Home › Trails › South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) vs West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven)

South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) vs West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven)

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

Units
South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven)
Distance 9.8 mi16 km 9.0 mi15 km
Elevation gain 1,286 ft392 m 1,152 ft351 m
Typical duration 1 day 1 day
Difficulty — —
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National National
Country United Kingdom United Kingdom
Best time to hike Best from June to August Best months: May, July, September
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) vs West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven): which should you hike?

At 9.8 mi16 km, South West Coast Path (Section 1: Minehead to Porlock Weir) is the longer route — roughly 0.8 mi1 km more than West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven) (9.0 mi15 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, West Highland Way (Kingshouse to Kinlochleven) 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.