SUGGESTED WALKS

The section around South Hams combines stunning seascapes, wooded estuaries and rolling hills, along with the maritime heritage of several historic ports.

The itinerary below covers the full South Devon section and takes 6 days. If you want, you can do shorter or longer daily distances, and/or have rest days - to suit your itinerary .

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• Arrive at your hotel in Plymouth, just a few minutes from the waterfront on Plymouth Hoe. Take some time to explore the sites on the historic Hoe and Barbican

• Plymouth - Wembury 7 miles 11 km. Cross the Plym by ferry and walk to Wembury. Easy terrain. Stay overnight in a comfortable B&B in Wembury.

• Wembury - Erme Estuary 10.5 miles 17km. Easy then moderate terrain. Cross the Yealm by ferry, enjoy fine coastal walking and then wade across the Erme at low tide to stay in a cozy pub in Kingston. If the tide's in, overnight in Holbeton's B&B.

• Erme Estuary - Hope Cove 10 miles 16 km. Moderate then easy terrain. Visit the iconic Burgh Island then cross the Avon Estuary en-route to your hotel in Hope Cove.

• Hope Cove - Salcombe 8 miles 13 km. Moderate terrain and breath-taking views. Overnight in a well-appointed guest house or pub in this bustling holiday town.

• Salcombe - Beesands 11.5 miles 18.5 km. Starts with the ferry to East Portlemouth, then quite a long section around Devon's most southerly headlands; moderate terrain. Overnight pub hotel in or near Beesands.

• Beesands - Dartmouth 11.5 miles 18.5km. Easy then moderate terrain mixing villages with beautiful coastline. Overnight in a hand-picked Dartmouth guest house, pub or small hotel.

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SOUTH DEVON COAST & MOOR
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Plymouth to Buckfastleigh combining coastal, country and moorland trails

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Starting in Plymouth, you walk the South West Coast Path to Mothecombe, before picking up the Erme Plym Trail via Holbeton, and on to Ivybridge, gateway to the Dartmoor National Park. You'll enjoy two further days on Dartmoor's southern slopes.

• Day 1  Arrive and overnight Plymouth.

• Day 2  Morning free in Plymouth. Ferry from Barbican to Mount Batten for walk to Wembury (South West Coast Path) for overnight in a welcoming guesthouse. 7 miles, 11km. Easy terrain.

• Day 3 Wembury to Mothecombe (South West Coast Path). 10.6 miles, 17km. Easy then moderate terrain. Overnight in nearby Holbeton or Yealmpton with transfer included.

• Day 4  Holbeton to Ivybridge for overnight at a friendly pub hotel. (Erme Plym Trail). 6 miles, 9.5 km. Easy terrain with a mix of quiet lanes , rural footpaths and riverside walks. Optional extra walk around Henlake Down or Longtimber Woods.

• Day 5 Ivybridge to South Brent Moorland trail walking and quiet lanes. 7 miles, 11km. Climbing either Western or Ugborough Beacon would add 1 km to this section. Moderate terrain. Overnight at small hotel in South Brent.

• Day 6 South Brent to Buckfastleigh via Avon Reservoir. Quiet lanes, rural footpaths and moorland trails. 8.5 miles, 13.5 km. Moderate terrain. Overnight in river-side pub hotel.

• Day 7 Depart Buckfastleigh

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TAMAR VALLEY AND WESTERN DARTMOOR

A circular route starting and finishing in Plymouth via Gunnislake and Tavistock

• Day 1    Arrive and overnight Plymouth.

• Day 2     Take ferry to Cremyll and follow Tamara Coast to Coast trail via Torpoint ferry to Devonport Station. Approx. 8 miles easy terrain. Train to Gunnislake for overnight.

• Day 3    Train to Bere Ferrers  for walk to Bere Alston via Weir Quay. Approx. 7.5 miles. Train to Gunnislake for overnight.

• Day 4    Train to Calstock for walk back to Gunnislake. Approx 4.5 miles. (Can do this in reverse i.e. walk to Calstock, lunch at Tamar Inn and train or walk back). Overnight Gunnislake as above.

• Day 5    Cross the river and walk south on the Devon side of valley discovering the mining heritage of this section of the Tamar Valley (aswell as some awesome views). Mineral Railway Trail to Morwell Rock and back (approx. 5.5 miles) with extension to Morwellham Quay (approx. 7.3 miles). Transfer to Tavistock for overnight.

• Day 6    Explore the ancient market town of  Tavistock. Walk options include:- Dartmoor Fringe -  around Whitchurch Down (approx. 4 miles) with optional extension to Pew Tor (additional 5.5 miles); River Tavy and Tavistock Canal out and back 4 miles; Tavistock railway walk 3 miles. Overnight in Tavistock.

• Day 7    Walk the West Devon Way to Yelverton for overnight. Approx. 7 miles.

• Day 8    Walk the West Devon Way via Bickleigh to Marsh Mills, Plymouth. Approx. 8. 5 miles. Overnight in Plymouth.

• Day 9    Depart Plymouth.