South Devon

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Plymouth to Exmouth

The challenge of South Devon's diverse coastline

Distance: 101 miles over 8 days. Difficulty: Mainly easy / moderate

This walk begins and ends at two of the region’s most important maritime ports, which are easily accessible by mainline trains and bus services. The route takes you through the South Devon and East Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This walk is more tricky than most to plan, as you need to time your walk to catch the limited ferry service across the rivers Yealm and Avon, and to ford (it's easy) the river Erme at low tide.

Highlights

Beginning with a waterfront walk along Plymouth’s seafront, there are a great many features that provide an insight into the city’s importance both past and present.

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.

From Salcombe to Torcross the walking is tough but the views spectacular. There is a lot to see in the attractive boating town of Dartmouth. You cannot fail to notice the extraordinary geology of the limestone peninsula of Berry Head and the wave cut platforms of red sandstone at Shoalstone. After the hustle and bustle of Torbay two ferry crossings transport you first to Teignmouth and then to Exmouth.

Itinerary

Relevant section guides

We have split the path into 52 sections, and for each one have produced a section guide. These pages do not aim to replace the guidebooks, but aim to give a flavour of what each section is like, and show you about the highlights and places of interest along the route, along with links to accommodation information and much more. The relevant section guides for this walk are:

Travel

Plymouth is on the main train line with frequent services to London and the North. The end of the walk at Dawlish Warren is also on the main line, but only local trains stop, so you'll need to change at Exeter. If you want to cut this walk short, you can also catch trains from Paignton, Torquay and Teignmouth, or catch a bus from Salcombe, Torcross or Dartmouth to Totnes (also on the main line). Coaches also run to Plymouth from all major cities.

Latest News

  • Coast Path Motographer of the Year 2013 competition

    The South West Coast Path team is encouraging budding mobile phone photographers of all ages to capture a moment in time on the Coast Path as part of its Coast Path Motographer of the Year 2013 competition.

  • New record set for completing the Coast Path!

    A new record has been set for the fastest completion of the South West Coast Path! Contours Walking Holidays' Managing Director, Mark Townsend and fellow runner, Julie Gardener, completed the full South West Coast Path in a record time of 14 days, 14 hours and 44 minutes.

     

  • Great South West Walk exceeds half a million!

    The South West Coast Path Association’s Great South West Walk came to a grand finale on Tuesday 7th May, raising over £500,000 for 90 improvement projects to the entire South West Coast Path covering Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.

  • Latest news on path diversions

    Following numerous cliff falls over the past few months, many sections of the Coast Path have been diverted. Click for details of route changes.

  • Cliff fall near Lulworth Cove

    Following the landslide at St. Oswald’s Bay between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door on the morning of 30 April 2013, diversionary routes have been put in place by Dorset County Council and the Lulworth Estate, allowing the South West Coast Path to remain fully open and safe for visitors to this area. 

  • New slate waymarkers guide the way for Cornish walkers

    The sand dunes of west Cornwall attract thousands of local walkers and tourists every year who will now benefit from new slate waymarkers to guide the way along the South West Coast Path.

  • Five top family walks for summer

    Why not get out and about this summer and combine a family walk on the South West Coast Path with a host of other old-fashioned childhood pleasures, from crabbing in rockpools and exploring hidden coves, to following in the footsteps of giants.

  • Great South West Walk kicks off

    The Great South West Walk is underway - but still time to join up and help make the Coast Path even better.

  • Jurassic Coast Gateway nearing completion

    Exmouth is taking pride of place at the Western end of the Jurassic Coast as finishing touches are applied at the Jurassic Coast Gateway.

    The project will be completed in time for the Easter holidays, and will highlight its status as the oldest part of the World Heritage Site.

  • South West Coast Path To Receive £250,000

    The South West Coast Path Association is delighted to announce that it has secured £250,000 in funding for improvement projects around the entire South West Coast Path, before their fundraising event has even taken place.

Tweets

  • Enter our great new mobile phone competition to be in with a chance of winning an ipad mini http://t.co/AiQAX9ivqS #MOTY2013
  • New Coast Path record set and all in aid of the Great South West Walk! #Love2Walk http://t.co/RJ5H5RjKWI
  • @forgottenpaths Crikey! You know what they say: quality not quantity!
  • @forgottenpaths No, as many as you like! #MOTY2013
  • @viperjimh Hope you're going to enter! #MOTY2013
  • @laini Beautiful stretch - you got there in the end!
  • @sunleypants fantastic - love the seals pic. Perhaps you might like to enter our competition as you go http://t.co/MXnnW7yMoW
  • @endtoendtrail Good luck - think the forecast is cheering up for next week!

Facebook

  • Does anyone know how many miles it is from Lulworth cove to Kimmeridge when the ranges are closed and you don't have to divert from the South West coast path?
  • Yesterday Chris Timbrell and Dave Martin reached the halfway point of the Path. CLIC Sargent justgiving total on the way to £4,000, hoping to finish the walk 14 June, or thereabouts! http://www.justgiving.com/ChrisTimbrellandDavidMartin
  • Sometimes you just get lucky when walking along the Coast Path! http://www.flickr.com/photos/worthingwanderer/8745964259/
  • #MOTY2013 Bedruthan at sunset - iphone4
  • Rusey Cliff, near Crackington and the start of a hard slog if you're walking north!
  • If you guys have any influence any chance of getting the council to put some "danger, beware walkers" or something on the approach lanes from Hope Cove and from South Milton Beach as the coast path is closed. Cars can just about get around if you tuck in to the hedge but when a oil tanker came along, your stumped!!