Wild Camping on the South West Coast Path: A Complete Guide for UK Wild Campers

The South West Coast Path stretches 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset, winding through some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in England. Clifftops above the Bristol Channel, hidden coves in Cornwall, the windswept headlands of Dartmoor’s edge, the red sandstone cliffs of Devon — this route has drawn walkers for generations. But for those who want to do more than simply day-walk it, who want to sleep under a sky salted with stars above the Atlantic, wild camping on the South West Coast Path presents both enormous reward and genuine complexity.

This guide is written for UK wild campers who want honest, practical information: where you can legally pitch a tent, where the grey areas lie, what gear you actually need, and how to do it without leaving a trace. No vague encouragement, no ignoring the law — just a thorough look at what wild camping along England’s longest National Trail actually involves.

Understanding Wild Camping Law in England

Before you unpack your bivvy bag, it is worth being clear about the legal position in England. Unlike Scotland, where the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 grants a statutory right of responsible access that includes wild camping across most land, England operates under a very different framework. In England and Wales, wild camping is not a general legal right. Camping on land without the landowner’s permission is technically trespass — a civil matter rather than a criminal offence in most circumstances, but trespass nonetheless.

This matters because the South West Coast Path passes through a complex patchwork of land ownership: National Trust property, private farmland, Ministry of Defence ranges, National Park land, and sections managed by various local authorities. Each comes with its own rules and attitudes towards overnight camping.

The Dartmoor National Park Authority had long been an exception, granting a common law right to wild camp within the park’s boundaries — the only place in England where such a right existed outside designated campsites. However, following the 2023 legal challenge brought by landowner Alexander Darwall, this right was initially overturned before being reinstated by the Court of Appeal. As of the time of writing, wild camping on open access land within Dartmoor National Park remains lawful, though the debate about England’s land access laws continues. Wild campers in England should check for any updates from the Dartmoor National Park Authority directly before planning any trip.

What This Means Practically for the South West Coast Path

Outside Dartmoor, along the main route of the South West Coast Path, the position is that you are camping on private land or National Trust land in most locations. The National Trust does not grant a blanket right to wild camp on its land, though its approach varies enormously by site and by ranger. Some National Trust rangers along the coast are known to take a relaxed approach to responsible wild campers arriving late and leaving early; others will move you on. Pitching up in the middle of the afternoon and building a fire is a very different proposition to quietly bedding down after dusk and leaving before breakfast.

The practical approach taken by most long-distance walkers completing the South West Coast Path is to use a combination of official campsites, wild camping in genuinely remote spots where the chance of disturbance or complaint is minimal, and occasionally seeking landowner permission in advance. The South West Coast Path Association publishes an accommodation guide each year that lists campsites along the route — this is an invaluable resource and far more comprehensive than any general walking app.

Planning Your Wild Camping Sections

The South West Coast Path is not one homogeneous route. Its character shifts dramatically between sections, and so does the practical viability of wild camping along it. Understanding these differences will shape your planning considerably.

Somerset and North Devon

The northern end of the path, from Minehead through Exmoor and down into North Devon, is genuinely remote in places. Exmoor National Park has its own access land, and while wild camping is not technically permitted by right, the moorland above the coast sees very little management pressure. The cliffs between Combe Martin and Hartland Point are among the most isolated stretches of coastline in England, with few roads and even fewer people. This section suits wild campers willing to carry water and food for multiple days.

The Valley of the Rocks near Lynton is a popular spot but too exposed and heavily visited for overnight camping. Further west, between Heddon’s Mouth and Woody Bay, the wooded coastal combes offer natural shelter and genuine seclusion. The National Trust owns significant stretches here. A discreet, leave-no-trace camp near the cliff edge, well away from paths and farm buildings, rarely causes problems — though it remains technically unauthorised.

Cornwall: The Dream Section

For many wild campers, Cornwall is the primary draw. The peninsula between Land’s End and the Lizard contains some of the most dramatic and remote coastal landscapes in Britain. The stretch from Zennor to St Ives passes through ancient granite moorland running directly to the cliff edge. Between Pendeen Watch and Cape Cornwall, the path traverses mining landscape with wild headlands and hidden coves.

Wild camping in Cornwall comes with the practical challenge of water. In summer, the granite moors dry out, and streams that run clear in winter can be intermittent or absent by July. The wild camper must either carry sufficient water from the last reliable source or plan overnight stops near known springs. The OS Explorer maps (specifically 102, 103, and 104 covering West Cornwall) mark springs and streams reliably, and the 1:25,000 scale is far preferable to the 1:50,000 Landranger for detailed route planning.

The Roseland Peninsula, the Lizard Peninsula, and the area around Dodman Point all offer opportunities for truly quiet overnight camping. The Lizard is of particular note — the most southerly point in mainland Britain, a place of extraordinary geological variety, with serpentine rock, rare coastal heath, and sea that shifts between deep Atlantic blue and Caribbean turquoise on bright days. A night camped on the cliffs near Kynance Cove, with the sound of Atlantic swells below and the Lizard lighthouse sweeping the headland, is the kind of experience that stays with you.

South Devon and the Jurassic Coast

South Devon presents the greatest difficulty for wild campers on the South West Coast Path. The coastline between Plymouth and Dartmouth is spectacular — the Kingsbridge Estuary, Salcombe, Hope Cove, Prawle Point — but it is also among the most heavily visited and privately owned stretches of the route. The area around Salcombe and the South Hams is prosperous, extensively managed, and the land is watched. Attempting to wild camp on farmland between Thurlestone and Beesands is likely to end with a polite but firm visit from a landowner.

Further east, the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site runs from Exmouth to Studland Bay in Dorset. This section is geologically irreplaceable — the cliff faces through which the path passes represent 185 million years of Earth history — and it is precisely this sensitivity that makes wild camping inappropriate in many locations. The cliffs at Charmouth and around Golden Cap are actively eroding; camping near the cliff edge is not merely prohibited but genuinely dangerous. The National Trust’s Golden Cap estate manages the highest point on the south coast of England, and camping here without permission is explicitly not permitted.

The Ethics and Practice of Leave No Trace

Whether your overnight stop is technically permitted or sits in the grey area that characterises most wild camping in England, the ethics of how you camp matter enormously. The wild camping community in the UK has long operated on an informal code, and the arguments for maintaining this code are as much pragmatic as principled: responsible behaviour protects access for everyone who follows.

The Seven Principles Applied to Coastal Camping

The Leave No Trace principles, adapted for the British context by organisations including the John Muir Trust and the Mountain Training Association, translate practically to a few core habits along the South West Coast Path.

Arrive late, leave early. Pitching after dusk and departing before the majority of walkers are on the path minimises visibility and interaction. This is not about hiding illegal activity; it is about using land with minimal impact and causing minimal concern to other users and landowners.

Pitch on durable surfaces. Coastal grass above sea cliffs is often fragile, particularly on clifftop heath supporting species like spring squill, thrift, and western gorse. Pitching on bare rock, compacted earth, or in the lee of existing boulders causes far less damage than pressing a tent footprint into maritime heath. Avoid the same spot two nights running.

Human waste disposal on the coast requires particular care. The sea is immediately below in many locations, and the water quality of UK coastal bathing areas is monitored by the Environment Agency. Waste should be buried at least 70 paces from any watercourse, path, or cliff edge, using a small trowel, in a cathole at least 15 centimetres deep. Tidal beaches present their own challenge — buried waste will be exhumed by the tide. In these locations, the responsible choice is to carry waste out using a suitable bag system.

Fires are the single most contentious issue for wild campers in the UK. Coastal heathland is extraordinarily fire-prone, particularly in summer drought conditions. The South West Coast Path passes through numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and a fire escape on SSSI land can result in criminal prosecution under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. On the South West Coast Path specifically, the recommendation is simple: do not light fires. A gas stove, a warm sleeping bag, and the right clothing make fire unnecessary. This is not an extreme position — it is the standard approach of experienced UK wild campers.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.