Book excerpt: The South West Coastal Path is the longest National Trail in the UK, and its full 630 miles is off-putting to most recreational walkers. This carefully selected section from St Ives to Penzance provides a superb taster experience that readily fits inside one week. Enjoy some of the UK's finest coastal scenery including around Land's End, its wild south-western extreme. This part of Cornwall is surprisingly accessible by mainline railway, and it offers plenty of charming places to stay and eat. The book includes an option to complete the circuit inland by St Michael's Way, and also a side-trip by tidal causeway to St Michael's Mount. The detailed route description is enhanced by background on Cornwall's geology, history and culture.Lavishly illustrated, the book has 80+ colour photos and 15 pages carrying detailed route mapping (1:35,000). It is in a slim pocket-friendly format and, like all Rucksack Reader guidebooks, printed on rainproof paper.