Ferry across the Salcombe estuary and around Prawle Point, Devon's southernmost tip, to Start Bay and Torcross.
Highlights
- Salcombe ferry
- Prawle Point
- Start Point lighthouse
Know before you go
- Rough path near Prawle Point
Climbs 791 m and descends 787 m, topping out at 117 m and dropping to 2 m. Measured along the mapped route.
What you walk on, by distance (from OpenStreetMap way types).
Four axes rated 1–5 — the single rating above is only the headline.
Ferry across the Salcombe estuary and around Prawle Point, Devon's southernmost tip, to Start Bay and Torcross.
This stage depends on 1 crossing. Check times before you set out — most are seasonal or tide-bound, and the inland detour is long.
Salcombe to Torcross is 12.7 miles (20.5 km). Allow about 7 h 6 min of walking, before stops.
Stage 39 climbs about 791 m and descends about 787 m, with a high point of about 117 m. On the South West Coast Path the ascent, not the distance, is what decides how long a day takes — the route repeatedly drops to sea level and climbs straight back out.
It is graded moderate. Rated out of five: physical demand 3/5 (Moderate), terrain 3/5 (Moderate), navigation 2/5 (Modest), remoteness 2/5 (Modest). On the SAC hiking scale it is T2 — some steep, rough or uneven ground.
By distance the surface is footpath 89%, road & lane 11%. Percentages come from the mapped way types along the route.
March to October is the usual window for this leg. Outside it, daylight is short, some estuary ferries stop running and cliff-top wind and rain make an exposed route much harder work.
Water on this stage is scarce. We map 2 refill points on the leg — mostly pubs, cafés and taps in the villages the path passes through. Shade is minimal: this is open cliff-top walking, so carry more than you think in summer.
Yes — Salcombe–East Portlemouth ferry. Year-round ferry across the Salcombe (Kingsbridge) estuary.
Highlights on this leg are Salcombe ferry, Prawle Point, Start Point lighthouse.
Rough path near Prawle Point.