Plymouth to Dartmouth
6 Nights accommodation with 5 Days Walking
Total Distance: 65 miles
Average Daily Distance: 13 miles
Prices from £399 per person based on 2 people sharing a double/twin room
Plymouth to Wembury Point. Length 15 miles (24km)
The first part of this journey follows the new Waterfront Walkway along some of the vibrant, historic streets of the largest city on the South West Coast Path.
The Path offers fantastic views over Plymouth Sound and has many extraordinary artistic features to look out for, all celebrating the rich history of this important city. There is so much to see here (including a knitted breakfast, a porthole wall, a rhino and gold bullion) that it is not really possible to mention it all. You may like to get a copy of the guide to the Waterfront Walkway in advance, and perhaps also a copy of the Nautical Telegraph Code Book to help decode the messages set in pavements around the city! From the blue pillar on Jennycliff, which marks the end of the Waterfront Walkway Path, the urban landscape is left behind as the Path enters part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. After Andurn Point the Path offers easy walking close to the sea, past the old naval gunnery school of HMS Cambridge and on to Wembury with its incredibly diverse plant and animal life and fantastic views of the Great Mew Stone.
Wembury Point to Bigbury on Sea. Length 14 miles (22.5km)
After the ferry crossing over the Yealm, the Path passes out of Noss Mayo the ancient oaks of the Brakehill Plantation and along the wide, sweeping track known as Lord Revelstoke’s Drive, built in the 1880s to provide an impressive carriageway for his visitors.
On clear days you can see the Eddystone lighthouse which is 14 miles away. This undeveloped stretch of coast is recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of the South Devon Heritage Coast. The Path provides a mixture of easy, high open walking and some fairly strenuous climbs up and down steep slopes and steps to reach beautiful coves.
The difficult walking is certainly worth the effort as the views are truly spectacular, and thought to be some of the best on the entire Coast Path. You need to plan this day in advance as you have two river crossings; the river Yealm crossed by a seasonal ferry and the river Erme which can be easily forded within 2 hours of low tide.
Bigbury on Sea to Salcombe. Length 13 miles (21km)
Much of this stretch of the South West Coast Path is owned by The National Trust. There are spectacular views as the Path passes through fields above beautiful sandy coves, all part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Your journey begins on a boat across the Avon to Bantham and from here the Path offers fairly easy walking past Thurlestone (watch out for golf balls!), until it begins to dip up and down to the sea on its way to the beautifully sheltered Hope Cove.
The following section from Hope to Salcombe is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful sections of the entire 630 miles of the South West Coast Path. Look out for kestrels and peregrine falcons around Bolt Tail and take a rest to look at the extraordinary mica schist rock formations around Soar Mill Cove. The Path is quite rugged and difficult in places, but becomes easier as you join the Courtney Walk and look down on the steep rocky slopes which lead down to the sea along the final stretch into Salcombe.
Salcombe to Torcross. Length 13 miles (21km)
This section of the South West Coast Path is particularly tough, but the spectacular views are certainly very rewarding. Passing out of the shelter of the Salcombe Estuary, you emerge onto a rugged, undeveloped section of coast, much of which is managed by the National Trust. The Path crosses high cliffs to Prawle Point, passing beautiful sandy beaches below, which may tempt you down for a swim. From here you pass extraordinary geological formations.
This stretch of coast has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and supports a variety of rare flowers and breeding birds, as well as being one of the few sites in the UK used by the very rare cuckoo bee Nomada sexfasciata. On windy days the sea crashes wildly against the rugged rocks and these cliffs have claimed many wrecks over the centuries, including the Demetrios in 1992 and one near Moor Sands which is believed to date from the Bronze Age. After a fairly rocky, exposed stretch to Start Point, the Path becomes more level on its journey to Torcross, with just one steep climb near the end. At Torcross your efforts are rewarded with some good restaurants and pubs close to the sea.
Torcross to Dartmouth. Length 10 miles (16km)
The South West Coast Path leads you through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from the very striking level landscape at Torcross and Slapton, across wide, lush, open fields to rough, dramatic cliff tops. The sea is very present along the first stretch, in fact there was once a settlement near Strete Gate called Undercliffe, but this was lost to the sea in the early 1700s. An easy start along tarmac from Torcross leads to more difficult walking around rugged headlands as you approach Dartmouth. The Path is sheltered at times as it meanders through woodland, contrasting with the enormous sense of space and light when it later passes along steep, grassy slopes which lead down to the sea. There is a lot to see in the attractive boating town of Dartmouth. As well as the well-known Regatta and Royal Naval College, Dartmouth has much to offer a walker by way of cafes and restaurants offering the catch of the day and galleries and unusual shops in the interesting buildings of Foss Street.
Please send an enquiry to Budget Walking for further details giving sufficient information for us to asses your requirements.
