Green Walks in England South-west (west)

This area comprises the western part of the region, taking in BA, BS, DT, EX, PL, TA, TQ and TR postcode areas, plus the postcode districts of SP7 and SP8 around Gillingham and Shaftesbury.

Neighbouring regions and areas are

Note also some of the most convenient hubs for multi-day walking on different routes.

Routes

  • Bristol Rail Round
    A 53km circular walk taking in stations at Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway and stops on the Severn Beach branch line, plus a 10km alternative route from Portway to Bristol harbour, avoiding the high bridges.
  • Camel Trail
    A 28km railbed walk from Wenford Bridge to Padstow.
  • Castleman Trailway
    A 27km walk along a former railway trackbed, between Upton Country Park and the edge of Ringwood.
  • Community Forest Path
    This 75km circuit around Bristol uses parkland and railbeds where possible within the urban area, and paths in the southern and western hinterland.
  • East Devon Way
    A 60km inland route between Exmouth and Lyme Regis.
  • Exe Valley Way
    A walk of 83km between Exford and Starcross.
  • Granite Way
    A 16km walk, mainly on the trackbed of a former railway line, between Lydford and Okehampton.
  • Hardy Way
    A walk of 344km from the birthplace of Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) to the spot where his heart is buried (the ashes of the rest of him are in Westminster Abbey).
  • Macmillan Way
    A 474km walk between Boston and Chesil Beach at Abbotsbury.
  • Monarch’s Way
    A 936km walk between Worcester and Southwick, following the route taken (following the Battle of Worcester) by King Charles I (1600-49).
  • St Michael’s Way
    A 20km walk between Carbis Bay and Marazion.
  • Saxon Kings Way
    A 22km walk between Frome and Bath.
  • South Dorset Ridgeway
    A 27km walk from West Bexington to Osmington Mills, away from the coast.
  • Strawberry Line
    A 16km walk between Yatton station and Cheddar.
  • Tamar Valley Discovery Trail
    A 56km walk between Tamerton Foliot, on the edge of Plymouth, and Launceston.
  • Two Castles Trail
    A 39km walk between Okehampton and Launceston.
  • Wareham Forest Way
    A 22km walk between Wareham and Sturminster Marshall.
  • Wessex Ridgeway
    A 220km walk between Lyme Regis and Marlborough.
  • West Devon Way
    A 59km route between Plymouth and Okehampton

Hubs

Some places lend themselves to being hubs, where you may pitch up for a few days’ car-free walking, fanning out on a different route (or part of a route) each day. The hub becomes a walking-place for recreation at walking pace. Hubs in this area include

  • Barnstaple
    Barnstaple is the obvious hub for the area to the north-east of Dartmoor.
  • Bath
    Bath is perhaps overshadowed by Bristol as a hub for the area to the north of the city, but is the key choice when looking to the south and east of the city.
  • Bristol
    Bristol is the principal hub for the north-east of the area, with good public transport connections reaching also into the eastern part of the region, and also to neighbouring parts of Wales.
  • Dorchester
    Dorchester is a good hub for the coast to west and east, and for the hills to the north.
  • Exeter
    Exeter is a good hub for the local coast, and for inland areas all round.
  • Plymouth
    Plymouth serves as a hub for the coast between South Hams and Looe, and for all the land behind, including much of Dartmoor.
  • St Austell
    St Austell is a good balance for much of Cornwall: if your focus is farther to the west, then Truro is possibly a better option.
  • Taunton
    Taunton is a good hub for all the surrounding area, including the coast as far west as Porlock.
  • Torquay
    Wadebridge is a useful hub for the local coast and country.
  • Wadebridge
    Wadebridge is a useful hub for the local coast and country.

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