- Difficulty
- Challenging
Strenuous
- Start
- Dartmouth
- Finish
- Brixham
- Length
- 10.9 miles (17.5 km)
- Summary
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.
- 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.
- Nearest car park
Dartmouth, Coleton Fishacre, Sharkham Point, Berry Head and Brixham.
- Nearest toilets
Dartmouth, Kingswear, Berry Head and Brixham.
- Nearest refreshments
There is a good selection of shops and cafes in Dartmouth where you can stock up on supplies for the day. Further on, there is a National Trust tearoom at Coleton Fishacre, but not a lot more until Brixham. Brixham has a good range of pubs, shops and cafes. Establishments that serve local produce include The Brixham Deli on Fore Street, where you will find a great selection of patisserie.
