How South West Coast Walk works
A 5-minute read covering every feature we think could use a quick explanation. Same content as the ℹ info button on each card — collected here if you'd rather browse it all at once.
What South West Coast Walk is
South West Coast Walk is a free walking platform for England's 630-mile (1,014 km) South West Coast Path, the National Trail running from Minehead on the Bristol Channel to South Haven Point on Poole Harbour. Two parts work together: a free iPhone & Android app with offline maps and GPS navigation; and a marketplace website connecting independent walkers and guided-walk customers with local guides, accommodation, and baggage transfer.
Both work together. Use the app on the trail; use the website to plan, find a guide or guesthouse, and book. Everything visible to non-account users (stages, packing lists, trail stories, the live trail dashboard) is free to read. Booking, profile, and community feed features require a free account.
For independent walkers
Download the app, review the 52 day-stages, and use the accommodation directory to find inns, B&Bs, and guesthouses in the overnight towns — Minehead, Lynmouth, Bude, Padstow, St Ives, Falmouth, Plymouth, Dartmouth, Exmouth and on to South Haven Point. On the trail, the app provides offline navigation (no signal needed), water-source markers, and a community feed for live trail conditions.
For guided-walk customers
Browse guided walks from local operators, independent guides, and baggage transfer providers. Listings show ratings, languages, group size, included accommodation, and full daily itineraries. Bookings and payment are arranged directly with the operator, which sets its own deposit and cancellation terms — South West Coast Walk is not party to the transaction.
For accommodation owners and guides
If you run a South West Coast Path inn, B&B, guesthouse, or accredited guide service, list your business on /claim or via the operator directory. Listings reach walkers searching for accommodation by stage, services by skill, and walks by dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is South West Coast Walk free to use?
Yes — the mobile app, all stage info, the packing checklist, and the trail story library are free. Booking a guided tour, guesthouse stay, or transfer happens directly with the local provider; pricing is set by them. The platform earns from agency listing subscriptions.
Do I need to create an account?
Browsing tours, stages, accommodation listings, and trail content works without an account, and so do the trail updates under “Latest from the trail”. A free account, for anyone aged 18 and over, lets you read and post in the community forum, save favourite tours and track bookings. When you sign up with your email, we send a link to confirm it before you can sign in.
Does the app work offline?
Yes. Trail maps, GPS navigation, and stage details work fully offline once you've downloaded the trail data on Wi-Fi (about 200 MB). Mobile data is needed for the community feed — but the maps and navigation work without signal. Coverage is patchy on inland mountain stages, so offline mode matters.
What languages does South West Coast Walk support?
The app and website are in English. Community content (trail stories, feed posts, reviews) is in the language each user posts in. Tour and accommodation listings are in English; many guides speak additional languages, listed on each profile.
Who runs South West Coast Walk?
South West Coast Walk is operated by Pixelo Mobile Ltd (UK company number 10585806). It is an independent walking guide and is not affiliated with Natural England or the National Trails. The app, website, and marketplace are built and maintained by a small team — feedback to hello@walksouthwestcoast.co.uk.
Pixelo Mobile Ltd, company number 10585806.
