South Devon
Walk the South West Coast Path through south Devon on a self-guided walking holiday.
South Devon
https://www.contours.co.uk/south-devon
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An epic walk along the coastline of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
From £355 per person
At 630 miles (1,008 km) in length, the South West Coast Path is Britain’s longest waymarked footpath and the ultimate challenge for any long distance walker. The route curls around the entire peninsula of Devon and Cornwall, rounds the south-western tip of England at Land’s End, and follows the southern shore through the dramatic scenery of Dorset, constituting a major portion of the England Coast Path.
Although we provide some gentler itineraries, on most holidays, expect stiff climbs on jaw-dropping coastal trails; mile after mile of sea views; and plenty of cream teas and Cornish pasties enjoyed in seaside towns. Walking the South West Coast Path is a challenge, but an immensely (and often tastily) rewarding one.
We’ve broken the full SWCP into ten stages so you can pick and choose your favourite stretches of coast. We also offer a choice of short breaks along the path, which you can find on the South West Coast Path Short Breaks page. If you’re looking for a circular tour, take a look at our walking holiday around the far point of Land’s End Peninsula and inland along St Michael’s Way.
Dogs are welcome on select routes along this trail. Look for the pawprint icon when choosing your holiday.
We also organise trail running holidays along this route. Find out more.
From £715 per person
South Devon’s coastline is one of spectacular contrasts. It begins with wave-battered sandstone cliffs and the rugged headlands that have claimed countless shipwrecks, but slinks away beneath the trees along tranquil wooded estuaries.
Inland sections enjoy the patchwork fields of lush, rolling farmland. If variety is what you look for in a trail, this is the right section of the South West Coast Path for you.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDEV1 | From Plymouth to Brixham | 4 days walking | £715 | |
| SDEV2 | From Plymouth to Brixham | 6 days walking | £970 | |
| SDEV3 | From Plymouth to Brixham | 7 days walking | £1075 |
The Wembury to Noss Mayo ferry operates from April to September. If the ferry is not running, the alternative is to take a taxi.
The River Erme between Noss Mayo and Bigbury-on-Sea has no ferry service. Therefore, it is necessary to ford the river at low tide. Before booking please check the tide times by clicking here. The alternative is an 8 mile detour around the river.
The Bigbury to Bantham Ferry operates between April and September. If it is not operating the only alternatives are a 9 mile detour around the Avon Estuary or to take a taxi. If you are booking out of season and would like to add an extra days walking to walk the 9 mile Avon Estuary Walk detour, rather than take a taxi, please contact us.
Travel to Plymouth where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Plymouth to River Erme/Mothecombe(T). 17 miles (27km) / 3117 ft (950 m) ascent
River Erme/Mothecombe(T) to Salcombe(L). 18 miles (28.5km) / 3100 ft (945 m) ascent
Salcombe(L) to Stoke Fleming. 18 miles (29km) / 3163 ft (964 m) ascent
Stoke Fleming to Brixham. 16 miles (25.5km) / 2185 ft (666 m) ascent
Depart from Brixham after breakfast
This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.
Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.
Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Visiting Dartmouth, with its cobbled marketplace, narrow streets, and spectacular sea defences.
Watching the vast number of local seabirds darting against a backdrop of wild flowers.
Arriving in Brixham, home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
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“Overall a good experience. This was our third walking holiday with Contours.”Mrs Burke, UK
“Excellent walking.”Ms Towndrow, UK
“Well organised and good weather. It's what Contours do well... good accommodation, good luggage transfer, all the potential problems highlighted.”Mr Collins, UK
“The hiking was good. We unfortunately got a nasty bit of food poisoning, which took us off the path for 3 days. People were very kind to us and Contours staff were helpful with making necessary adjustments with accommodation and luggage transfer. We soon were able to recover and get back to walking. The hikes from Torcross to Dartmouth and from Dartmouth to Brixham were very beautiful.”Mr Stallings, USA
“Tracey from Wembury Cars looked after me for the first few days, She was so hospitable, friendly and amusing . You really must keep using her!”Mr Garlick, UK
“Spectacular scenery.”Mr Collings, UK
“It was sunny and the scenery was fantastic.”Mr Carr, UK
“The stretch from Salcombe to Babbacombe is truly fantastic - the path is well signposted and the sea is visibly for a very large section of the walk. We were very lucky as we enjoyed sunshine and light winds for the entirety of our walk. It is quite likely we will continue our journey on the SW coastal path towards Penzance.”Mr Wicks, UK
“If I decide to do another walking holiday, I will definitely use Contours.”Mr Henderson, UK
