Music while you walk: the coast path guide with a song for every step of the way

And a new guidebook covering the south-west, with a song for every step of the way, is now available, taking in the newly-opened section of the route that extends the existing South West Coast Path all the way up the Severn estuary.

THE ENGLAND COAST PATH: Book 2 – The South West Coast is the second in a series of four guidebooks, providing the most thorough information for walking the entire route. It covers over 650 miles around the south west of England from the River Exe at Exmouth to the River Severn at the Severn Bridge.

Tracing the coastlines of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Avon, this spectacular route takes in some of the finest cliff scenery in the world, as well as verdant river estuaries, expansive beaches and a beautiful collection of resorts and harbours. Its 336 pages feature hand drawn maps, colour photos, detailed route descriptions (including accessible alternatives in the few places where the route is not yet officially open) and a wealth of additional information on public transport, parking, accommodation, campsites, refreshments, and local history.

This is not a guide to the whole of the South West Coast Path, but rather the England Coast Path’s south west section, which also includes the new route along the Somerset and Avon coast from Minehead to the Severn Bridge.

And a delightful addition to the usual kind of maps and guides, this book has music at its heart. Every section of the route also has an accompanying Song for the Day, whether by a local artist or a song inspired by this part of the route, with a soundtrack playlist available on YouTube (www.youtube.com/@englandcoastpath).

The books are the creation of author, cartographer and musician Chris Goddard. It’s his seventh book, following on from guidebooks about the Yorkshire landscape and the Wales Coast Path, as well as the first book in this series on The South Coast.

Says Chris: “I walked the first section of the route between Lulworth and Weymouth in 2013, so it has taken over 10 years to complete the first couple of books, though this is because new sections of the route have been slow to open and a pandemic didn’t help. I have now walked more than ¾ of the whole route and the final two books of the series, on the North Coasts and East Coast, will follow in 2024/2025.”

He travelled around the country mostly in his van, using public transport to return each day, and greatly enjoying spending time in a very different part of the country. “Particularly in the last few years, I have felt very lucky to be able to do this and enjoyed the walking more, whether or not there would be a book at the end of it.

“As well as a great ramble, walking the coast of England is a great way to connect with its maritime past and consider its particular outlook as an island nation. I particularly enjoyed the south west coast as it a truly spectacular and wild coastline. As well as the towering cliffs for which it is famed, there is a great variety of scenery with lush estuaries, vast beaches and dunes, expansive levels and rich woodland, so there is rarely a dull moment on this part of the England Coast Path.”

THE ENGLAND COAST PATH: Book 2 – The South West Coast by Chris Goddard is published by Gritstone Publishing, £15.99.