Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Exmoor and North Devon Coast Path
History 9 - How long do you need? 11
How difficult is the path? 12 - When to go 13

PART 1: PLANNING YOUR WALK

Practical information for the walker
Route finding 17 - Accommodation 18 - Food and drink 21
Information for foreign visitors 24 - Money 26 - Other services 26
Walking companies 27

Budgeting 28

Itineraries
Suggested itineraries 29 - Village and town facilities 30 - Which direction? 33 - The best day and weekend walks 33 - Side trips 35

What to take
Keep your luggage light 36 - How to carry it 36 - Footwear 37
Clothes 37 - Toiletries 38 - First-aid kit 38 - General items 39
Camping gear 39 - Money 39 - Sources of further information 40
Maps 41 - Recommended reading 42

Getting to and from the path
Getting to Britain 44 - National transport 45 - Local transport 48
Public transport map 49

PART 2: MINIMUM IMPACT WALKING AND OUTDOOR SAFETY

Minimum impact walking
Economic impact 51 - Environmental impact 52 - Access 53
Countryside Code 54

Outdoor safety
Avoidance of hazards 56 - Weather and weather forecasts 58
Blisters 58 - Hypothermia 58 - Hyperthermia 59 - Sunburn 59

PART 3: THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURE

Flora and fauna
Trees 60 - Conservation schemes 61 - Flowers 62 - Mammals 64
Reptiles 67 - Sea life 67 - Birds 68 - Butterflies and moths 72

PART 4: ROUTE GUIDE AND MAPS

Using this guide
Trail maps 73

Minehead 75

Minehead to Porlock Weir 79
Bossington 84 - Porlock 85 - Porlock Weir 91

Porlock Weir to Lynton 92
Lynmouth 98 - Lynton 104

Lynton to Combe Martin 105
Combe Martin 114

Combe Martin to Woolacombe 117
Watermouth 118 - Hele 118 - Ilfracombe 120
Lee and Lee Bay 128
Woolacombe 128

Woolacombe to Braunton 134
Croyde 136 - Saunton 140 - Braunton 146

Braunton to Instow 149
Barnstaple 152 - Fremington Quay 156 - Instow 160

Instow to Westward Ho! 161
East-the-Water 162 - Bideford 164 - Northam 168 - Appledore 168 Westward Ho! 172

Westward Ho! to Clovelly 175
Clovelly and Higher Clovelly 179

Clovelly to Hartland Quay 182
Hartland Quay, Stoke and Hartland 188

Hartland Quay to Bude 192
Elmscott 194 - Morwenstow 194 - Bude 201

APPENDICES

GPS Waypoints 206 - Taking a dog 208 - Map key 210

INDEX 211

OVERVIEW MAPS AND PROFILES 214

About the Author

Daniel McCrohan updated this edition. He is the co-author of numerous guides for Lonely Planet, including India and China. He lived in Beijing for ten years and has hiked many sections of the Great Wall. He has updated several other British Walking Guides for Trailblazer including Hadrian's Wall Path, Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Cornwall Coast Path. The original guide was by Henry Stedman and Joel Newton, who have also written several other British Walking Guides for Trailblazer.

Reviews

Reviews for the previous editions of the South-West-Coast Path mini-series: 'three excellent guides to the trail' - The Independent. 'crammed with practical information on the route and local amenities, wildlife guides and detailed maps.'- Walk magazine. 'Packed with information and excellent hand-drawn maps, these are essential companions.' - Wanderlust.