Start Point to Salcombe – South West Coast Path Walks
May 13, 2020
The Start Point to Salcombe section is 9.1 miles along the South West Coast Path, but as with the Slapton Sands to Start Point section, we made this into two circular walks. Why rush?
Start Point to Prawle Point
What we noticed the most on this section was the sound of the sea. Gone were the long beaches and quiet coves of the last 33.1 mile stretch from Torquay. Here the scenery is dramatic, with cliffs and rocky formations forcing the sea to hit in loud crashes below us. This section is surprisingly steady with few steep inclines – making a change from the ups and downs of the last few legs. Our return trek had us walking inland through the village of East Prawle (a pub and facilities are there to tempt) before returning to the coast path.
The Memorial Bench
We often take lunches with us on our walks (ok, at the moment we have no choice….pubs not open and all that) and there’s nothing better than finding a nice bench with a view to enjoy a “buon appetito” moment. In the UK it often comes in the form of a Memorial Bench. I don’t know when the trend for memorial benches started and there is little information available, other than the wait list and cost from individual councils. However, the inscriptions give a little insight into someone else’s love of that spot. They range from the sentimental as this one – “They loved this place and both now rest nearby” to the humorous – “To Fred, who hated this spot because there was nowhere to sit”
Prawle Point to Salcombe
Our start at Prawle Point was an extremely windy one. The walk to the point and the watch station is the first stop – the southern most point in Devon. The walk from here to Salcombe is along open cliff top paths and then through woodlands and past quiet coves as the SWCP goes inland toward Salcombe harbour.
Don't Miss on the Start Point to Salcombe Coast Path
- Prawle Point watch station – The southern most point of Devon…and very windy.
- A short detour up to the coastguard lookout at Gara Point. Thought to be built for coastguards to look-out for ships in trouble as well as illegal smugglers. It all feels very “Poldark” – also a great spot for a cake-stop with a view.
- Look out for the orthostats shortly after Prawle point. They are upright stones, in this case forming part of what used to be a wall.
- Horses Head Rock at Prawle Point (the rock with the hole through) – I see where they’re coming from with that name, see the picture above.
- Grab an ice cream in East Portlemouth by the ferry; they have outdoor seating and great views of Salcombe and over the estuary.
Where are we going now?
We’re very excited. These are the walks we completed before lock-down. Tomorrow we are going to continue from Salcombe on the South West Coast Path. New ground at last and we can’t wait.
