Walk - Babbacombe Downs and Walls Hill

Route Description

The Babbacombe Downs are the highest promenade in England and form a pleasant walk with wonderful views. Walls Hill is a limestone plateau on which there was an Iron Age fortification 2,500 years ago and later a limestone quarry. The area is an Ancient Monument and protected as a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

1. Turn right out of the car park away from the crossroads, down Hampton Avenue. Follow the road round to the right.
2. Walk past the café and Cliff Railway on your left, and onto Babbacombe Downs.

This is the highest promenade in the UK, with excellent views down to Oddicombe Beach and along to Teignmouth and Dawlish. Walk past the famous Babbacombe Theatre, once owned by Max Bygraves and follow the road round to the right.

1.  Turn left at the Divers Arms pub up Walls Hill Rd. Walk through the car park and onto the grass path on the left-hand side.
2.  Walk down the big dip, past the cricket club on the left, and up the other side on the path through the trees. This part of the walk is up a steep grass hill and is graded Level 2.

 Alternative path if wet: Adjacent to the car park, walk along the road and behind the cricket club onto the bumpy stone path which then becomes grass. Access to the path is to the side of a gate which has a 1 metre wide access, but has some large stones in the path. This part of the walk is Level 2 with 50 metres of Level 3.

1.  Once on the grass path across the open Walls Hill, take the left-hand side which takes you nearer the sea. Past the shelter, and follow the perimeter fence around the headland.
2.  From this point there are great views on a clear day across Lyme Bay to Exmouth, East Devon and on to Dorset. On the cliff side of the fence, you can see lots of rare wild flowers and plants at different times of the year, such as Small Hare’s Ear, Goldilocks Aster, Nit Grass, Little Robin and Early Meadow Grass.
3. Go to the far corner of the open downs to the start of a narrow path. A steep path and steps follow so go no further. Turn around and retrace your steps across Walls Hill, but this time towards the left-hand side through the trees.
4.  At this point above the cricket square (in summer) at the bottom of a big dip, move right towards the cricket club for a less steep descent, though still a short Level 2 hill.  Alternatively retrace your steps on the right-hand side and back down the stony path.
5.  Walk back through the car park, turn right at the end of the road and back across Babbacombe Downs to the starting point. Here you will find lots of cafes, tea rooms and pubs.

Public transport

Bus stop next to the car park on Babbacombe Rd. No. 22 bus to the Strand Torquay with a regular service. Also No. 122 open top bus to Paignton in summer months.

Parking

Public  long stay car park at the start, managed by Torbay Council with ‘normal’ charges.  There are 2 disabled spaces.