Settling into the task
With over 500 miles already walked, this stage is where the challenge truly becomes a part of you. The initial aches give way to resilience, and every step brings a deeper connection to the land. You are no longer just walking; you are living the journey, fully immersed in the rhythm of the coast. This section showcases the dedication and growing experience of a long-distance walker.
Embracing the south-west coast
As you embark on this 638-mile journey from Bournemouth to Land's End, you'll feel a profound shift. The initial miles are behind you, and a rhythm has set in. This is where the true character of the south-west coast begins to unfold – a tapestry of dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and the relentless beauty of the atlantic ocean. Fellow walkers and armchair travellers, prepare for breathtaking landscapes and a renewed sense of purpose.
Reaching the first milestone
Land's End is more than just a geographical point; it's a monumental achievement, the first significant milestone in this 7,000-mile endeavour. The feeling of reaching this iconic landmark, knowing you've journeyed from London and along the rugged south-west, is truly exhilarating. We hope this page inspires you, making you feel the immense satisfaction of achieving such a feat. What an accomplishment!
Stage Two: South-West Coast Path - Bournemouth via Land's End to Minehead - 959 miles.
Welcome to the second thrilling stage of thejohnmerrillway! After conquering the initial 500 miles, you're now deeply immersed in the incredible challenge of walking Britain's coastline. This leg, spanning 638 miles from Bournemouth to the iconic Land's End, marks a significant milestone as we embrace the dramatic beauty of the south-west.
Basic daily schedule -
20. Upton — Lytchett Minster - Wareham —Slepe Heath = Bushey — Brand's Bay <South Haven Point—Studland Bay -Studtand
— The Foreland -— Ballard Cliif?— Swanage = Durlston Head = Seacombe Cliff —St Alban'’s Head .............. 38 miles (532 miles).
21. St Alban’s Head = Kimmeridge Bay — Steeple — Fast Lulworth — Lulworth Cove - Durdle Door - Osmington Mills = Weymouth ............. 30 miles (562 miles).
22. Bowleaze Cove = Weymouth - Ferry Bridge -— Chesil - Portland Bill — Fortuneswell — Ferry Bridge ........................ 22 miles (584 miles).
23. Ferry Bridge — Chesil Beach — Abbotsbury — Gogden Beach — Burton Beach — West Bay — Wear Cliffs — Golden Cap - Charmouth — Lyme Regis ......... 38 MILES (622 miles)
24. Lyme Regis — Landslip — Charton Bay — Seaton — Beer - Beer Head — Branscombe Mouth —Coxe’s cliff— Dunscombe Cliff — Sidmouth — Ladram Bay — Budleigh Salterton — Straight Point— Exmouth ........ 39 miles (661 miles)
25. Exmouth — Topsham — Countess Wear Bridge — Exeter Canal —Powderham—Starcross — Dawlish Warren — Dawlish —Teignmouth ................ 28 miles (689 miles).
26 Teignmouth — Labrador Bay — Maidencombe — Watcombe —Torquay — Hope’s Nose — Livermead Sands — Paignton — Broad Sands — Brixham .................26 miles (715 miles).
27. Brixham — Berry Head — Man Sands — Higher Brownstone Farm — Kingswear — Raddicombe — Churston — Waddeton — Port Bridge — Aish — Fleet Mill - Totnes ................ 26 miles (741 miles).
28. Totnes — Ashprington — ‘Tuckenhay — Higher Tideford — Capton — Dartmouth — Stoke Fleming —Strete — Slapton Sands—Torcross — Beesands
29. Beesands — Hallsands — Start Pomt — Lannacombe Bay - Prawle Point - Gammon Head — Mill Bay — Goodshelter —South Pool — Frogmore — West Charleton — Kingsbridge — Collapit Bridge—Ba tson —Salcombe—Salcombe Youth Hostel ..................... ......33 miles (801 miles)
30. Salcombe Youth Hostel — Bolt Head — Soar Mill Cove — Bolt Trail — Outer Hope — Butter Cove — Bantham — Aunemouth — Stadbury — Bridge End — Tidal Read — Bigbury — Bigbury-on-Sea ........... 23 miles (824 miles)
31. Bigbury-on-Sea — Ayrmer Cove — Fernycombe Beach — Wonwell Beach — Torr Down — Clyng Mill — River Erme — Efford House — Mothecombe — Stoke House — The Warren — Noss Mayo — Bridgend — Wrescombe — Puslinch — A379 - Brixton ........... 30 miles (854 miles)
32. Brixton — Spriddlestone — Season Point — Wembury — Staddon Heights — Turnchapel — Hooe — Laira Bridge — Barbican — ‘The Hoe — Plymouth — Stonehouse — Devonport — St Budeaux —Tamar Bridge — Saltash — Landrake — Tideford ........................26 miles (880 miles).
33. Tideford — St Germans — Polbathic — Tredrossel — Sheviock — Millbrook — Cawsand Bay — Rame Head — Crafthole — Portwrinkle — Downderry — Seaton — East Looe — West Looe —Talland Bay — Polperro .............. 26 miles (906 miles).
34. Polperro — Lantivet Bay — Pencarrow Head — Lantic Bay — Polruan — Pont — Penpoll — Lerryn —'Trewether — Lostwithiel —
Castle — Castle Dore — Newtown — Fowey — Polridmouth — Gribbin Head — Polkerris — Par Sands — Garlyon Bay —
Charlestown ............. 38 miles (944 miles).
35. Charlestown — Porthpean — ‘Trenarren — Pentewan Beach — Mevagissey — Chapel Point —Gorran Haven—Dodman Point—
Porthluney Cove — Portholland — Portloe ........... 25 miles (969 miles).
36. Portloe — Nare Head — Pendower Beach — Portscatho — Zone Point — St Anthony — Gerrans —St Just Lane —St Mawes ............ 27 miles (996 miles).
37. St Mawes —St Just Lane —‘lrewithian — Ruan High Lanes — Ruan Lanihorne — Litthe Tregerrick — Tresillian — ‘Trure —
Carnon Downs — Devoran — Penryn — Falmouth ................ 32 miles (1,028 miles).
38. Falmouth — Pendennis Point — Swanpool Beach —- Maen Porth — Rosemullion Head — Porthallack — Durgan — Porth Navas — Nancenoy — Gweek = Gear — Manaccan — Helford ................ 25 miles (1,053 miles).
39. Helford — Manaccan — Porthallow — Porthoustock — Lowland Point — Coverack— Black Head — Kennack Sands— Cadgwith - Landewednack — Lizard Point — Lizard .................. 26 miles (1,079 miles).
40. Lizard — Lizard Point — Kynance Cove — Vellan Head — Mullion Cove — Polurrian Cove — Poldhu Cove — Halzephron
Cove — Loe Bar — Porthleven —‘Trewavas Head — Praa Sands — Bessy’s Cove — Trenow Cove — Marazion...... 31 miles (1,110 miles).
41. Marazion — Penzance — Newlvn — Mousehole — Lamorna Cove— St Loy — Penberth Cove — Porthcurno — Porth Loe — Mill Bay — Land’s End — Sennen Cove — Sunny Corner .................. 28 miles (1,138 miles).
42. Sunny Gorner — Aire Point — Polpry Cove — Cape Cornwall -— Zawn a Bat— Pendeen Watch — Portheras Cove — Porthmoina
Cove — Porthmeor Cove — Gurnard’s Head — Pendour Cove — Zennor .......... 22 miles (1,160 miles).
43. Zennor — Wicca Pool = Clodgy Point — St Ives — Carbis Bay — Lelant — Hayle — Gwithian Beach — Godrevy Point — Navax
Point — Hudder Down — Reskajeage Downs — Portreath ............ 29 miles (1,189 miles).
43. Portreath — Porthtowan -— St Agnes Head — Perranporth — Perran Beach — Penhale Camp — Holywell Bay — Porth Joke —
Crantock Beach —‘The Gannel — Newquay ......................28 miles (1,217 miles).
44. Newquay — Watergate Bay — Mawgan Porth — Park Head - Constantine Bay —'Trevose Head — Harlyn Bay —Gunver Head
— Stepper Point —Gun Point — Padstow ............27 miles (1,244 miles).