Noss Mayo, South Devon
Sarah Gunn, Business Engagement
Favourite festive walk Noss Mayo and Revelstoke Drive is a great family walk with something for everyone. I love the views out to sea over the estuary and the rolling green fields down to the coast which usually has cattle or sheep grazing. It’s then into woodland and seeing all the boats moored up. Our most memorable walk when the children were little was when it was pouring with rain one boxing day and at the end we ended up going to the pub dressed in a selection of bin liners, blankets and towels as our clothes were so wet!
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking The Swan Inn
Seasonal drink? Dark & Stormy
Highlight from our 50th anniversary celebrations? When the two tribes met in Royal William Yard from each end of the Path with their flags waving, drums beating and the sea shanty singers singing. It was spine-tingling.
Mount Edgcumbe, South Cornwall
Julian Gray, Director
Favourite festive walk? Mount Edgcumbe circuit as you’ve got a great opportunity to see deer and if starting from Plymouth you get the added benefit of a great ferry ride to Cremyll.
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Maker Canteen if you take an extra loop up the hill to Maker Heights.
Seasonal drink? Athletic Brewery Golden Dawn zero alcohol beer.
Highlight from the 50th anniversary celebrations? The moment when the two parts of the Trailblazer walk joined together at RWY. Managing to secure the World Trails Film Festival as part of our 50th celebrations.
Marazion to Perranuthnoe,
West Cornwall
Aletha Mays, Head of Comms
Favourite festive walk? Marazion to Perranuthnoe circular walk combines coastal walking with green fields and far reaching views across magical Mount’s Bay.
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Peppercorn Café for great food, coffee, and delicious smoothies and milkshakes!
Mulled wine, pint, or hot chocolate? Mulled wine always!
Highlight from our 50th anniversary celebrations? There are too many to choose from as we had such an amazing year celebrating, but personally, I enjoyed developing our first ever photography exhibition, and working with our brilliant volunteer podcast host Rachel on 630 Miles – an audio journey, if you haven’t listened yet, we now have 10 episodes with a great range of guests so do tune in!
Helford Passage to Falmouth, West Cornwall
Jack Greaves, Coast Path Connectors Project Officer Cornwall
Favourite festive walk? Helford Passage to Falmouth or shorter version Meanporth to Falmouth.
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Pendennis Community Centre for coffee and cake – this is a new charity found at the old Ships and Castles site on Pendennis Headland. The Charity has taken it on to raise funds to build a much-needed swimming pool for the local community. The Front – Falmouth, a free house that allows you to take in your own food. I would recommend the Fish and Chips from Harbour Lights above.
Seasonal drink? A pint of local ale by the fire please.
Highlight from the 50th anniversary celebrations? For me it was doing full day treks with a mixture of locals, SWCPA members, staff, volunteers, partners and trustees, as well as tourists. It isn’t often that you will get a mixture from so many different backgrounds together and given the opportunity to share stories, interests and their love of the path.
Budleigh Salterton
Alex Turner, Project Officer
Favourite festive walk? We often have a walk along the seafront at Budleigh Salterton at some point at Christmas. Easy footing and benches for some, and endless possibilities for family games with the pebbles including ‘who can build the tallest tower’.
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Good to stop at Fifty Degrees North café for a hot chocolate.
Seasonal drink? Getting into the festive spirit with a mulled wine.
Highlight from the 50th anniversary celebrations? Flags waving in the breeze as we came into Royal William Yard, chatting to our members and supporters on the walks and hearing their Coast Path and walking stories, fun had by walkers with the magical staff/walking stick. Image: Budleigh Salterton by Ian Killick
Beer to Branscombe, South Devon
Molly Palmer, Impact Comms Officer
Favourite festive walk? Beer to Branscombe loop, with a handy pub-stop in Branscombe to warm up the fingers and toes! The views dropping into Branscombe beach are mesmerising, and it’s lovely to see people making the most of the winter weather on this popular stretch of coastal trail. Note for the adventurous: Keep your eyes peeled for the trail up along the Hooken Undercliff section for a caving experience!
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Mason Arms Inn, Branscombe – preferably, by the fire.
Mulled wine, pint, or hot chocolate? It’s got to be mulled wine every time, for me!
Highlight from our 50th anniversary celebrations? Joining the charity in September of this year means I missed out on a large portion of our trailblazing 50th celebrations. As for 2024, looking through the entries for our last Photographer of the Year competition has made me excited for holding next year’s exhibition – I love to see the Path through others’ eyes!
Porthcothan to Bedruthan
Debbie Bakewell, Membership Engagement
Favourite festive walk? Porthcothan – Bedruthan. The sea is so dramatic in the winter months as it crashes against the rocks and cliffs. It’s bracing and yet refreshing, with the added bonus of a hot drink at the end!
Top pub or café? Carnewas Tea Rooms at Bedruthan Steps.
Mulled wine, pint, or hot chocolate? Def Mulled Wine/Cider.
Highlight from our 50th anniversary celebrations? Walking into Royal William Yard with the Sea Of Dreams flags blowing in the soft breeze and the beautiful, stunning weather we had for the whole 6 weeks!
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset
Lorna Sherriff, National Trails Officer
Favourite festive walk? Studland village round to Old Harry Rocks is a lovely festive walk. An almost 4mile walk with stunning views of the spectacular chalk Old Harry rocks formations. I like to park at Knoll Beach car park and walk from there (making the whole walk 5.5miles) as I like to finish with a Latte or Hot Chocolate (and of course a slice of cake) at the National Trust Knoll Beach Café. Please remember to keep well away from the cliff edge at all times during this walk.
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Knoll Beach Café.
Festive tipple? For me it would be a Latte or a hot chocolate, something to warm you up after being out in the fresh cold air.
Highlight from our 50th anniversary celebrations? The Trailblazer Walk and getting to meet and chat with lots of our members, supporters, volunteers and path managers. I have some wonderful memories from those walks.
Crow Point near Braunton, North Devon
Huw Davies, Coast Path Connectors Project Officer, North Devon
Favourite festive walk? Around Crow Point, near Braunton, North Devon with Gkids. This is a great walk anytime of year, but Christmas can be special, it’s quiet (few people) and can be really bracing. The drive to Crow Point car park is along the Toll Road adjacent to the Great Field, one of the few preserved medieval field systems in the UK. Over the flood barrier is Hornsey Island (its not an Island) that had been allowed to flood and its great for birds and wildlife. The walk sets off along the beach to with views over the confluence of the Rivers Taw and Torridge towards Instow, Appledore, Northam Burrows and Hartland. When you get to Crow Point you turn right (north) towards Saunton Sands and feel the blast of Atlantic wind in your face. A mile beyond here just before the ruins of a Victorian Lighthouse you turn right (East) into Braunton Burrows following the Broadwalk back to the car park.
Top pub or café for a pit stop whilst walking? Velator Quay Café, Braunton
Mulled wine, pint, or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate
Highlight from our 50th anniversary celebrations? During the Westward Ho! to Clovelly leg we were joined by Greg from the National Trust, he was great at pointing out the flora and fauna but even better was some of the social history of the route; the old railway from Westward Ho! to Bideford; the Old Race Course that was used up until the 1920’s that actually on the SWCP; and the history of Peppercombe Castle, long since washed in to the Atlantic. The best bit was, he actually had a key to get into the Bucks Mills Cabin, residence of artists Judith Ackland and Mary Stella Edwards. The Cabin has been left untouched since they left there 40 years ago.
We’d love to hear from you and where your favourite festive walks and places are to go – please share your favourite festive walks in the comments!
Header image: Mount Edgcumbe Country Park.
Leave a lighter footprint
Take the Rail to the Trail this season and reduce your carbon footprint. Trains and bus services continue to operate during the winter season, making plenty of walks accessible via public transport. Check out Great Western Railway’s journey planner to help plan your festive walks.
The South West Coast Path 