Sarah Solo on the South West Coast Path

Adventures, reflections, and stories we brought home from the trails we’ve walked - from the Macs Adventure team 

Sarah is a sales specialist based in Colorado who enjoys long runs listening to folk music, cozy evenings in with her cuddly pets, and hiking during wildflower season.  

Dear Trail Diary, 

This summer, I decided to finally answer a question that had been floating around in my head for a while: What would it actually be like to take on a hiking trip on my own? 

I wanted to see what solo travel would feel like as a woman, and I chose somewhere I had heard so much about but had never visited: England. 

To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Coming from Colorado, I knew little about public transportation in the UK. Getting from Colorado to St Ives also meant planes, trains and buses. But in August, I took a deep breath and headed out on my first solo adventure: Stage 4 of the SWCP from St Ives to Penzance. 

My nerves were put to the test pretty quickly. One of my trains was late, which meant I missed my connection. Exhausted, I eventually boarded the next possible train. The conductor came over, took one look at me and didn't even ask to see my ticket. 

“Oh gosh, you look exhausted. I trust you’re supposed to be here and bought your ticket. Just relax and enjoy the ride.”  

It was such a small moment, but it put a smile on my face. And when I finally arrived in St Ives, I stepped off the train to a panoramic view of the ocean, surrounded by hydrangeas and the colorful little streets of St Ives.  

My hotel was right in the heart of town, and I loved wandering through St Ives, popping in and out of art galleries and surf shops. Everywhere I went, I found people who were happy to chat with me, asking where I was from and what had brought me to St Ives. I started to realize that being alone in a new country didn't have to feel scary. It could actually feel exciting. 

I can be a little shy when I first meet people. But something about this trip really cracked my shell. I made a promise to myself that I would try to talk to the people I met along the way. 

The first hikers I met were a mother-daughter duo who were struggling with a steep descent. I had hiking poles, so I offered to lend them mine. A few miles later, I stopped at an overlook for a break and saw them again. They came over to return my poles, and we ended up having such a warm conversation before going our separate ways. 

The next day, I started hiking with a couple from New Zealand. We walked together for the first few miles only, but somehow we kept crossing paths all the way to Cape Cornwall. Every time we passed, we would check in on each other and see how the day was going. By the end, we felt like old friends. 

I met people who would tell me about the sections of the trail they were walking, and then ask me about mine. 

When I reached Zennor Head, I sat for a while and simply looked out at the water where the minty green gradually turned into deep blue. Everything felt incredibly peaceful. I could hear the birds, the insects and the waves crashing in the distance. It felt meditative. Someone even took a beautiful photo of me sitting there and taking it all in. 

Of course, not every day was quite so peaceful. 

One day really tested me. There was a heat wave across the UK, the day was long, and I was already tired toward the end of my trip. I got stung twice by stinging nettle, slipped and fell in the mud, and was completely overheated. At one point, I stopped on a little jetty to rest. The only other person there was an older man who came over to chat with me. 

He told me his cottage was just on the other side of the cove and offered to go back and get me some fresh water and snacks if I needed them. I politely declined, but we ended up having the loveliest conversation sitting there on the rocks. I got to hear a little about his life in the cove. 

I also had plenty of little solo moments of joy and chances to try something new. I usually don't like seafood, but while I was in Sennen Cove, I decided I couldn't be somewhere with such incredibly fresh seafood without giving it another try. So I ordered crab. 

I loved it. 

I ended up ordering it several more times throughout the rest of the trip. 

I also really wanted to see a seal. One day, I was convinced I had finally spotted one. I pulled out my camera, got as close as I could, zoomed all the way in...and realized it was a diver. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. 

Looking back, I think one of the biggest lessons I took away from the trip was thinking I was going to spend six days completely on my own. Instead, I found little moments of connection everywhere. 

I connected with the landscape, with the trail, and with the people I met along the way. I learned that being alone doesn't necessarily mean feeling lonely, and that sometimes stepping outside my comfort zone gives me the chance to discover a much braver, more open version of myself. 

-Sarah