In celebration of International Women's Day (8 March) we are sharing the South West Coast Path journey of Sarah Williams. Sarah runs the award-winning Tough Girl podcast, is a long distance hiker clocking up over 7,500 miles on trails across the world, and in 2024 decided to take on the South West Coast Path.
How did your South West Coast Path challenge start?
My South West Coast Path journey began because of timing and opportunity more than anything else. I was attending the Armchair Adventure Festival in 2023 and, as I was already down in Cornwall (I’m based in Liverpool), I started thinking about what adventure I could begin from there.
I’d interviewed several women on the Tough Girl Podcast who had walked the South West Coast Path, including Zoe Langley-Wathen, and it had always been on my list. The timing had never quite aligned before — but suddenly it did. I was there, I was ready, and a friend kindly dropped me at the start. It felt meant to be.
I started walking on 28th July 2024.
How long did it take?
In total, 40 days. I did have to take a short break halfway through due to a nasty tooth infection, which meant heading home briefly to get it sorted. Not ideal — but very real!
Had you walked it before?
No, this was my first time on the SWCP. I knew of its reputation and beauty, but I was experiencing it fresh.
What did you do to prepare?
Because of my work with Tough Girl Challenges, long-distance hiking is part of my world. I’d previously thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail, and multiple Caminos including the Camino via de la Plata.
Physically, I was strong and experienced (although battling with anaemia!). Gear-wise, I was fully equipped with high-quality ultralight kit. I was also very kindly gifted the official guidebooks by Cicerone, which were incredibly helpful.
For me, preparation often comes down to two key logistics:
How do I get to the start?
How do I get home from the finish?
Everything else, I figure out along the way.
What were you most looking forward to?
Solitude.
I love the rhythm of walking, the simplicity of trail life, the physical challenge, and being immersed in nature. I was excited to spend extended time on England’s coastline and to give myself space to think.
What did you learn?
This hike came at an interesting point in my life. I’d spent the previous two years completing back-to-back major challenges, finishing Te Araroa in March 2024, then heading straight to Spain for another Camino, where I became severely anaemic.
I was burnt out.
Unlike previous hikes, I gave myself no deadline on the SWCP. There was no race, no pressure to hit big daily miles. That freedom allowed me to reflect deeply on what I want the next chapter of my life and work to look like.
My biggest lesson?
I don’t have to push so hard all the time. I can be kinder to myself.
Favourite section of trail?
The Jurassic Coast section — part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site — absolutely blew me away. It’s easy to think somewhere so photographed might be overrated, but in reality it was breathtaking, even in less-than-perfect weather.
How did it compare to other coastal trails?
I’ve walked the Wales Coast Path and the IOM coastal trail but the SWCP genuinely stands out as one of the best trails I’ve ever hiked.
It has everything:
Challenge and elevation
Wild beauty
Excellent signage
Flexible accommodation options
Strong transport links
Friendly communities
You can hike it on a budget or in comfort. It’s incredibly accessible — and right here in England.
Trail stats
I love data, so I track everything:
40 walking days
4 rest days
13 ferry crossings
2 Trail Angels
Average 24 km (15 miles) per day
Approx. 30,000 steps daily
65% sunny and dry days
14 days of rain
Overall enjoyment rating: 71%
The busiest towns in August were personally my least favourite sections — I much preferred the quieter, remote stretches.
You don’t need to travel overseas to find world-class adventure. Some of the best trails in the world are on your doorstep.
Where next?
Since completing the SWCP, I’ve walked the Snowdonia Slate Trail, tackled the GR20 in Corsica, and celebrated 10 years of the Tough Girl Podcast by hiking the GR10 across the Pyrenees — setting the first women’s Fastest Known Time on that route.
I’d still love to complete the Camino del Norte to finish all six main Caminos, as well as explore more of Scotland and the remaining UK National Trails.
At the moment, I’m focusing on strength training and recovery before the next big challenge.
Will I return to the SWCP?
Probably — but I’m also someone who loves exploring new places. The world is big, and my list is long!
About the South West Coast Path VLOG – First episode released on Friday, 27 February, 2026
The VLOG series shares the full reality of the journey — the highs, the lows, the mistakes, the challenges, the joy.
There are 10 episodes, each covering approximately four days of walking, running between 6–10 minutes. New episodes are released every Friday at 7am (UK time) on the Tough Girl YouTube channel.
I also document everything in detailed blog posts for those wanting deeper insight — particularly helpful for anyone considering walking the trail in sections.
Sarah Williams is the founder of Tough Girl Challenges and host of the Tough Girl Podcast, a global platform sharing the stories of women taking on extraordinary adventures. Since 2015, she has interviewed hundreds of inspiring women and completed numerous long-distance hikes worldwide, including the Appalachian Trail, Te Araroa, multiple Caminos, and the South West Coast Path. Passionate about role models and representation, Sarah’s mission is to motivate and inspire women and girls to get fit, be active, and step outside their comfort zones.
I started the podcast in 2015 after leaving a career in finance in London at age 32. Adventure media was still heavily male-dominated, and I wasn’t seeing women’s endurance and adventure stories represented. I believe deeply in the power of role models.
It’s not just about seeing a woman complete an adventure — it’s about understanding how she did it: How did she afford it? How did she manage fear? How did she balance work, caring responsibilities, or health challenges?
The mission of the podcast is to share the real stories behind extraordinary achievements, so other women can think: “If she can do it — why can’t I?”
There are now hundreds of episodes and a comprehensive resources section on the website, organised by adventure type — from mountaineering to ultrarunning to thru-hiking.
The South West Coast Path 