Wix Excerpt (Post Summary / Card Feed) Walk the wild, windswept smuggling coast of West Cornwall and the Lizard with travel writer Martin Hesp. Discover five classic circular coastal hikes featuring secret coves, sea-carved tunnels, dramatic headlands, route fact files, and traditional local pubs.

My wife thought I’d lost my last remaining marbles when I asked if I could get paid to walk. Twenty years, 6,000 miles, and over 1,000 weekly newspaper features later, Martin Hesp looks back on a lifetime of exploring the West Country's wildest trails.

I've stayed at Watergate Bay Hotel several times, and it makes an excellent base for exploring this spectacular stretch of North Cornwall. Here are two of my favourite walks around Bedruthan Steps, Porth Mear and Porthcothan.

Newquay is far more than surf, sand and summer nightlife. Explore its harbour, The Gannel, Holywell Bay and Kelsey Head – and discover why The Headland Hotel makes such a good base for exploring this remarkable stretch of Cornwall.

The Alverton Hotel in Truro is a comfortable and characterful base for exploring Cornwall, with coastal walks on both the north and south coasts within easy reach. This is the story of one memorable walk from Porthtowan to Chapel Porth – a walk that happened only because Rick Stein cancelled on me.

Stay at St Enodoc Hotel in Rock and follow a memorable five-mile walk to St Enodoc Church, Sir John Betjeman's grave, Polzeath and Daymer Bay.

The St Moritz Hotel near Rock and Polzeath is a wonderful base for exploring North Cornwall, with the South West Coast Path, Daymer Bay, St Enedoc and the Camel Estuary all close by. Having stayed here more than once, I look at the hotel, its spa and facilities — and one of my favourite walks from the door.

From dramatic clifftop hotels and historic fishing inns to country-house retreats and foodie stays, these are some of my favourite places to stay on the Lizard Peninsula and around South Cornwall.

Why build grand castles on the low-tide sand only for the sea to wash them away? Martin Hesp explores the philosophy, competition secrets, and wild seashore feasts of the Westcountry coast.

Discover 12 of the best walks across Devon. From the towering maritime cliffs of Exmoor and the wild granite tors of Dartmoor to tranquil estuarine paths and ancient heathlands, this curated guide offers detailed routes, distances, and difficulty ratings for every type of walker.

August is in full swing, and the West Country peninsula is busier than ever. If you're looking for green leafy voids, oceanic vastness, or moorland emptiness away from the crowded hotspots, here is a guide to the most lonesome, wild, and quiet corners across Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.

Discover 6 tested and reviewed places to stay in West Cornwall, from luxury beachside lodges in Carbis Bay and boutique townhouses in Penzance to cosy pubs-with-rooms in St Ives and romantic hideaways in Mousehole.

From the sweeping sands of Bideford Bay to the sheer, dizzying sea-cliffs of Exmoor, North Devon offers a landscape of striking contrasts. Whether you are tracing lost Victorian railway lines, exploring secret sea-coves, or wandering through vast dune systems, discover four dramatic coastal walking routes complete with local pub stops, route navigation, and parking details.

West Penwith is a landscape of extraordinary opposites—where granite cliffs drop into turquoise waters, and ancient tin-mining heritage sits alongside Atlantic gales and sea-borne fogs. From the rugged cliffs of St Just and the hidden sands of Pedn Vounder to the ancient stones above Lamorna, discover four dramatic coastal walking routes complete with local pub stops, route navigation, and parking details.

Discover six of South Devon’s finest coastal and river walks, stretching from the light-drenched cliffs of Start Point to the quiet banks of the River Dart. Complete with local history, atmospheric scenery, and the best walker-friendly pubs along the way.

Discover the wild, untamed side of the Cornish coast. Skip the crowded tourist resorts and explore the true secrets of Cornwall's shores—from the pristine, ink-blotting white sands of St Martin's and the Cold War mysteries of Great Bay, to hidden smugglers' paths, shipwreck legacies, and the forgotten post-industrial coves carved out by Victorian miners. Your ultimate guide to the finest hidden beaches in the West Country.

There is nothing quite like the unique British tradition of the English tea garden. From hidden coastal gems to quiet sanctuaries tucked behind historic ruins, we explore the very best spots to enjoy an authentic cream tea in the fresh air.

Pendeenah is a remarkable luxury holiday house in Polzeath, Cornwall, with spectacular coastal views, clever upside-down design and the South West Coast Path almost on the doorstep.

Looking across Penzance harbour, Chapel House is one of those rare places where historic character and modern luxury sit comfortably together. This beautifully restored Georgian townhouse combines stylish rooms, exceptional breakfasts and warm Cornish hospitality with an enviable location close to the seafront, galleries and St Michael's Mount. Here's why I think it's one of the most memorable boutique hotels in West Cornwall.

Follow a spectacular stretch of the South West Coast Path from Outer Hope to Soar Mill Cove, taking in Bolt Tail's breathtaking cliffs, hidden beaches and some of the finest coastal scenery in the South Hams.