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| Great Western Walk | |
|---|---|
| Name | Great Western Walk |
| Length | 150 km |
| Location | Southwest England |
| Trailheads | Bristol, Exeter |
| Use | Hiking |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | All year |
Great Western Walk The Great Western Walk is a long-distance footpath traversing Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall across South West England. It links urban centres and rural landmarks from Bristol to Exeter, passing through national parks and heritage sites that include Mendip Hills, Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor National Park and sections of the Jurassic Coast. The route integrates historic transport corridors such as former Great Western Railway lines, canal towpaths like the Kennet and Avon Canal, and coastal promenades near Torbay.
The route was established through collaboration between local authorities including Somerset Council, Dorset Council, Devon County Council and Cornwall Council, conservation bodies such as National Trust, Natural England and community groups like Ramblers (charity). Designed to promote sustainable tourism, the Walk connects sites managed by English Heritage, Historic England and voluntary trusts such as the Dartmoor Preservation Association. Waymarking and guide materials reference Ordnance Survey mapping produced by Ordnance Survey and route planning consults archives at institutions like The National Archives and regional museums including the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
The path begins near Bristol Temple Meads station and proceeds southwest through the limestone landscape of the Mendip Hills AONB past landmarks such as Cheddar Gorge and the village of Wells, Somerset. From there it follows river valleys to the medieval city of Glastonbury and crosses peat moors toward Taunton. It then tracks former railway corridors near Bridgewater before entering the coastal fringe around West Bay and the sites of the Dorset and East Devon Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site. Further west the trail negotiates the western approaches to Exeter via the wooded ridges above Ottery St Mary and the historic port at Topsham. Key waypoints include Bath, Glastonbury Tor, Porlock Vale, Lyme Regis, Sidmouth and Buckfastleigh.
The Walk overlays medieval pilgrimage routes connecting Glastonbury Abbey and monastic houses such as Tintern Abbey with later transport infrastructure built by the Great Western Railway and the canal engineers of the Industrial Revolution. Sections follow drovers’ tracks used to move livestock to markets at Taunton and Exeter and pass archaeological sites dating to the Bronze Age, Romano-British settlements and remnants from the English Civil War. 20th-century developments — including closures from the Beeching cuts and postwar afforestation programmes by the Forestry Commission — shaped modern alignments. Local conservation campaigns led by groups like the Campaign to Protect Rural England influenced official designation and waymarking.
The Walk traverses a variety of habitats monitored by agencies such as Natural England, Environment Agency and groups like the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Landscapes include limestone gorges at Cheddar Gorge, saltmarshes along the River Exe estuary, heathland and blanket bog on Dartmoor and ancient semi-natural woodland in the Quantock Hills. The route intersects designated sites such as SSSIs around Mendip Hills and coastal SSSIs on the Jurassic Coast. Wildlife recorded along the corridor ranges from European otter populations in river systems to breeding birds including Dartford warbler, peregrine falcon and curlew and botanical interest in heather and maritime grasslands. Habitat connectivity projects often involve partnerships with RSPB reserves, Woodland Trust planting schemes and local Wildlife Trusts.
The Walk is promoted for daywalking, multi-day backpacking and nature observation; services for walkers are provided by visitor centres such as Exmoor National Park Centre and stations like Bristol Temple Meads. Accommodation and support come from businesses listed by VisitBritain and local chambers of commerce including Visit Somerset and Visit Devon. Safety guidance references emergency services including HM Coastguard in coastal sectors and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service for inland rescues. Trail risk factors include coastal cliff erosion along the Jurassic Coast, river flooding on the River Parrett and seasonal moorland mist on Dartmoor; published advisories use data from the Met Office and flood alerts from the Environment Agency.
Primary access nodes are served by mainline stations on the Great Western Main Line, regional services via South Western Railway and branch lines such as the Avon Valley Line and Tarka Line. Bus networks include routes operated by FirstGroup and Stagecoach South West connecting villages like Porlock and Sidmouth to larger hubs. Cycle hire and intermodal links to transport providers at Bristol Airport and Exeter Airport facilitate multi-modal itineraries. Parking, cycle parking and bike repair facilities are coordinated with local councils and national bodies including Highways England and community transport initiatives such as Community Rail Partnerships enhance access for walkers.