The south west coastal path stretches 630 miles from Poole in Dorset all the way round Lands End to Minehead in Somerset, however, the three mile stretch from Looe in south east Cornwall to tiny Talland Bay is one of my favourites.

You start at Hannafore Point in East Looe and head west, leaving Looe Island behind you. From here, the undulating cliff path takes you past hidden coves which, on a warm day, tempt you to take a detour to cool down in the inviting water. Either that, or you’ll find yourself venturing up steep, narrow steps from whose summits you are rewarded with magnificent views across the bay towards Fowey and back towards Rame Head. After a demanding three miles you’ll come to the beautiful little cove of Talland which appears around the final bend.

There are two cafes; the first one is perched on the hillside, and the second is round the corner with a prime location overlooking the beach. Both do cream teas, coffee, ice cream, sandwiches and more, and the second one rents kayaks. If you can find the energy to walk uphill to the Talland Bay Hotel, you can enjoy a civilised sit down lunch or cream tea on the manicured lawn overlooking the Bay. Otherwise, pack a picnic, find a corner of sand, and lie back and watch the world go by until your batteries are recharged and ready for the walk back.

Photo courtesy of Vanessa (EY) on Flickr