South West Coast Path: North Devon
The hardest walking on the whole trail is here. Between Lynmouth and Combe Martin the path crosses the Great Hangman, the highest point on the route; after the flat interlude of the Taw and Torridge estuaries it reaches the Hartland peninsula, where the coast is cut by a succession of steep valleys and the path goes down and up every one of them. The Devon–Cornwall border is at Marsland Mouth, on Stage 10.
- 8Stages
- 103 miDistance
- 166 kmMetric
- 3,925 mTotal ascent
- 56 hWalking time
- ~8Days at 12–13 mi
Every stage in North Devon
Stages 3–10 of 52, Lynmouth to Bude. Ascent is the number that decides these days, not distance — the path drops to sea level and climbs back out many times over. Every row links to the full stage guide with an elevation profile, surface breakdown, water points and what to see.
| Stage | Route | Miles | km | Ascent | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lynmouth to Combe Martin | 13.7 | 22.0 | 908 m | Hard |
| 4 | Combe Martin to Woolacombe | 14.3 | 23.0 | 726 m | Moderate |
| 5 | Woolacombe to Braunton | 14.8 | 23.9 | 235 m | Moderate |
| 6 | Braunton to Instow | 10.9 | 17.5 | 30 m | Easy |
| 7 | Instow to Westward Ho! | 12.3 | 19.9 | 151 m | Moderate |
| 8 | Westward Ho! to Clovelly | 11.5 | 18.5 | 642 m | Moderate |
| 9 | Clovelly to Hartland Quay | 10.1 | 16.3 | 377 m | Hard |
| 10 | Hartland Quay to Bude | 15.6 | 25.1 | 856 m | Hard |
Ferries & crossings in this section
1 of the stages here depend on a boat or a low tide. Full detail, seasons and detours are on the ferries and tidal crossings page.
| Stage | Crossing | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Instow–Appledore ferry | Seasonal |
Places on the North Devon coast
6 places along this section have a full history on this site, and 6 free audio guides between them.
Common questions
How long is the South West Coast Path in Devon?
The North Devon section runs 103 miles (166 km) over 8 of the path's 52 stages, from Lynmouth to Bude. At a typical 12–13 miles a day that is about 8 days' walking.
How much climbing is there on the Devon coast path?
About 3,925 m of ascent across the section — an average of 491 m per stage. The hardest single leg for climbing is Lynmouth to Combe Martin, at 908 m.
Which stages of the North Devon section are hardest?
3 of the 8 stages here are graded hard: Lynmouth to Combe Martin, Clovelly to Hartland Quay, Hartland Quay to Bude.
Are there ferries on the Devon coast path?
Yes — 1 crossing in this section: Instow–Appledore ferry. All are seasonal or tide-dependent, so check before you set out.
When is the best time to walk the Devon coast path?
March to October is the usual window across these stages. Outside it, daylight is short, seasonal ferries stop and this exposed coast takes the weather full on.
What is there to see on the North Devon section?
We cover 6 places along it in depth, with 6 free audio guides between them: Valley of Rocks, Ilfracombe Harbour & Verity, Braunton Burrows, Appledore, Clovelly, Hartland Quay.
Walking this section? The free South West Coast Walk app carries all 52 stages offline — GPS navigation, elevation profiles, mapped water points and the audio guides — and the accommodation guide covers where to sleep along the way.