this part of the walk had been shown as a 'diversion' in the expectation that the Path could be reinstated along the cliff top. However, the ongoing instability of the cliffs has meant that this has not been possible, and so the Path has been routed inland and across the golf course. In 2022 a route was established with the permission of the golf course which allows walkers to follow a stone surfaced waymarked route avoiding the A3052.

West Cliff, Portland - 2 short diversions due to cliff erosion

Oct 2013: Following cliff erosion on the west side of the Isle of Portland, 2 short sections of the Coast Path have been diverted inland

When a cliff fall affecting the path is reported, the County Council or National Trust rangers will immediately inspect it, and if it looks dangerous they will close off the affected section. They will then start to work on setting up a diversion, which initially will be on the nearest paths and roads around the closure. If this diversion isn’t as good as possible, once the cliff has stabilised, they will then liaise with neighbouring landowners to try and negotiate a new route close (but leaving a safe distance) to the ‘new’ cliff edge. Sometimes this is a simple, quick process, but can get complicated and protracted if there are limitations in terms of terrain (and thus amount of construction required), wildlife habitats (e.g. you can’t cut a new path through scrub during the nesting season) or impacts on someone’s garden.

Funding these repairs and construction of new paths places even more strain on an already stretched Coast Path budget, so donations towards this work are always most welcome.

If you are out and spot a recent cliff fall or other hazard that presents an imminent risk to walkers, please either contact the Coastguard on 999, or the relevant County Council (Cornwall: 0300 1234 202, Devon: 0345 155 1004, Dorset: 01305 224463).