South West Coast Path (South Devon Section)

Estuaries, rolling hills, and harbour towns along Devon's southern shore.

The South Devon section of the South West Coast Path runs from Plymouth to Exmouth, following a coastline shaped by estuaries, sheltered bays, wooded valleys, and historic harbour towns. Passing through the South Devon National Landscape and East Devon National Landscape, the route links coastal scenery, maritime heritage, and some of the most distinctive landscapes on England's southern coast.

As a self-guided journey, the route connects places such as Plymouth, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Brixham, Torquay, Sidmouth, and Exmouth while passing through estuaries, beaches, farmland, woodland, and coastal headlands. Clifftop paths, ferry crossings, shoreline tracks, and countryside trails create a route defined by variety, where rivers and harbours play as important a role as the sea itself.

The character of the route changes steadily as it moves east. Around Plymouth and the South Hams, sheltered estuaries and rolling farmland dominate the landscape. Further along the coast, harbour towns, fishing ports, and broad bays create a strong maritime character, while the red sandstone cliffs and coastal scenery of East Devon provide a distinctive finish approaching Exmouth.

Unlike the more exposed Atlantic-facing sections of the South West Coast Path, this coastline feels settled and closely connected to the communities that line its shores. Rivers, creeks, ferries, and working harbours create a journey shaped by the interaction between land, water, and settlement.

With National Trail waymarking, regular accommodation options, and excellent transport links, the South Devon section offers one of the most varied coastal journeys in southern England. The route combines estuaries, beaches, countryside, and maritime history into a rewarding walk along Devon's southern shoreline.

Overview

Distance 120 miles / 193 km

Duration 8–12 days

Difficulty Moderate

Start Plymouth, Devon

Finish Exmouth, Devon

Terrain Estuary paths, farmland tracks, wooded valleys, beaches, headlands, and harbour towns

Waymarking National Trail acorn symbols throughout