Walk - Bay Torbay Hotel - Hope's Nose

3.7 miles (6.0 km)

Kents Cavern car park - TQ1 2JF Kents Cavern car park

Moderate - The walk itself is on good paths and pavements which are mostly level, but the detours to look at the rocks and fossils on the beaches and on Hope's Nose itself are steep and stony, with some scrambling involved. Wear appropriate footwear and take especial care if it is wet.

A short but fascinating exploration of the geology and history around Hope's Nose. The limestone rocks, laid down in tropical seas, are full of fossils, and the route follows the Victorian Bishop's Walk through the woods between Anstey's Cove and Meadfoot Beach. Allow time to visit Kents Cavern, where evidence was found of the world's earliest humans, who lived here almost half a million years ago!

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.

The Osborne Apartments

Luxury self catering apartments nestled in the heart of the English Riviera with stunning sea views.

Kingsholm Guesthouse

A beautiful Edwardian house in Torquay. About 200m to restaurants and 300m to harbour. No. 22 bus stop, which runs from Dawlish Warren to Paignton just a few meters away

Haytor Hotel

Elegant and welcoming Victorian villa, offering delicious breakfasts, a peaceful night's sleep. 4 mins walks from harbour and beach.

The Cary Arms Hotel & Spa

The Cary Arms & Spa “Inn on the Beach” exudes charm, style and comfort of a boutique hotel. Seaside English Heritage dining with chic rooms include dog-friendly accommodation.

Coastguard Cottage

Small, cosy cottage accommodatioon with all rooms en-suite and with wifi. Close to many amenities. A substantial breakfast is provided.

Sea Breeze Guest House

We are a Bed and Breakfast with views across Babbacombe Downs and the Jurassic coast. We offer large ensuite rooms, fabulous breakfasts and refreshments on our terrace.

Rose Court Holiday Apartments

Rose Court are self contained holiday apartments with free Parking set in a delightful Victorian villa with glorious gardens, 5 minutes from the South West Coastal Path.

The Cimon

The Cimon, a gorgeous Victorian villa, a few minutes walk from the Coastal Path, restaurants and attractions. Muddy boots welcome. Seasonal outdoor heated pool & bar.

Castle Retreats

Castle Annexe offers super-king or twin beds in a cosy, one dog friendly setting, nestled within historic St Marychurch.

The Cleveland Bed and Breakfast

Consistently rated one of the 'best bed & breakfasts' in Torquay, The Cleveland is ideally located for access to the South West Coast Path and all local amenities.

The 25 Boutique B&B

Funky 5-star adult-only boutique B&B, (twice named “Best B&B in the World”) located in easy walking distance of the coast path, restaurants, tourist attractions & harbour

Garway Lodge Guest House

Enjoy a 4 Star Award-Winning guest house bed & breakfast. Situated in Torquay. Early Breakfasts are available upon request.

Mercure Paignton

Experience the true English Riviera at Mercure Paignton Hotel, a seaside haven on Paignton seafront, your gateway to Devon's stunning coast and countryside. Enjoy sea-view rooms and unforgettable experiences.

Halekulani Devon

Halekulani Devon Homestay for discerning guests with spa, private use heated pool, tennis and pristine views.

The Hen's Dens at Orchard Organic Farm

Camping at The Hen's Dens at Orchard Organic Farm

Earlston House Hotel

A 9 room dog friendly B&B with excellent reviews, super views, very close to the South West Coast Path and a large hot tub to relax in.

Roadtrip Tavern

I have a loft space that is divided into 4 separate pods and is open plan like a dormitory and is specifically for SWCP Walkers.

Berry Head Hotel Ltd

AA 4 star Hotel & Apartments with stunning sea views at the waters edge. Bistro & Restaurant, Indoor Pool on the Coastal Path.

Sea Tang Guest House

Friendly, family run guest house located a few steps form the sea with beautiful views across Torbay.

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.

Three Degrees West

Three Degrees West is a daytime cafe & takeaway on the stunning Oddicombe Beach in Babbacombe on the outskirts of Torquay. Inside & outside dining right beside the sea.

Cafe Rio SUP & Kayak Hire

Our refurbished beach café, offers a great range of local fresh food, luxury ice cream, barista coffees, teas, cold drinks, cakes & snacks, perfect for breakfast or lunch

Harbour Light

Light-filled, rustic tavern with a terrace offering bay views, plus a menu of pub classics.

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.

English Riviera Tourist Information Centre

Find all the information you need about accommodation, things to do and places to go to enjoy your visit to the English Riviera.

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

Route Description

A bus to Kents Cavern may be taken from the bus stops outside Debenhams in the Strand. To travel by car follow the Strand to the clock tower by the harbour and turn left up Torwood Street. Follow this road (A379) as it becomes Babbacombe Road. Continue into Wellswood and look for the signs to Kents Cavern. Turn diagonally right down Ilsham Road, past the school on your left and the shops. As the road slopes downhill and bends to the right look for the slope up to the car park of Kents Cavern on your right. If the car park is full there is plenty of on road parking on Ilsham Road.

  1. Taking the steps from the Kents Caverns car park down to Ilsham Road, go into the field opposite, walking around the playing field towards Anstey's Cove. Take a detour down the steep path to visit the tranquil cove, with its shingle beach and dramatic rocks.

The spectacular caves in Kents Cavern provided a home for some of the earliest humans, and flint axes have been found that were made by Heidelberg man almost 500,000 years ago, as well as more sophisticated tools made by succeeding generations of Stone Age people including Neanderthals. Details can be found at www.kents-cavern.co.uk

  1. From the corner of Anstey's Cove car park pick up the South West Coast Path SWCP and follow it through the trees and around Black Head.

This path is known as Bishop's Walk. Today's Palace Hotel was once Bishopstowe, the Victorian home of Henry Philpotts, Lord Bishop of Exeter. Built in 1841 in the exotic Italianate style, with the path laid out around Black Head for the bishop's contemplative strolls, the palace incorporated 9 main bedrooms as well as 11 servants' bedrooms and a large shed for washing carriages! The palace was later bought by a bicycle magnate, George Hands, who designed the Calthorpe, one of the earliest cars. In the First World War Hands manufactured as many as 35,000 grenades a week before retiring to Torquay and turning Bishopstowe into a hotel. In the Second World War the palace was a military hospital for RAF officers and was twice bombed by the Germans, killing 64 people. After the war the hotel was rebuilt in its present form.

  1. When the Coast Path comes to Ilsham Marine Drive cross the road and turn left, walking along the footpath on the grassy bank above the road.
  2. Rejoining Ilsham Marine Drive directly opposite Hope's Nose, detour briefly over the stile across the road to visit Hope's Nose. Returning to the stile afterwards, turn left to carry on along the road, picking up the Coast Path again to follow it around Thatcher Point at the northern end of Tor Bay.

Part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for both its rock formations and its coastal fauna and flora, Hope's Nose is named from the word 'hoop', because the space enclosed by its hooked shape provided a temporary anchorage for ships caught in rising south-westerly gales.

The limestone around Torbay is unique to the area, providing the perfect habitat for some unusual plants, which are themselves food for the rare small blue butterfly. Look out for the tiny clover-like bright yellow flowers of kidney vetch, the miniature pink sweet-pea flowers of rest harrow and the autumn squill's pyramid clusters of delicate lilac stars. The more invasive species such as blackthorn, ash and sycamore are cut back where they pose a threat to these more fragile plants, but the scrub has been left elsewhere to provide a range of habitats for a variety of wildlife.

The limestone around the headland was extensively quarried in the past, with the rock being carried out by boat, and the cliffs in the quarry below provide dramatic evidence of Torbay's exotic history. Formed in the Devonian period, some 370 million years ago, Torbay's rocks were covered by shallow seas, where corals, sponges and shelled animals flourished in tropical reefs. In good light it is possible to spot tiny coral fossils in the rocks, and curled shell fossils known as goniatites.

  1. Arriving on Ilsham Marine Drive once more, turn left to walk towards Meadfoot Beach, following the Coast Path down to the car park to visit the beach. Returning to the car park afterwards, cross Ilsham Road and go over the green to take the footpath through the woodland, walking up Ilsham Valley to return to the car park at Kent's Cavern where the walk began.

At the southern end of the beach, scramble over the rocks beyond the cafe to Triangle Point, where more fossils are spectacularly displayed. Check these out in the limestone blocks of the sea wall along Meadfoot Sea Road above the beach.

Return to the Bay Torbay Hotel reversing the driving directions at the start of the walk.

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