- Difficulty
- Easy
Easy to strenuous
- Start
- Torcross
- Finish
- Dartmouth
- Length
- 10.3 miles (16.6 km)
- Summary
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.
From Torcross it is an an easy start along the shingle alongside Slapton Ley, leading 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.
- Public Transport
The nearest train station at Totnes, from where there are frequent buses to Dartmouth, Slapton, Strete and Torcross. You can also catch a scenic river cruise down the Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth, or from the mainline train station at Paignton catch a steam train to Kingswear (across the river from Dartmouth).
For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the train stations or bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.
- Nearest car park
Torcross, Slapton Sands, Strete Gate, Blackpool Sands, inland at Stoke Fleming, inland from Warren Cove, Dartmouth Castle and Dartmouth.
- Nearest toilets
Torcross, Slapton Sands, Strete Gate, Blackpool Sands, inland at Stoke Fleming and Dartmouth.
- Nearest refreshments
Refreshments are available at the beginning of the day in Torcross and then further on in Strete and Stoke Fleming, where there are pubs and general stores. There is the excellent Venus Cafe at Blackpool Sands, which serves local, organic produce and at the end of the journey Dartmouth has a wide range of pubs, restaurants and cafes.
