Plymouth is gearing up for National Walking Month this May with pride. As the only UK city located between a National Park (Dartmoor) and the country’s first National Marine Park, Plymouth offers an unmatched setting for walkers. From coastal paths and historical landmarks to moorland adventures, Britain’s Ocean City is the perfect destination for walking enthusiasts of all levels.
At the heart of Plymouth’s extraordinary landscape and providing a connection between the two national parks is the South West Coast Path National Trail. The 630-mile (1013 km) coastal trail directly crosses the city and, from Plymouth Hoe, extends across the Southwest of England.
The upcoming movie adaptation ‘The Salt Path’, featuring film stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs and following a couple’s journey along this world-famous way – based on Raynor Winn’s Sunday Times bestseller memoir, which includes sections near and through Plymouth – is due to be released in the UK on May 30, and the area’s very own Mount Edgcumbe Country Park served as a film location, offering beautiful panoramic views over Plymouth’s Drake’s Island and the Tamar Estuary.
This section of the South West Coast Path National Trail is a unique coastal walk, with highlights from the city’s history and heritage and scenic views of Plymouth Sound and connects you to the waterfront – across the National Marine Park – with a starting point at Cremyll Ferry in Stonehouse and eventually leading to Jenny cliff on the eastern side of Plymouth Sound.
Devil’s Point also forms part of the South West Coast Path with the ‘Stairway to Devon’ – opened in June 2013 and recently re-furbished – which enables walkers’ direct access between this point and the city’s Royal William Yard, a thriving hub and cultural destination, steeped in history and including the largest collection of Grade I listed military buildings in Europe.
The South West Coast Path is also the perfect access point to Wembury, where Devon’s coast-to-coast route, known as The Two Moors Way, begins. This is a trail that links Dartmoor to Exmoor, where land meets the sea, historic walking routes cross centuries of heritage, and every section of the journey tells the story of Britain’s maritime and rural past.
And Plymouth is home to more stunning walking routes, including:
- Drake’s Trail – This trail includes the long-established Plym Valley Trail and is an attractive family route which will see you walking (or riding through) wooded river valleys and across open moorland – getting close to wildlife including Dartmoor ponies, and a key link of national and international cycle routes.
Venturing out from Plymouth, this trail can be joined either by continuing on the Plym Valley or joining the track at Yelverton, where the Drake’s Trail continues the off-road path to Tavistock.
- The Plym Valley Trail – A gentle route – open all year – for both cyclists and walkers heading out from Plymouth towards Dartmoor, following the Plym River. Managed by the National Trust, the trail offers great views and the opportunity to get close to wildlife, as well as being of interest to geologists.
- Plymouth’s Waterfront Walkway (part of the South West Coast Path) – Plymouth is a modern yet historically significant maritime city and an accumulation of several once very separate towns – Plymouth, Stonehouse, Devonport and Plympton – as well as numerous villages, including Cattedown, Oreston, Hooe and Turnchapel, each of which this walk passes through.
Follow in the footsteps of famous explorers, pioneers and artists and you will marvel at iconic naval buildings, breathtaking views over the natural harbour of Plymouth Sound and the unique characteristics of former towns and villages that make up this original marine city.
For those open to small detours from the path, further delights await: vibrant marinas, charming, cobbled streets and plenty of friendly places for refreshments.
If visiting Plymouth Hoe for the first time, here is the chance to discover how close this attractive public open space is to one of the world’s finest natural harbours. A perfect opportunity to explore some of the city’s rich heritage or experience Plymouth from the water…
And this route is also available as part of the walks listed in the free Plymouth Trails App – a series of bespoke guided walks led by local experts, each uncovering history, hidden gems, and unique stories, including Mayflower Trail, Devonport Heritage Trail, American Tree Trail (celebrating the links between communities in Plymouth and the USA, developed over 400 years) and more!
Whether looking for adventure tourism, heritage travel, or outdoor wellness this National Walking Month (and beyond) Plymouth has plenty of options to suit everyone…
