9-Day Plymouth to Exmouth Itinerary — Explorer Pace (SWCP Section 5)

Beginning at Plymouth's historic Barbican, the South West Coast Path offers a choice: a 10-minute Mount Batten Ferry crossing or a walking route through the city's industrial areas, over Laira Bridge, and towards Hooe Lake. Rejoining near Mount Batten Point, the path ascends steeply to Jennycliff Bay and Staddon Heights, offering panoramic views of Plymouth Sound, before a steep, wooded descent to Fort Bovisand. Post-Bovisand, rugged clifftop walking navigates exposed, rocky coastline around Andurn Point and Westlake Brake, undulating towards Heybrook Bay where the Eddystone Inn offers refreshments. The route then skirts Wembury Point, descending to Wembury Beach with its seasonal Old Mill Cafe, before joining the broad, relatively flat Revelstoke Drive. A gentle rise leads towards Warren Point, the essential departure point for a seasonal ferry (April-September) across the Yealm estuary to the charming villages of Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers, before reaching the end of the stage.

From Noss Mayo, you’ll traverse Passage Wood and Brakehill Plantation, emerging at Gara Point for expansive views stretching to Cornwall. Following the Revelstoke Drive, a Victorian carriage road, you'll walk across the grazed maritime grassland of The Warren, noting scarce wildflowers, before passing Blackstone Point and Saddle Cove, characterising the dramatic coastline. The terrain becomes more strenuous past Stoke Point, with exposed headlands near Battisborough House offering glimpses of Bigbury-on-Sea. The route then leads to the challenging River Erme crossing, passable one hour either side of low tide, before ascending to Kingston village for refreshments. The clifftops intensify, featuring steep ascents and descents up to 300 feet, with dramatic slate and sandstone geology leading to Hoist Point and Westcombe Beach. After a steep climb and descent towards Ayrmer Cove, the path continues past overgrown sections and Challaborough, finally revealing magnificent views of Burgh Island as you approach Bigbury-on-Sea.

Leaving the River Erme, this dramatic stage immediately tackles steep, rugged clifftops reaching up to 300 feet, a challenging terrain of slate and sandstone leading past Fernycombe and Beacon Points, offering far-reaching views. Hoist Point commands vistas towards Westcombe Beach and Bigbury-on-Sea before a steep descent to the former. Another ascent and descent brings you to the secluded Ayrmer Cove, with the historic Journeys End Inn a short detour away. The path then continues east, sometimes overgrown, before moderating towards Challaborough, a surfing spot with holiday facilities. Descending towards Bigbury-on-Sea, Burgh Island’s iconic Art Deco hotel is a constant feature, with village amenities providing refreshments. A 3km further stretch leads to Bantham, accessible by seasonal ferry, offering The Sloop Inn. Following the coast westward, then climbing, the path reaches Thurlestone, where several establishments offer refreshments. Continuing southwest along exposed clifftops past Thurlestone Rock, a natural arch, the route offers panoramic views before descending into the twin fishing villages of Hope Cove, with its pubs, café, and shop. Coastal steps then lead to a steep climb towards Bolt Tail, an Iron Age fort, before continuing east to Bolberry Down, a site of wartime and wildlife significance. A dramatic descent leads to Soar Mill Cove, a secluded beach with remarkable rock formations, before climbing again to the spectacular, North Cornwall-esque section around Bolt Head. The Courtney Walk, a 19th-century cliff-hewn path, then leads towards Salcombe estuary, passing Sharp Tor and offshore rocks before descending to Starehole Bay and the submerged wreck of the Hezogin Cecile. Following a steep woodland descent to South Sands, the route continues past North Sands and the remains of Fort Charles, arriving in Salcombe, a bustling sailing centre with numerous refreshment opportunities and ferry links.

From Salcombe, a short ferry across the estuary delivers you to East Portlemouth, initiating a journey along sheltered woodland and eventually exposed clifftops. The route climbs steeply towards Gara Rock, a welcome refreshment spot, passing through areas of significant wildlife and geological importance before reaching Prawle Point, Devon's most southerly headland, known for its dramatic rock formations and views. A detour to the Pig's Nose Inn at East Prawle offers a legendary refreshment stop. Continuing past Start Point lighthouse and the poignant ruins of Hallsands, the path eventually descends towards the fishing village of Beesands, with its inviting Cricket Inn and Britannia @ the Beach café, offering a fitting end to this stunning coastal stretch.

From Beesands, a picturesque fishing village with the Cricket Inn and Britannia @ the Beach providing refreshments, the path heads north. Initially via the shingle beach or clifftops towards Torcross, it transitions to the unique landscape of Slapton Ley, England's largest natural freshwater lake. Torcross, with its Sherman Tank memorial, offers the Start Bay Inn and Sea Breeze cafe. Continuing north along the shingle bar, walkers can choose the road or nature reserve paths beside Slapton Ley, with potential detours to Slapton village for refreshments. The route then climbs steeply to Strete, offering panoramic views above Blackpool Sands, before descending through rolling South Devon countryside via Stoke Fleming, where The Green Dragon and Radius 7 provide hospitality. The final approach hugs the coast around Blackstone Point, passing coves before reaching Dartmouth Castle and its Gun Tower, concluding the stage on Dartmouth's historic waterfront.

Departing Stoke Fleming, the path winds through farmland and lanes past Little Dartmouth Farm before reaching the coast. Here, a dramatic stretch unfolds around Blackstone Point, framing views of Outer Froward Point and passing coves like Compass and Sugary, culminating at Dartmouth Castle and its Gun Tower. Beyond Warfleet Creek, tarmac roads lead into Dartmouth's harbour. A ferry crossing to Kingswear is essential, connecting to the path which ascends through woodland, offering superb vistas back to Dartmouth Castle and passing the historic Kingswear Castle. Navigating National Trust land, the route reaches Froward Point with its WWII remains and the distinctive Kingswear Daymark. The terrain becomes demanding, crossing several valleys towards Sharkham Point, before entering Berry Head National Nature Reserve. Here, the shortest lighthouse, Berry Head Lighthouse, stands above Napoleonic forts, with the Guardhouse Café offering refreshments. Wildlife abounds, from seabirds to seals, before the path descends into the bustling fishing port of Brixham.

From Kingswear, the path ascends through wooded slopes, offering distant views of Dartmouth Castle, before reaching Froward Point with its WWII defences and the prominent Kingswear Daymark. The terrain becomes undulating, crossing valleys towards Sharkham Point and then spectacular clifftops within Berry Head National Nature Reserve. Here, the shortest lighthouse in Britain stands guard over the largest guillemot colony on England's south coast, with the Guardhouse Café providing refreshments. Descending into Brixham, the route then skirts Churston Cove and Elberry Cove, passing under the Broadsands railway viaduct before reaching Goodrington Sands and Paignton harbour. From Paignton, the path follows seafront promenades past Preston Sands and Torre Abbey Sands to Corbyn Head, where a beach café offers welcome refreshments, finally arriving at Torquay harbour, a bustling urban section rich with amenities.

From Paignton, the South West Coast Path embarks on an urban stretch, following seafront promenades past Preston Sands and the expansive Torre Abbey Sands, with historic Torre Abbey inland. Corbyn Head offers a clifftop refreshment stop before reaching Torquay harbour, a hub of amenities. The route then ascends to Daddyhole Plain, passing the natural arch of London Bridge before a descent to Meadfoot Beach. Climbing again to Thatcher Point and Hope's Nose, the path navigates woodland to Anstey's Cove, then steeply climbs Babbacombe Downs towards Babbacombe for potential access to Oddicombe Beach. A steep descent through woodland passes Watcombe and Maidencombe beaches, with The Thatched Tavern a welcome stop, before traversing woodland and fields over Bundle Head to The Ness, a sandstone cliff overlooking Teignmouth. The journey concludes with a descent to Shaldon village, where the historic passenger ferry crosses the River Teign to Teignmouth's back beach.

Leaving Babbacombe, the path descends steeply through wooded valleys, skirting Watcombe and Maidencombe beaches, the latter boasting The Thatched Tavern and Beach Cafe. After navigating tiring woodland and field ascents and descents, with sights of Bundle Head and The Ness cliffs, you'll reach Shaldon. Here, the historic passenger ferry whisks you across the River Teign to Teignmouth, or you can opt for the longer Shaldon Bridge route. Teignmouth offers plentiful refreshments before you join the famous South Devon Railway sea wall, climbing around Hole Head and passing striking red breccia cliffs. Beyond Sprey Point and Dawlish, with its black swans and railway bridge, the path continues along the sea wall, occasionally affected by high tide. Dawlish Warren marks the Exe Estuary's boundary before the route joins the level tarmac Exe Estuary Trail past Cockwood and Starcross, home to Brunel's atmospheric pumping station. The essential Starcross-Exmouth ferry, operating April to October, concludes this stage, having crossed the Exe Estuary.