Camping on the Coast Path

From back-to-basics field camping to fully serviced holiday parks, there are plenty of fun ways to enjoy the Coast Path as a camper.

Find a campsite

Use our accommodation finder or the National Trail interactive map to find campsites all along the Path. Remember, any campsite you find on our website is a South West Coast Path Way Maker business, meaning they support our work looking after the trail. 

If you’re a through-hiker wanting to pitch a tent along the way, read our advice below to make sure you know the law and have the necessary permissions.

Wild or Free Camping

Wild or Free camping involves setting up camp away from formal campsites and caravan parks. As is the case for most of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there is no public right to do this on or near to the South West Coast Path.  Some forms of wild camping are allowed on Dartmoor and in Scotland - elsewhere, landowner permission is required.

The South West Coast Path predominantly follows Public Rights of Way (PRoW) which pass through land owned by many different people and organisations. Much of this is carefully managed for wildlife and agriculture. The public can pass along the SWCP at all times (unless of course a closure or diversion is in place for safety reasons). Although you have a legal right to walk the Trail, camping on the Coast Path without consent from the landowner is trespass. If asked to leave, failure to do so immediately could be deemed aggravated trespass which is a criminal offence.

We do not hold landowner details and are unable to offer specific advice on this. However, the SWCP is well served by official campsites, many of which offer basic, low-cost options or wild camping experiences, that will allow you to enjoy the best of both worlds without getting into trouble or upsetting landowners.