Walk - Diamond Jubilee Way - Dartmouth

3.7 miles (6.0 km)

National Trust Car Park, Redlap, Little Dartmouth - TQ6 0JP National Trust Car Park, Redlap, Little Dartmouth

Moderate -

Created to commemorate the 60th anniversary in 2012 of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. This 6km (3¾mile) way-marked circular walk, in the shape of a diamond, takes you through some of the most glorious coastal countryside in the West Country.

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.

Kings Arms at Strete

Community pub on South West Coast Path with stunning views

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.

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

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.

Interactive Elevation

Route Description

Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne on 6th February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2nd June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrated her 60-year reign. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.

The route is signposted and waymarked from location 1 on the map (Little Dartmouth Farm). Directions below are from the Little Dartmouth car park, but you can also start from Dartmouth, Dartmouth Castle and Jawbones Hill car park. Directions from these starting points are given on page 7.

Although the Diamond Jubilee Way can obviously be walked in either direction, it is recommended to walk in a clockwise direction as the steeper inclines will then be downhill, rather than up!

  1. From Little Dartmouth car park take the farm track eastwards to Little Dartmouth Farm. You are now at location 1 on the map.
  2. Take the public footpath on the left signed for Week Cottage. Follow this for ½km to its junction with Week Hill road.
  3. Turn left up the road and then, after 60 metres, turn right at the farm access track and climb up the hill, passing Higher Week Cottages. Continue to Swannaton Road. You are at location 3 on the map.
  4. Turn left up Swannaton Road and continue straight on for 230 metres, then take the right-hand fork leading onto the A379. Note: you have to walk along the A379 for 30 metres. Exercise extreme care on this stretch of road.
  5. After 30 metres leave the A379 and take the Jawbones Hill road on the right.
  6. Follow the road for 1.2km, passing the water tower at Jawbones Beacon Park. It is worth taking a quick walk around the perimeter of Jawbones Beacon Park (see page 7) before continuing down the hill.
  7. At the sharp left-hand bend in the road (location 7 on the map) follow the waymarked permissive footpath on the right signed to Dyers Wood for 250 metres, passing below Jane Frank’s bench, before entering the National Trust’s woodland at Dyer’s Hill. 

From Jane Frank’s bench, halfway across to Dyers Wood, enjoy the stunning views up the river and towards Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) and in the other direction along the estuary and out to sea. Jane’s husband was Vice President of the Admiralty Interview Board which was originally based at BRNC. She loved to walk her dogs along this path. The National Trust acquired the 11 acre Dyer’s Hill site from South Hams District Council in 1974. For more information about the National Trust see www.nationaltrust.org.uk

  1. Continue to follow the path downhill through the woodland for 150 metres and then take the sharp left path which cuts back down the hill to Above Town road.
  2. Turn right along the road and follow this for 150 metres to its junction with Warfleet Road.
  3. Turn right and follow Warfleet Road down the hill (take care not to take Swannaton Road up the hill by mistake).
  4. Follow Warfleet Road for 300 metres and then take Castle Road on the left.
  5. Follow Castle Road for 400 metres and then at the fork in the road, take the footpath above the lower road. After 150 metres you join the road near another fork. Keep straight ahead on the higher of these towards Dartmouth Castle which stands sentinel at the mouth of the River Dart. Here there are public toilets and refreshments are available at the Castle Tearooms. You are at location 12 on the map.

For an interesting diversion, you can go through the gap in the wall 30 metres along Castle Road on the right-hand side. Go down the steps to Warfleet Creek and then pass under the road. Follow the uppermost public footpath past some disused limekilns before rejoining Castle Road and following the directions above to Dartmouth Castle. For over 600 years Dartmouth Castle has guarded the narrow entrance to the

Dart Estuary and the busy, vibrant port of Dartmouth. The fascinating complex of defences was begun in 1388 by John Hawley, privateering Mayor of Dartmouth and thought to be the prototype of the flamboyant ‘Shipman’ in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. About a century later the townsmen added the imposing and well-preserved ‘gun tower’, probably the very first fortification in Britain purpose-built to mount ‘ship-sinking’ heavy cannon. Climb to the top for breathtaking views across the estuary and see how it could be blocked in wartime by a heavy chain. Unusually incorporating the fine church of St Petrox, the castle saw action during the Civil War and continued in service right up until the Second World War. Successive up-dating included the Victorian ‘Old Battery’ with its remounted heavy guns, guardrooms and maze of passages to explore. Here a dramatic film sequence recreates a Victorian gun-firing, and throughout the fortress displays retell the six centuries of castle history. The castle is managed by English Heritage and an entrance fee applies – see www.english-heritage.org.uk

  1. From Dartmouth Castle take the steps up to Castle Road, turn left and follow this for 200 metres to Compass Cottage. Keep to the upper road along the public bridleway for 400 metres to the Coastguard Cottages. For a longer walk you can follow the South West Coast Path for a little over 3km, passing Deadman's Cove and Compass Cove to Combe Point and Warren Point, before returning inland to the National Trust’s Little Dartmouth car park and then following the public bridleway back to Little Dartmouth Farm where you pick up the Diamond Jubilee Way signposting again.
  2. Continue to follow the public bridleway along a hedged lane for 1km to Little Dartmouth Farm. You are back at location 1 on the map. The National Trust acquired the 336 acre Little Dartmouth Farm in 1970. 

Public transport

There is a regular bus service (93) from Plymouth via Kingsbridge to Dartmouth town centre. There is a regular bus service 111 from Torquay and Totnes to Dartmouth town centre. Seasonal ferry from Dartmouth to Dartmouth Castle phone 01803 835034 (Easter to October). For details visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 2233.

Parking

National Trust Car Park, Redlap, Little Dartmouth by donation (TQ6 0JP)

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