SW COAST PATH Dartmouth to Brixham
START DARTMOUTH FINISH BRIXHAM LENGTH 10.9 MILES (17.5 KM) DIFFICULTY CHALLENGING
Summary The journey begins with a ferry trip across the river Dart from Dartmouth to Kingswear. The Coast Path then climbs through wooded areas containing Monterey and Corsican Pines, with fantastic views glimpsed back over the Dart to the spectacularly sited 15th century castle. Much of the first section is managed by the National Trust, who take great care to ensure a safe habitat for birds. A good place to spot many different species is along the stretch of cliffs around Froward Point, where you may see linnets, skylarks and the rare cirl bunting. From where you pass Kingswear Castle through to Sharkham Point the path crosses a series of valleys, making one of more challenging parts of the Coast Path in South Devon - but also one of the most spectacular. At Berry Head National Nature Reserve the cliffs are home to the largest guillemot colony to be found along the south coast of England. The surrounding limestone meadows also support a number of nation- ally rare plants and are full of beautiful wildflowers from May to August. From the tip of Berry Head you may see harbour porpoises and seals, although you are unlikely to spot any of the threatened Greater Horseshoe Bats who live in caves in this area.
HIGHLIGHTS ■ Kingswear Castle: slightly hidden amongst the trees is a 15th century square artillery tower and a 16th century blockhouse. These are now owned by the Landmark Trust and can actually be hired as holiday accommodation.
■ Spotting grey seals around the Mew Stone. This is one of a number of offshore rocks with this name due to the nesting colonies of gulls (or mews).
■ The remains of WWII defences at Froward Point, decommissioned in 1956.
■ The lovely views from above Pudcombe Cove.
■ Scabbacombe Head: the National Trust manages this site using wild ponies to keep down the scrub and consequently encourage maritime plants and butterflies.
■ Swimming at Scabbacombe Sands or at one of the other beaches you pass.
■ The flowers of Long Sands Cliff. Along this stretch you may see bird’s-foot trefoil and early purple orchids, as well as some of the beautiful butterflies who also enjoy the many different species of flowering plants growing amongst the maritime grasses.
■ Man Sand with the remains of a 19th century lime kiln. Limestone was brought by boat and burnt to make lime which was used as a soil conditioner and a wash for the walls of the local cottages.
■ Views from Sharkham Point over St Mary’s Bay and on to Berry Head. Now managed as a conservation area, the Point was once an important site for iron mining, as well as serving as the town tip for Brixham.
■ Spotting the nesting kittiwakes, guillemots (known locally as the Brixham penguin) and fulmers.
■ Looking down on the long stretch of sand and shingle of St Mary’s Bay. Access to the beach can be difficult, but there are often people here searching for fossils.
■ Walking round the high cliffs of Berry Head: this lime- stone peninsula is a National Nature Reserve and the site of an Iron Age hill fort and also has two well-preserved Napoleonic fortifications. Beyond the coastguard station is the Berry Head lighthouse which is known as the smallest, highest and deepest light in the British Isles. Due to the height of the cliffs, the tower only needed to be built 5 metres high!
left - near Warren house over Mill Bay cove looking towards Dartmouth castle. Photographer Rudolf Guldner,Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
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