SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

tuesday, 13TH MAY 2025

Start location: Salcombe (SX 74046 39082)

End point: Hallsands (SX 81574 38494)

Map: Explorer OL20

Today's weather forecast for today and the rest of the week looks to be fantastic.

Start Point high tide 07:15

Start Point low tide 13:12

I start the day back in Salcombe and walk around to the Ferry Inn. It is very confusing walking through Salcombe but I eventually make my way through and climb down to the jetty where I catch the ferry over from Salcombe to East Portlemouth. The ferry turns up straight away and I’m the only passenger. The ferry fare is £2.70. The ferry turns up so quickly that I don’t really have any time to take any decent photographs.

I come ashore at East Portlemouth where I have lovely views back to Salcombe.

I turn right and amble along the road enjoying the wildflowers and immediately come across a clump of stumpy echiums.

I follow a minor road to reach Mill Bay, where I enjoy fine views back across to Salcombe.

A mass of sand from the beach has blown onto the road. The road verges are covered in wildflowers. I come across masses of a bell like plant which I don’t come across very often but is the three-cornered garlic (allium triquetrum) and I come across it throughout my walk today.

mill bay

I walk along the cliffs along Portlemouth Down towards Gara Rock. There are bluebells everywhere! I also come across a lone early purple orchid.

I come across a small pearl-bordered fritillary and I will continue to come across them throughout the day.

I reach a plaque commemorating the centenary of the Salcombe lifeboat disaster, when the RNLI lifeboat William and Emma capsized off Salcombe Bar with the loss of thirteen crew on the 27th of October 1916.

I have lovely views ahead of me towards Gara Rock and Gammon Head.

The paths are covered in foxgloves just coming into flower. I love foxgloves!

I come across stonechats clacking away in the gorse.

I come across common bird's-foot trefoil, a scabious of some kind and something I don't recognize. I've come across it at home as well but it doesn't seem to feature in my wildflower book.

I spot a beach with some people on it. The beach doesn't seem to be marked on my map but is known as Seacombe Sand and a very nice place it is.

seacombe sand

As I leave Seacombe Sand I come across large clumps of seathrift and bloody crane’s-bill.

I cross a footbridge and enter West Prawle, Higher House and Borough farms and there are foxgloves and spurges everywhere. They look like wood spurges to me but it's not particularly woody.

I continue along Deckler's Cliff passing Deckler's Island, Shag Rock and Bullock Cove.

I spot another lovely looking beach, this time at Venerick's Cove. I know it's accessible so I scramble down myself but I don't quite make it to the beach as my heavy rucksack is making things a little unsafe.

I scramble back up and come across more bloody crane's-bill. It seems to like it around here.

I come across a tiny adder but it disappears into the undergrowth before I have a chance to photograph it.

I continue along the coast path past Pig's Nose, Ham Stone and Bull Rock. I head out on to Gammon Head, given to the National Trust by the Rose family on the 5th of January 1965.

The view over Gammon Head is magnificent.

I come across yet another lovely beach, this time at Maceley Cove. It is a very steep descent to the beach but my rucksack makes the decision not to descend easy.

The path zig zags to reach Prawle Point National Coastwatch Station.

I have lovely views over towards Start Point. I continue along the path which takes me past Cobstone Cove, Western Cove, Landing Cove and Wollow Cove.

The path verges are full of wildflowers so I amble along taking photographs.

I round Langerstone Point and pass Sharper's Cove and Horseley Cove and on reaching Maelcombe House I come across a speckled wood butterfly and a stonechat.

The path passes in front of Maelcombe House and crosses Woodcombe Point, covered in wildflowers.

I reach Lannacombe Beach which I wander down to to enjoy the sandy beach.

I leave the beach and enter Down Farm and then pass Limpet Cove.

I pass Great Mattiscombe Sand which I must visit one day as it looks lovely and out to sea are Frenchman's Rock, Barler Rock, Little Sleaden Rock and Great Sleaden Rock.

I head round Start Point and pass the Start Point Lighthouse.

I now have magnificent views over Start Bay and over to Slapton Sands.

I have one last chance to capture the wildflowers before reaching Hallsands.

I follow the path down a steep slope to reach Hallsands, the village that fell into the sea. In May 2012, an access road, viewing platform and two houses were affected by a 200 tonne landslide.

FLORA AND FAUNA

skylarks
whitethroats
stonechats
pheasants
hydrangeas
white valerian
three-cornered garlic
echiums
red valerian
bluebells
greater stitchwort
early purple orchid
gorse
small pearl-bordered fritillary
foxgloves
ribwort plantain
bladder campion
scarlet pimpernel
bird’s-foot trefoil
herb robert
cat’s-ear
sea thrift
bloody crane’s-bill
red admiral
kidney vetch
wild carrot
alexanders
speckled wood butterfly
common vetch
primrose
herb robert
navelwort

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 11.8 miles which amounts to 31487 steps. It has taken me 5 hours 40 minutes. The weather has been beautiful. Ten out of ten!

salcombe to hallsands

SOUTH WEST COAST PATH

tuesday, 13TH MAY 2025

FLORA AND FAUNA

PODCAST

MARKS OUT OF TEN?

WALK DETAILS

MAP