South Devon
COASTAL TRAIL
1 SX781364 Walk south, following the lane signed ‘Prawle Point’. When the lane turns left, continue ahead on the public bridleway. At a T-junction, turn left towards Elender Cove.
2 SX767358 Turn right down to the coast path at the waymarked path junction. Turn left along the coast path to the National Coastwatch station on Prawle Point. Operations permitting, the staff are happy to talk to visitors. There is a small visitor centre.
3 SX773351 Follow the coast path east. Around Langerstone Point it is on a raised beach formed by Ice Age glacial deposition. Ignore the turning right with the blue arrow. This leads only to Horseley Cove.
4 SX795368 Reaching the Woodcombe Sand waymark, continue ahead for 160m. Turn right onto ‘Coastpath Lannacombe’. Turn left at the next fingerpost as signed. Continue past Lannacombe beach along the coast path by low cliffs.
5 SX818370 Keep right along the coast path at the waymark by Mattiscombe beach. Follow the coast path over the rocky ridge to a tarred track. Divert right to Start Point lighthouse (the lighthouse was temporarily closed at the time of writing, so check opening times on 01803 771802 or visitor.centre@
6 SX829372 Retrace your steps and follow the track up to the car park. Keep right on the coast path. Reaching Hallsands, divert right as signed to the viewing platform. This gives a fine view of ruined Hallsands village with Start Point beyond. Plaques supported by archive photographs explain the tragic history of Hallsands, and give an account of fishing and smuggling in Start Bay.
7 SX818385 Retrace your steps for 50m. Turn left onto the lane and follow it uphill to Hollowcombe Head Cross. Continue ahead down the lane ‘Lannacombe’.
8 SX803384 At the foot of the hill, take the second lane left, ‘South Allington Chivelstone’. Continue for 200m, passing the old mill house. Turn left onto ‘Public Bridleway East
Prawle’. The path immediately divides. Keep right on the upper path – the lower path is blocked. The path climbs steeply to enter an enclosed track. Dartmoor’s outline appears on the horizon. Continue ahead along field edges as signed and into a second enclosed path.
9 SX790378 The path divides near Higher Borough. Ignore the footpath on your right. Continue ahead to a farm track. Turn left, then right as signed. Turn left just before Woodcombe Farm as signed. Continue ahead onto the public bridleway at the path junction. Walk ahead when you meet a tarred track. Continue around a right hand bend. Turn left on the second right hand bend onto the signed public bridleway. Continue ahead at the next path junction. Reaching a T-junction, turn left. At the next junction, turn left, then right to the Pig’s Nose Inn.