dartmouth to brixham

in

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

tuesDAY, 7th may 2024

Start location: Dartmouth (SX 87863 51250)

End point: Brixham (SX 92545 56290)

Map: Explorer OL20

The weather forecast for today looks to be pretty good and I should have a nice sunny day.

Dartmouth low tide 12:10

Dartmouth high tide 18:39

I start the day in Dartmouth and head through the lower part of Dartmouth where I have lovely views across to Kingswear. There is a massive Hurtigruten Expeditions ship clogging up the harbour at Dartmouth.

I amble down towards the lower ferry and wait for it to cross over from Kingswear.

dartmouth lower ferry

I cross over the River Dart to Kingswear using the lower ferry which costs me £2.00. On reaching Kingswear I pass under an arch next to the post office and then climb up Alma Steps.

I take one final look back over to Dartmouth and then set off for Brixham.

I follow a minor road out of the village where I come across spring flowers.

I then follow a coastal path diversion towards Kingswear Court.

I enter Warren Woods and zig zag down a slope, cross over a stream and then zig zag up the other side of the valley.

warren woods

I now have lovely views back over to Dartmouth Castle on the other side of the river mouth.

dartmouth castle

I reach Brownstone Battery at Inner Froward Point, built in 1940 to protect the Dart estuary and Slapton and Blackpool Sands from enemy invasion.

higher brownstone

I pass by Froward Point Coastwatch Station and head down the battery.

froward point coastwatch station

The battery consists of two gun positions and each would have been armed with six inch guns. The gun emplacements remain to this day as do the two magazines that served the guns. Below the gun emplacements are two searchlight positions which would have scanned the sea for enemy ships. The trouble is that all of the information boards that were here eight years ago seem to have disintegrated so nobody passing now would be able to read about all of this.

The path zig zags up and down the cliffs towards Outer Froward Point where, out to sea, can be seen Shooter Rock, Shag Stone and Mew Stone. I continue meandering along the coast path passing Old Mill Bay, Kelly's Cove and Pudcombe Cove.

I come across the rear entrance of Coleton Fishacre which used to be infested with rhododendrons (presumably ponticum) but these appear to have been grubbed up now leaving hydrangeas all around.

I come across some wall butterflies which I manage to photograph.

I round Scabbacombe Head enjoying all of the wild flowers.

scabbacombe beach one mile

A steep, slippery descent leads me down to Scabbacombe Sands.

I head along the cliffs high above Long Sands and round Crabrock Point, passing Crabrock Point Coastguard Cottage. Along the way I come across some yellowhammers on gorse and then a patch of early purple orchids.

yellowhammer

I reach Mansands where I enjoy the pebbly and sandy beach.

It is a steep climb up onto Southdown Cliff and I have to stop several times to catch my breath - otherwise known as admiring the view.

southdown cliff

Once I reach the top I have magnificent views back over Mansands.

mansands

I head towards Sharkham Point enjoying more of the wild flowers.

I then head around St Mary's Bay, passing below the holiday villages. I would normally head down to St Mary's Bay Beach but I’m flagging today so I continue heading along the cliffs.

st mary’s bay beach

It is now a short walk to Berry Head, a National Nature Reserve, where I amble along the meandering paths. Along the way I come across another patch of early purple orchids.

I join a road which passes the Berry Head Hotel and walk through Shoalstone Car Park. It is now a pleasant waterfront walk leading me into Brixham where I pass above the art deco Shoalstone Sea Water Pool.

A harbourside walk from the breakwater takes me past the marina and into the centre of the town.

I pass Torbay Lifeboat Station next to the marina and then head towards the town centre car park where my lift awaits.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Flora and fauna encountered on the walk today includes :-

  • speckled wood butterflies

  • peacock butterflies

  • oystercatchers

  • seals

  • whitethroats

  • chaffinches

  • chiff chaffs

  • wrens

  • a rabbit

  • orange tip butterflies

  • small tortoiseshell butteflies

  • wall butterflies

  • great tits

  • robins

  • goldfinches

  • common lizards

  • yellowhammers

  • poppies

  • navelwort

  • wallflowers

  • mexican fleabane

  • irises

  • green alkanet

  • red valerian

  • herb robert

  • echiums

  • wild garlic

  • agapanthus

  • aeoniums

  • garlic mustard

  • bluebells

  • foxgloves

  • greater stitchwort

  • gorse

  • common dog-violet

  • oxeye daisies

  • bugle

  • primroses

  • stonechats

  • red campion

  • cow parsley

  • germander speedwell

  • gunnera

  • hydrangeas

  • celandines

  • scarlet pimpernel

  • sea thrift

  • flag iris

  • early purple orchids

  • honesty

  • ribwort plantain

PODCAST

The podcast of today's walk is now available. You can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or listen using the player below.

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

According to my phone I've walked 12.9 miles which amounts to 32789 steps. It has taken me six and a quarter hours. It has been a thoroughly pleasant walk in lovely weather. Nine out of ten!

WALK DETAILS

MAP

wall butterfly

flag iris

brixham

beach collection