South West Coast Path: South Devon
The South Hams coast is a chain of estuaries, and the path crosses them by boat: the Yealm, the Avon, the Salcombe, the Dart, the Teign and the Exe all need a ferry, and the Erme needs a low-tide wade. Beyond Exmouth the cliffs turn red and the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site begins at Orcombe Point.
- 10Stages
- 132 miDistance
- 213 kmMetric
- 5,031 mTotal ascent
- 71 hWalking time
- ~11Days at 12–13 mi
Every stage in South Devon
Stages 36–45 of 52, Plymouth to Seaton. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Plymouth to Wembury | 16.7 | 26.9 | 317 m | Hard |
| 37 | Newton Ferrers to Bigbury-on-Sea | 14.0 | 22.5 | 529 m | Moderate |
| 38 | Bigbury-on-Sea to Salcombe | 13.4 | 21.5 | 531 m | Moderate |
| 39 | Salcombe to Torcross | 13.3 | 21.3 | 537 m | Moderate |
| 40 | Torcross to Dartmouth | 10.3 | 16.5 | 320 m | Moderate |
| 41 | Dartmouth to Brixham | 10.8 | 17.4 | 614 m | Moderate |
| 42 | Brixham to Babbacombe | 14.4 | 23.2 | 556 m | Moderate |
| 43 | Babbacombe to Exmouth | 15.8 | 25.4 | 496 m | Hard |
| 44 | Exmouth to Sidmouth | 13.5 | 21.8 | 500 m | Moderate |
| 45 | Sidmouth to Seaton | 10.1 | 16.3 | 631 m | Moderate |
Ferries & crossings in this section
7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | River Yealm ferry | Seasonal |
| 37 | River Erme tidal crossing | Tidal — no ferry |
| 38 | River Avon ferry (Bantham) | Seasonal |
| 39 | Salcombe–East Portlemouth ferry | Year-round |
| 41 | Dartmouth–Kingswear ferry | Year-round |
| 43 | Teign ferry (Shaldon–Teignmouth) | Year-round |
| 43 | Starcross–Exmouth ferry | Seasonal |
Places on the South Devon coast
8 places along this section have a full history on this site, and 8 free audio guides between them.
Common questions
How long is the South West Coast Path in Devon?
The South Devon section runs 132 miles (213 km) over 10 of the path's 52 stages, from Plymouth to Seaton. At a typical 12–13 miles a day that is about 11 days' walking.
How much climbing is there on the Devon coast path?
About 5,031 m of ascent across the section — an average of 503 m per stage. The hardest single leg for climbing is Sidmouth to Seaton, at 631 m.
Which stages of the South Devon section are hardest?
2 of the 10 stages here are graded hard: Plymouth to Wembury, Babbacombe to Exmouth.
Are there ferries on the Devon coast path?
Yes — 7 crossings in this section: River Yealm ferry, River Erme tidal crossing, River Avon ferry (Bantham), Salcombe–East Portlemouth ferry, Dartmouth–Kingswear ferry, Teign ferry (Shaldon–Teignmouth), Starcross–Exmouth ferry. 3 run year-round; the rest are seasonal or tide-dependent, and the inland detour when they are not running is long.
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 South Devon section?
We cover 8 places along it in depth, with 8 free audio guides between them: Plymouth Hoe & the Barbican, Burgh Island, Salcombe & Overbeck's, Dartmouth & Dartmouth Castle, Slapton Sands & Ley, Berry Head, Exmouth & the Exe Estuary, Beer & the Quarry Caves.
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.