The South West Coastal Path

June 2023 - April 2024
A photojournal decribing walking and exploring the South West Coastal Path through Devon and Cornwall. Read more
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  • Day 1

    Dawlish Warren to Shaldon

    June 11, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We are staying in St Marychurch, a part of Torquay, whilst we walk this first section of the SW Coastal Path starting at Dawlish Warren (technically, the Jurassic Coast walk from Poole to Exmouth is part of the SW Coastal Path - see previous trip in FP).

    We take the 22 bus to Dawlish Warren; this is a popular holiday resort, and the Nature Reserve is located at the mouth of the River Exe Estuary, opposite Exmouth, on a sand spit. We explore this and take the sea wall path route of the SW Coastal Path to Dawlish, which runs next to the railway line. The cliffs are Permian Red Sandstone; there are lovely views, and it is easy walking.

    Dawlish is a pretty seaside resort; the small park and play area built around the small coastal stream (Dawlish Water, aka The Brook) is known as The Lawn. We carry on along the seawall path and go up Lea Mount. This takes us via Holcombe and then another seawall path to Teignmouth.

    Teignmouth is a seaside town and fishing port at the mouth of the River Teign; we walk along the Esplanade, with views of The Ness on the other side of the river, visit the pier and reach the harbour area to take the Shaldon Ferry across the River Teign Shaldon; from here it is the 22 bus back to St Marychurch.
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  • Day 2

    Shaldon to Torquay

    June 12, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We take the 22 bus to Shaldon, where we finished yesterday; Shaldon is a pretty fishing village on the Teign Estuary, opposite Teignmouth.

    We walk through the village to the beach and rejoin the coastal path to go up the Ness; behind it is Ness Cove beach, only accessible via a (smuggler's) tunnel from the car park. It's a steep climb, and we enjoy the views from Bundle Head and Labrador Bay and onwards to Maidencombe and Watcombe. More up and down until we reach the outskirts of Torquay Golf Club, where, much to our surprise, we have a lovely view of the "twin towers" of St Marychurch. We descend to Oddicombe beach, crossing under the Cliff Railway (unfortunately closed until the end of June), and follow the coastal path to the beach part of Babbacombe around Withy Point. We walk via Walls Hill at the top of Long Quarry Point, over Anstey's Cove and on to Black Head, where there are great views of the Hope's Nose headland, which separates Babbacombe Bay from Tor Bay.

    Then it's on via Thatcher Point and Meadfoot Beach, a steep climb up to the top, around Daddyhole Plain, and on past the curiously named London Bridge rock formation to reach Beacon Quay in Torquay. It has been a long and hot day.
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  • Day 4

    Torquay to Brixham

    June 14, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    It's an early 22 bus into Torquay to continue the walk; it's going to be hot today.

    We start at Beacon Quay and cross the Millenium Bridge to follow the coastal path along Torquay seafront. We pass Corbyn Head, Livermead Head, and walk along the promenade past Paignton Pier. We pass the small harbour and descend Roundham Head to Goodrington Sands and across to Broadsand Beach. We go round the headland, through Marriage Woods, and then Elberry Cove and Fishcombe Beach to reach Brixham.

    We pass the Freshwater Fish Market and walk around the harbour and marina to Brixham Breakwater (1,000 feet long) to end this stage of the South West Coastal Path.

    On arrival in Brixham, we booked onto the Western Lady ferry to cross the bay back to Torquay; £5 each well spent!
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