6.9 km along the coast and 8.7 inland. About a third of section 52 in the SWCPA handbook
To walk the next length from Torcross to Salcombe, we decided to stay in Kingsbridge and drive to various starting points, the first of which was the carpark at Start Point (which is free during the winter).
From here we took a series of minor Devon Lanes, bridleways and footpaths back to Torcross. Although it is still January there were just a few snowdrops and primroses coming out, a little ahead of our flowers at home and a sign that Spring is not far away. At the start of the day there was a little sun and it felt quite warm at times despite a frost early.
After stopping for coffee at the Start Bay inn in Torcross, where we had had a drink in the carpark two years ago as we were just emerging from the first Covid lockdown. We started on the Coastal path proper. There is quite a steep ascent and the decent from Torcross to Beesands.
Beesands seems very exposed to any East wind and is mainly a collection of houses just behind the sea wall, tough it does have a “Village Green” just above the beach.
From here it is an easy walk, just a slight hill to Hallsands, a slightly smaller collection of houses behind a shingle beach. The old village of Hallsands was washed away in 1917 and now the Coastal path has been diverted inland and doesn’t go past the ruins of the village. There is a small viewing platform but as the weather was getting worse, we didn’t go down to it.
Again, the next section is a good path that slowly ascends back to the carpark at Start Point. The Lighthouse is a little further down a lane and we continued along this until the Coastal Path crosses the headland. The next section down towards Great Mattiscombe Sands is much rockier and quite exposed, this time to the West. Surprisingly you completely lose sight of the lighthouse for a while and a little mist meant that we didn’t get great views ahead.
From here there is a path with a gentle incline back to the carpark.
