The podcast and the booklet are the copyright of Plymouth City Council and appear on our website with their kind permission. They are jointly credited to Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum/ 'Life' funding,Plymouth City Council, Plymouth 2000 Partnership SRB Ltd. and the South West Coast Path Team.

A great family walk along a unique section of the South West Coast Path, the Waterfront Walkway is an entertaining and enlightening journey where art is used to highlight the city's history and heritage. A mp3 podcast, narrated by Edward Woodward describing the route and what you will see, is available as a free download.

The Plymouth Waterfront Walkway was developed by the City Council in 2002 as a unique part of the South West Coast Path National Trail. It links the Cremyll Ferry landing stage on the shores of the Tamar with Jennycliff on the eastern side of Plymouth Sound. Along the way you’ll come across larger than life characters such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Robinson Crusoe and Lawrence of Arabia. Then there’s the wall of stars, a golden scallop, a ten ton rhino and so much more. The features were created by the artists of Why Not Associates, and bring to life many of the stories that make Plymouth special. As you walk along you can also discover more of the secrets of the Plymouth history by listening to the free podcast narrated by Edward Woodward OBE.

Start at the ferry slip at Admiral’s Hard. The route immediately launches into a celebration of Plymouth’s history and heritage, from the vinegar works to views of the docks. The walk takes you along Durnford Street, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once worked as a doctor. Quotations from Sherlock Holmes set into the pavement give you just a first taste of the poetic treats. Keep your eyes peeled for the optical illusion in the railings atop the wall overlooking Millbay Docks and the Wall of Stars commemorating famous figures who sailed from Plymouth. Enjoy the passage along Rusty Anchor Seawall, and its display of models of navy vessels.

Short diversions reveal classic features of the city, such as Smeaton’s Tower on The Hoe. The Barbican takes you back in time with its historic buildings and Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrom Fathers set off for the New World. Just before the Mayflower Steps you can take the water taxi across to Mount Batten if you want to shorten the walk. Otherwise follow the Waterfront Walkway past the National Marine Aquarium to eventually cross the River Plym and proceed along the opposite bank to Mount Batten.

Return here for the water taxi back to the Barbican at the end of your walk. To continue the walk, simply follow the route taking you up Jennycliff. Here you can enjoy impressive views out over the Sound, and stop for refreshments in the friendly Jennycliff Café.

Much more information about the walk can be found in a souvenir booklet which can be found on our Printer Friendly Page or to purchase a copy see the link in the Further Information box. As the document is 3.4MB, it may take a while to load on slower internet connections.