1. The Salt Path (2024)
Based on the Sunday Times Bestseller novel by Raynor Winn, the Salt Path is set almost exclusively on the South West Coast Path. The true story follows Raynor and her husband, Moth, on an epic journey around the path following a life-changing diagnosis. This profound, thought-provoking tale sees them through both beautiful and trying moments, while emphasising the healing powers of an adventure in the great outdoors.
A large amount of the filming was done on the Coast Path, despite logistical challenges, and viewers are rewarded with some truly breathtaking scenes. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival but is yet to be released in the UK, with its arrival scheduled for late April 2025. Regardless, we know we’re in for some fantastic coastal views, and those who’ve walked the Coast Path can look forward to pointing out their own favourite spots!
2. Beyond Paradise (2023 – Present)
A follow-up series to the BBC’s hugely popular Death in Paradise, Beyond Paradise follows the endeavours of DI Humphries after his move from the Caribbean to picturesque Devon. Humphries joins the local police service, soon finding that this seemingly quaint and innocent place has its fair share of mysteries to be solved.
Although set in Devon, most of the filming for the fictional setting of Shipton Abbott was done around Looe in Cornwall. There are plenty more filming locations on and around the South West Coast Path, including Port Isaac, Mevagissey, St Agnes, Charlestown, Cadgwith and Falmouth. Beyond Paradise is a sure way to glimpse some picture-perfect Coast Path scenes, with a sprinkling of drama!
3. Poldark (2015 – 2019)
One of the most well-known series shot in Cornwall, Poldark is a period drama centred around Ross Poldark, a Captain who returns from the American Revolutionary war to find his Cornish home life in ruins. He encounters romance, family rivalry, prejudice and politics as he rebuilds his life, all with the backdrop of the gorgeous Cornish Coast.
The series is mostly based in Cornwall, with plenty of scenic filming locations along the South West Coast Path. These include, to name a few, Charlestown, Gunwalloe, Porthgwarra, Botallack, St Agnes and Porthcurno. For some inspiration on walks in Poldark country, visit our Poldark walks page.
4. Broadchurch (2013 – 2017)
At the other end of the Coast Path, West Bay in Dorset was the striking filming location for much of ITV’s popular crime drama, Broadchurch. Starring British acting heavyweights Olivia Coleman and David Tennant, this series follows two detectives as they try to solve a murder while unravelling the secrets of a rural seaside town.
Towering above West Bay, West Cliff was the shooting location for plenty of Broadchurch’s scenes, and you can see why! It’s well worth taking the hike up for some fabulous views of the Jurassic coast. Fans of the show will recognise plenty more places on a stroll around West Bay, and there are other scenic spots from the series along the Coast Path nearby. These include Briar Cliff Hut at Eype, Stonebarrow near Charmouth, and Charmouth Beach.
5. Doc Martin (2004 – 2022)
Filmed in Port Isaac, ITV’s Doc Martin stars Martin Clunes as the series’ namesake, a lovable, bumbling GP who looks after the fictional Cornish village of Port Wenn. The show has brought plenty of visitors to an otherwise quiet, quaint fishing village, with the chance to see Martin Ellingham’s doctor’s surgery in the flesh.
There are plenty of other places to visit in Port Isaac, as well as Port Gaverne and Gunwalloe. Our personal favourite is Doyden Castle, perched high above Port Quin, a folly built as a party house by 18th Century businessman Samuel Symons. This particular spot was the setting for a dramatic scene where Mrs Tishell declares her unrequited love for the Doctor. If you’re not interested in filming locations, it’s also just a lovely spot for a walk, with breathtaking views and some quirky history.
6. House of the Dragon (2022 – Present)
A prequel to the hugely popular fantasy drama Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon has an enormous budget and a star-studded cast, including Matt Smith. A lesser known fact about this show, though, is that a lot of the filming locations are in Cornwall! Eagle-eyed fans will recognise three spots from along the coast path, all of which are just as stunning and atmospheric in real life as they are on the TV screen.
Holywell Bay, a long golden beach near Newquay, features plenty in the series as the bay below High Tide Castle, and is even the backdrop of a boody battle. Another beach that features is the magical Kynance Cove, as a pre-battle gathering place for the Velaryon war council.
Finally, what better building to embody fantasy and drama than St Michael’s Mount? This imposing mediaeval-style castle is High Tide Castle in the series, often seen with dragons flying in the foreground. It also makes a unique stop-off when you’re walking the Coast Path between Penzance and Marazion, and is even more dramatic in the flesh!
Visit our Penzance to Marazion page for a short, easy walk which takes in the mount in all its glory.
7. The Witches (1990)
Surreal, bizarre and remarkably dark at times, The Witches is a true childhood staple of a film. Based on the novel by Roald Dahl, the film is centred around a young boy who discovers a witch convention and, despite being turned into a mouse, does his best to put a stop to their evil antics. The film was mostly filmed in Norway, where the story is set, but the most iconic setting of all was, naturally, along the Coast Path!
Much of the story is set at the grand ‘Hotel Excelsior’, where the witches’ annual meeting is held. It’s here that the Witches reveal their plan to turn children into mice, and a lot of action unfolds as a result! In real life, this is the iconic and luxury Headland Hotel, perched right next to the waves on the edge of Newquay. The hotel is directly by the coast path, enjoying open views of the coastline and out to sea.
8. Bait (2019)
Bait is an artistic masterpiece of a film, directed by Cornish native Mark Jenkins. Shot exclusively with a clockwork camera and dubbed audio, this experimental film follows a small-town fisherman struggling with changing times, with a side of family drama. The film provides a powerful commentary on the impact of growing tourism and gentrification in the South West, and the resulting conflict between modernity and tradition.
Charlestown plays a leading role in the film, as the fishing village where Martin, the main character, lives and works. The craggy coastline of West Penwith also features, which is no surprise given this area’s dramatic feel and quintessential Cornish-ness.
9. Fisherman’s Friends (2019)
As you might have guessed, Fisherman’s Friends is a film all about the group by the same name. This feel-good true story documents the rise of Cornwall’s famous sea shanty gang and their signing by Universal Records, with lots of life lessons to be learned along the way.
Naturally, a lot of the filming was done in the group’s hometown of Port Isaac, a picturesque fishing village with whitewashed cottages and narrow winding streets. If you’re in the area, you can still see the Fisherman’s Friends live here regularly, as they’re set on staying true to their roots. There was also some filming done at neighbouring Port Gaverne, with its tucked away beach on the Coast Path to Port Isaac.
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)
The fourth instalment of the blockbuster Pirates of The Caribbean films, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides sees Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow in pursuit of the fabled fountain of youth. You’d be forgiven for assuming that a film with a name like this was only filmed in the Caribbean, but you’d be wrong!
Remarkably, but not necessarily surprisingly, some of the idyllic beach scenes in the film were actually shot in St Ives! The white sands and turquoise waters of the town’s beaches made perfect stand-ins for tropical islands, and you’d have no idea when watching the film! We can’t think of a better advert for West Cornwall’s beaches than this, nor a better way to experience them than from the South West Coast Path.
For a beach-packed walk fit for a pirate, try our leisurely stroll from Carbis Bay to St Ives.
That wraps up our list of 10 films on the Coast Path. We hope it’s helped inspire you to get watching or, even better, walking! With so much of the South West Coast Path featuring on the big screen, it’s clear to see how lucky we are to have free access to this magnificent part of the world.
So, whether it’s marching in the shoes of your favourite character or mentally writing the next blockbuster mid-walk, don’t hesitate to get out on the path and get your boots dirty!
Guest blog written by Barney Munn, SWCPA Communications Volunteer
The South West Coast Path 