Walk - Dartmouth to Brixham

10.9 miles (17.5 km)

Dartmouth Brixham

Challenging - Strenuous

The journey begins with a ferry trip across the river Dart from the town of Dartmouth to Kingswear. The Coast Path then climbs through wooded areas containing Monterey and Corsican Pines, with fantastic views glimpsed back over the Dart to the spectacularly sited 15th century castle. Much of the first section is managed by the National Trust, who take great care to ensure a safe habitat for birds. A good place to spot many different species is along the stretch of cliffs around Froward Point, where you may see linnets, skylarks and the rare cirl bunting.

From where you pass Kingswear Castle through to Sharkham Point the path crosses a series of valleys, making one of more challenging parts of the Coast Path in South Devon - but also one of the most spectacular.

At Berry Head National Nature Reserve the cliffs are home to the largest guillemot colony to be found along the south coast of England. The surrounding limestone meadows also support a number of nationally rare plants and are full of beautiful wildflowers from May to August. From the tip of Berry Head you may see harbour porpoises and seals, although you are unlikely to spot any of the threatened Greater Horseshoe Bats who live in caves in this area.

There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Eight Bells B&B

Variety of breakfasts with a stunning view. On waterfront, a few minutes from the Coast Path. 1 double, 1 family room. Both ensuite. Sleeps 6 max.

Quarry Lake Camping

2 miles from SWCP, simple pitches on working sheep farm. Pub within 1 mile.

Fairholme B&B

Fairholme is a small and friendly B&B just off the coast path famed for its excellent breakfasts.

Leonards Cove Holiday Village

Leonards Cove is a picturesque holiday destination with a stunning clifftop location and amazing sea views offering self-catered, camping and touring accommodation.

WILDCOMFORT

Stay in our stunning sustainable Birdhouse cabins nestled above the idyllic Start Bay. Just a minutes walk from the coastal path & Blackpool Sands beach.

You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Salcombe Dairy Shop & Café, Dartmouth

Our ice cream and bean to bar café is set in the beautiful coastal town of Dartmouth. It’s an irresistible spot for walkers in need of sustenance.

The Guardhouse Cafe

Home-made seasonal food, cream teas and delicious coffee, all served with a smile and stunning views from our cliff-top Napoleonic Fortress. Open all year.
What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Dartmouth Visitor Centre

Find out everything you need to know to enjoy your visit to Dartmouth and the surrounding area uth

Sea Kayak Devon

Experience Devon's stunning coastline by sea kayak. Let our guides take you on an unforgettable journey. Individuals, groups, families. No experience necessary.

Discover Dartmouth at the Flavel Cafe

Lively arts cafe in centre of Dartmouth with information about things to, where to go and places to stay in the area. Or for more information on line please visit www.discoverdartmouth.com

Shoalstone Seawater Pool

Shoalstone Seawater Pool is a great place to swim and paddle, and picnic on the green looking across the Bay. Shoals Café serves breakfasts, lunches and evening meals.

Interactive Elevation

Highlights

  • Taking the ferry across Dartmouth harbour to Kingswear and looking up the beautiful River Dart.
  • Looking and listening out for the Dart Valley Steam Train, which follows the line that was opened to use in 1864.
  • Kingswear Castle: slightly hidden amongst the trees is a
    15th century square artillery tower and a 16th century blockhouse. These are now owned by the Landmark Trust and can actually be hired as holiday accommodation.
  • Spotting grey seals around the Mew Stone. This is one of a number of offshore rocks with this name due to the nesting colonies of gulls (or mews).
  • The remains of WWII defences at Froward Point, decommissioned in 1956.
  • The lovely views from above Pudcombe Cove.
  • Scabbacombe Head: the National Trust manages this site using wild ponies to keep down the scrub and consequently encourage maritime plants and butterflies.
  • Swimming at Scabbacombe Sands or at one of the other beaches you pass.
  • The flowers of Long Sands Cliff. Along this stretch, you may see bird’s-foot trefoil and early purple orchids, as well as some of the beautiful butterflies who also enjoy the many different species of flowering plants growing amongst the maritime grasses.
  • Man Sand with the remains of a 19th-century lime kiln. Limestone was brought by boat and burnt to make lime which was used as a soil conditioner and a wash for the walls of the local cottages.
  • Views from Sharkham Point over St Mary’s Bay and on to Berry Head. Now managed as a conservation area, the Point was once an important site for iron mining, as well as serving as the town tip for Brixham.
  • Spotting the nesting kittiwakes, guillemots (known locally as the Brixham penguin) and fulmers.
  • Looking down on the long stretch of sand and shingle of St Mary’s Bay. Access to the beach can be difficult, but there are often people here searching for fossils, as well as enjoying the peace away from Brixham and the other holiday resorts of Torbay.
  • Walking round the high cliffs of Berry Head: this limestone peninsula is a National Nature Reserve and the site of an Iron Age hill fort and also has two well-preserved Napoleonic fortifications. Beyond the coastguard station is the Berry Head lighthouse which is known as the smallest, highest and deepest light in the British Isles. Due to the height of the cliffs, the tower only needed to be built 5 metres high!
  • The fishing port of Brixham: built around the quay, this historic town has a range of shops, galleries and cafes to welcome walkers. There has been a settlement here since Saxon times and the town went on to become the home of trawling and had one of the largest fleets of wooden trawlers in the world. There is a statue of William of Orange on Brixham Quay as he landed a crew of 20,000 men here in 1688 and here you will also find a full-size reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s vessel the Golden Hind.

Shorter option

It is not easy to shorten this section due to a lack of accommodation close to the Path, therefore we suggest you walk out a distance and then return to Dartmouth or Kingswear.

Longer option

Continue to Paignton (an additional 5.6 miles, 9.1 km).

Public transport

The nearest train stations are Totnes and Paignton. From Totnes, you can catch buses to Dartmouth, and then catch the very regular ferry across to Kingswear. See our Estuaries and Ferry page for more information. Alternatively you can take one of the river cruise boats down the Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth. From Paignton, there are frequent buses to Kingswear, or you can arrive in style by taking the Steam train.

For bus timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

 

Parking

Dartmouth, Coleton Fishacre, Sharkham Point, Berry Head and Brixham.

Nearby Events

  • Jurassic Coast 100

    22-23 June 2024  |  Organised by Climb South West

    Join us on a journey through 185 million years of history and 120 miles of incredible coastline. Choose from one of five events, each with a different length of course

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