Matt Warren
A Sunny Start, Stunning Views, and a Well-Earned Pint
We’ve officially kicked off our South West Coast Path adventure — and what a start it’s been! After a restful night at The Old Ship Aground in Minehead (great spot, right by the harbour), we set off with fresh legs, high hopes, and the kind of excitement that only a long-distance walk can bring.
Saying Goodbye to Minehead
The official start point — marked by a distinctive metal sculpture overlooking the sea — was our first stop for photos and final pack checks. It was here that we met Carol, a solo hiker from Germany, who is also walking the entire 52-day route — but camping it! Absolute legend. Her energy and determination were instantly inspiring, and chatting to her definitely helped settle our nerves about the journey ahead. If she can sleep under canvas for nearly two months, surely we can handle our mix of B&Bs and Huel meals!
Straight Into the Climbing
This path doesn’t mess about. Within minutes we were climbing up through shaded woodland trails, gaining height fast as we left Minehead behind. The ups and downs are no joke — it was a proper rollercoaster of hills — but the rewards come thick and fast.
Those Views!
It’s hard to describe just how breathtaking the scenery has been today. As we hugged the edge of Exmoor National Park, the views out across the Bristol Channel were simply spectacular. One minute we were in dense green forest, the next we were on open clifftop paths, looking out at nothing but sea and sky. This section of the South West Coast Path really delivers — and we’ve only just begun!
We kept passing through patches of tranquillity where all we could hear were the birds and the breeze. At times, it felt like we had the entire coastline to ourselves.
Trail Talk
We met a few fellow walkers en route, most of them doing shorter sections — five or ten days here or there. We’d be lying if we said that didn’t make us question our 52-day plan… ! But then we remembered Carol. If she’s camping her way round this beast, we can carry on plodding with our Huel and B&Bs just fine.
Rolling Into Porlock
Eventually, after about 10 miles of glorious ups and downs, we made it into Porlock — a charming village with a warm welcome and flat ground (thankfully!). We’re staying tonight at The Cottage, a lovely B&B that couldn’t be more perfect for putting our feet up. They’ve also been so helpful with the vegan side that we’d highly recommend The Cottage as a great place to stay 🙂
We had a celebratory pint of beer once we arrived — a proper reward for the day’s effort — and now we’re about to enjoy our evening Huel meal and relax ahead of an early start tomorrow.
Reflections From Day One
- The scenery has been absolutely stunning — easily some of the most beautiful walking we’ve done.
- The weather has been spot on — sunny skies, gentle breeze, and ideal walking conditions.
- The climbs are real, but the views make every step worth it.
- Meeting Carol at the start set the tone for the day — inspiring, uplifting, and proof that there’s a real community spirit out here.
- Huel + beer might become our signature routine!
Tomorrow brings a longer leg and more incredible coast to explore. For now, we’re tired, happy, and already looking forward to what Day Two will bring.
