Salcombe to Hope Cove – South West Coast Path Walks
May 24, 2020
Salcombe to Hope Cove on the SWCP. Finally we are able to travel a little to get our daily ‘exercise’ and we couldn’t have been more excited.
Salcombe
This is our first time in Salcombe. When we finished our last walk across the water at Portlemouth, our view of Salcombe was what looked like a tiny town with not much there; a pub, a café, the waterfront. We were wrong. Behind the waterfront is a labyrinth of small streets with door to door pokey shops. This looks like browsing heaven and something I will be returning for (possibly without Clark…Mumsie?). The other two things I’m definitely coming back for are the Salcombe ice cream parlour (all their ice-cream is made here) and The Salcombe Gin Distillery; whether it’s just to sample and purchase, or to make our own, is undecided.
Salcombe to Soar Mill Cove
Once again we turned this section from Salcome to Hope Cove into two circular walks.
To get to the SWCP proper (i.e. on a path on the coast) we had to walk about 2km on roads to get out of the town. All the waterfront seems to be private, hence no ‘proper’ coast path. Even the medieval Salcombe Castle remains are only seen through glimpses between the trees, although it can be accessed from the beach at low tide (not the day we were there).
Once on the more rural part of the coast path, we start off with a dappled woodlands path, which quickly changes into a dramatic jagged rock lined path with steep drops. It’s amazing how diverse the landscape is along the SWCP.
The
path undulates (quite a lot), ending in an area called The Warren; a flat-ish plateau covered in yellow gorse. From here we went down to Soar Mill Cove for a rest and a paddle in the sea before heading back inland through fields, farmland and small hamlets.
I couldn’t resist buying some home made “award-winning” jams and marmalades from Old Wall’s – all proceeds going to Devon Air Ambulance. I can confirm the 3 fruit marmalade and the rhubarb and strawberry jam were both delicious on toast for breakfast.
Continuing from our last post, we are now really noticing the memorial benches we come across. We found one with these words: “The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is nearer God’s heart in a garden, Than anywhere else on Earth”. Part of a poem by Dorothy Francis Gurney.
Soar Mill Cove to Hope Cove
Our second circular walk on this stretch and we started where we left off at Soar Mill Cove straight up onto open cliff tops and fields all the way to Hope Cove. So although there is initially a small climb, the path is generally level with a downhill as you go into Hope Cove. For the return leg we again went inland across undulating farmland. A great circular walk of 11km.
Hope Cove is a spectacular cove with two beaches, a sea wall where the sea crashes over at high tide, even on a calm day, and the village of Inner Hope There’s a pub and a cafe, but our favourite find was the Lobster Pod Bistro. Although we couldn’t get into a pod on our first visit we have been back and taken friends several times; it’s so unique. Can I get one in my garden please?
Don't miss on the Salcombe to Hope Cove Coast Path
- A browse around the shops in Salcombe (can’t wait)
- Salcombe ice-cream – honeycomb flavour is a must.
- Salcombe gin distillery.
- The National Trust Property Overbeck’s just outside Salcombe. Still on our list of must visits.
- A rest and a paddle at Soar Mill Cove.
- Ordering the lobster platter (what else?) and a glass of bubbles at the Lobster-Pod Bistro in Hope Cove.
I am up for the shops!!!
Living through your pictures. Just lovely. And also….shops, gin and lobster, oh my! Cheers!