Paula Cooper
- Jun 12, 2022
- 2 min read

Day 41 Bigbury-on-sea to Salcombe; Glorious; Gorgeous; Great

Updated: Aug 1, 2022

Sitting in Salcombe at a cafe table, drinking tea on the decking overlooking the sail boats, marina and Kingsbridge estuary, my husband declared this his favourite stretch; helped I’m sure by glorious weather! Sunny, warm with a cooling breeze, well full on bluster on the headlands, but welcome for hill climbing walkers.

Primed by the neighbouring Airbnb, the Avon ferry man was waiting on the opposite dockside as we descended the steep sheep filled slope to the beautiful river estuary. Across the exposed river bed it was hard to find where on the other side of the remaining channel to wait; old fashioned hand signals to the fore!

We then had an easy path to follow skirting the moorland coast up and over to Bantham beach. Stunning views with blue skies, rocky seas and a back drop of pastoral farmland, before we edged our way between Thurleston, it’s golf course and the beach filled with surfers down to a lovely cafe for coffee.

A great cliff side path followed to picturesque Hope Cope with its harbour beaches and rock arch dotted with all kinds of surfers. Farmland gave way to Dartmoor as we descended and ascended the well behaved path around Bolt tail headland. Gorgeous views with typical Dartmoor cliff tors ending in wave crashing rocks.

We stopped after crossing Bolt head for a snack before climbing Sharps tor (complete with hand rail) and descending down into South and North sands then finally Salcombe, passing some amazing properties. Difficult walking tempered by decent paths, blustery winds, and stunning views, especially all manner of boats and racing sails.

It really is an area of outstanding national beauty, beaches, coves, harbours, moorland tors, rocky cliffs, crashing breakers, rock arches, bucolic farmland!

Official SW Coast path: 14miles

Official running total: 451miles