Cornwall vs. Devon/Dorset for center-based walking?

Posted by Stacy (CT) on 03/21/23 04:29 PM

We have never been to Cornwall. Never been to Dorset/Devon etc except to Portland island.

We would like to spend 4-5 days walking (the Southwest Coast Path?), especially for scenic beauty and historic sites. (We walked Hadrian's Wall years ago, and I still hope for similar stuff on every walk!).

Instead of point-to-point, we are thinking of being based in one town, in case of really bad weather or the need for a rest day.

We've been planning on Cornwall, but we won't have a car, and now I'm wondering if it's worth the extra effort to get there, especially if other places nearer to the train line would suit us just as well.

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.

Posted by isn31c

Lake District, England

03/21/23 06:21 PM

8136 posts

Stacy,
Is there a specific reason for doing the Coast Path?
The reason I ask is that two other possibilities come to mind, which have more about Cornish spirituality, an important part of Cornish history. You don't have to be Christian- it is as much about the scenery and the history.
The Bodmin Way - this is really 4 part days walking with the other half of each day available to explore other interesting things in the area, of which there are many. Bodmin Parkway (3 miles away) is on the London main line, regular bus connections into the town, or (more fun) a seasonal steam train.
The Cornish Celtic Way- although a fairly new trail, it's roots are ancient as it was part of one of the English pilgrimage routes which led to the Camino to Santiago. You could base in Looe, St Austell, Padstow, Newquay or Penzance and use the good local buses to trailhead each day. From Padstow south this is also part of the Coastal path as is the start.
You won't be here in time, but note on this page Pilgrimages details of a guided walk over part of the route in May, guided Saturday walks over certain sections and a 5 day guided walk in August- that company also does pilgrimages to Lindisfarne, Iona York and Oxford

Posted by Carol now retired

Lynnwood, Washington

03/21/23 07:40 PM

8913 posts

Look at HF holidays. They have centers you can stay at with support for daily walks

https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/

Posted by ianandjulie

Yorkshire

03/21/23 08:53 PM

1344 posts

Stacy -

Check out Encounter Walking Holidays. They are south west specialists and their website has a wealth of options in and around that part of England. Very helpful and they have a ‘Sherpa’ luggage service if you want it.

https://encounterwalkingholidays.com/

Ian

Posted by Stacy OP

03/21/23 09:10 PM

104 posts

Thank you, all. There is no magic to the SW Coast Path; it's just one that we haven't done before, in a part of the UK that's new to us.

I very seriously considered HF Holidays, but for this trip we'd rather walk on our own than with a group. And their self-guided walks require you to arrange your own transportation to and from the path each day. Plus, we'd prefer to have options for dinner, rather than eating at the same place each night. (If we ever want to walk with a big group of friends, though, I'd use them in a heartbeat.)

I will check out the other service mentioned. There's no shortage of booking companies; I guess I just can't decide which part of the SW I want to explore. Cornwall sounds beautiful, but not sure if it's worth the time and effort to get there. In other words, I'm beyond help. ;)