Home › Trails › Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) vs South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir)

Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) vs South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir)

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir)
Distance 142 km 16 km
Elevation gain 3,055 m 486 m
Typical duration — —
Difficulty — —
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National National
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Best time to hike Best months: May, July, August Best from June to August
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) vs South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir): which should you hike?

At 142 km, Coast to Coast Walk (St Bees to Shap) is the longer route — roughly 126 km more than South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) (16 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.