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Along the South Devon Coast

Panoramic paths, local flavour & Agatha Christie
 
Running like a thread through this self-guided, hotel-to-hotel walking holiday is the magnificent South West Coast Path. It connects unspoiled coves to the bustling seaside towns of Salcombe and Dartmouth, and reveals fascinating history, delicious cuisine and the many local landscapes that inspired Agatha Christie.
Along the South Devon Coast. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Along the South Devon Coast. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday in South Devon

Concentrating on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that lies between sheltered Hope Cove and beautiful, historic Dartmouth, this holiday promises some of the quietest and most spectacular coastal walking in Devon – often on the renowned South West Coast Path.

The panoramic routes that undulate between dramatic sea cliffs and sweeping bays are an undoubted highlight, but so too are the bustling seaside towns these trails connect, including vibrant Salcombe with its independent, pastel-hued boutiques and idyllic harbour. This area is also home to some of the very best local and seasonal produce, from wild venison to super fresh seafood, not forgetting the delicious Devonshire cream that adorns the county’s famous scones.
As the holiday unfolds, you will find yourself stepping into the past – to discover both poignant World War II history and the thrilling literary world created by Agatha Christie. This best-selling novelist was born and raised in Devon, and used local landscapes as the settings for many of her mysteries. Providing a fitting finale to your week is the chance to visit her treasured home, Greenway, once described by Christie as “the loveliest place on earth”.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

Many of our routes can be adapted using the area’s regular local ferries; pay locally for these, and for any other journeys, visits or excursions you undertake.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    You should always be prepared for wet weather, whichever month you are travelling.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 9 9 11 13 16 19 21 21 19 15 12 9
    mm 86 64 60 64 58 54 51 54 49 93 79 87
  • Arrival in Hope Cove
    Night 1: at Hope & Anchor or The Cottage Hotel (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of routes from Hope Cove: 12km or 13.5km (7.5 or 8.5 miles)
    Both our opening routes give you a fantastic first taste of the beautiful coastal scenery that will accompany you for the rest of your holiday.

    Hope Cove circuit: 12km (7.5 miles), 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 315m
    Leading north on the South West Coast Path, this route offers wonderful views across Bigbury Bay towards Burgh Island. Turning away from the island, you loop inland before rejoining the Coast Path and retracing the first leg of your walk back to Hope Cove.

    Burgh Island: 13.5km (8.5 miles), 5.5hrs; ascent 460m/descent 470m
    If you are travelling between early April and the beginning of October, when ferries are operating across the Avon Estuary, you can enjoy a route that starts with a bus ride and includes a visit to Burgh Island (pay locally for the bus and ferries). This secluded tidal island is famed for its iconic Art Déco hotel – where Agatha Christie wrote two bestselling mysteries, And Then There Were None and Evil Under the Sun. After your visit, return to Hope Cove along the South West Coast Path.
    Hope Cove circuit: 12km
    Burgh Island: 13.5km
  • Hope Cove to Salcombe: 13km (8 miles), 5hrs; ascent/descent 440m
    Leaving Hope Cove, you follow a particularly scenic stretch of the South West Coast Path to Salcombe – a real mix of undulating cliff tops, sheltered coves, spectacular sea views and even an exotic National Trust garden. No villages feature on today’s route, giving it a wonderfully remote and away-from-it-all feel – until, of course, you reach the picturesque harbour town of Salcombe. You spend two nights here just outside the bustling centre, at either Waverley or Whinfield B&Bs.
     
    Please note: our upgrade option, the South Sands Hotel, is located in South Sands, a beautiful beach reached shortly before Salcombe. A regular daytime ferry also links the two locations.
    Hope Cove to Salcombe: 13km
    Coast path towards Salcombe Harbour
  • Circular route from Salcombe: 6.5km (4.5miles), 3hrs or 13km (8 miles), 5.5hrs; ascent/descent 220m
    Experience Salcombe’s tranquil surroundings on this route, which begins with a ferry ride across the estuary before continuing inland through rolling countryside. When you re-emerge at the coast and pick up the Coast Path, you have the option to return directly to Salcombe or to enjoy a there-and-back walk towards Devon’s most southerly headland, the dramatic clifftop of Prawle Point.
     
    For a break from the trails, you could spend today investigating Salcombe’s independent shops, distilleries and seafood restaurants, or take the ferry to gorgeous South Sands Beach.
    Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary
    Circular route from Salcombe, including extension: 13km
  • Salcombe to Dartmouth: 12km (7.5 miles), 5hrs; ascent/descent 500m
    From Salcombe, you are transferred by taxi to Slapton Sands. Back in 1944, this sweeping beach played host to Exercise Tiger – a secret D-Day rehearsal which claimed the lives of hundreds of American servicemen. Their story and sacrifice are remembered at the Exercise Tiger Memorial. Our route continues north, undulating along cliff tops, descending to golden beaches and passing through pretty villages before entering Dartmouth via its atmospheric castle. As you progress towards the town centre – where you stay for two nights at either Waterfront House or Royal Castle Hotel – superb views unfold over both the Dart Estuary and magnificent Naval College.
    Salcombe to Dartmouth: 12km
    Coast path towards Dart Estuary
  • Circular route from Dartmouth: 7.5km (4.5 miles), 3hrs; ascent/descent 220m
    Beginning with a boat journey and featuring a visit to Greenway – the holiday home that Agatha Christie described as “the loveliest place in the world” – this final route offers a real contrast to previous days. Christie and her second husband owned and occupied Greenway for 40 years, and this handsome Georgian property remains much as they left it – making it all the more interesting to explore. As well as providing a treasured home, the house and grounds inspired several of Christie’s most popular novels, including Five Little Pigs and Dead Man’s Folly. After your visit, you return to Dartmouth along a high woodland path, for much of the way accompanied by views of this postcard-perfect town and its harbour.
     
    Dartmouth makes a perfect base for extra nights, with additional walking on its doorstep and the option to enjoy a lovely day trip by boat and steam train to the traditional seaside resort of Paignton, or a visit upriver to historic Totnes.
    Greenway
    Circular route from Dartmouth: 7.5km
 

Accommodation

This holiday includes a delightful variety of accommodation, with excellent locations a common theme.
 
We offer an upgrade option in Salcombe. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking.
 
In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation. Wherever you stay in Dartmouth, we recommend adding an extra night so that you have more time to explore. 
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
Currency converter

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  • 6 nights: 01 March 2024 - 31 October 2024

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Mar - 30 Apr 2024 £1065 £615
    1 May - 30 Sep 2024 £1095 £635
    1 - 25 Oct 2024 £1065 £615
    3rd & 4th person discount -£90
    Single traveller supplement £90
    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, and any connecting travel detailed below.

    Included travel: transfer Dartmouth-Hope Cove to collect car

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • 6 nights, staying at South Sands Hotel: 01 March 2024 - 31 October 2024

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 Mar - 30 Apr 2024 £1405 £915
    1 May - 30 Sep 2024 £1450 £945
    1 - 25 Oct 2024 £1405 £915
    3rd & 4th person discount -£90
    Single traveller supplement £90
    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, and any connecting travel detailed below.

    Included travel: transfer Dartmouth-Hope Cove to collect car

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hope & Anchor, Hope Cove
    Deluxe coastal: 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2024 £17

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Waterfront House, Dartmouth (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Mar - 31 Oct 2024 £170 £288

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hope & Anchor, Hope Cove
    Deluxe coastal: 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2024 £17
    South Sands Hotel, Salcombe
    Sea view: 01 Mar - 31 Oct 2024 £165

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Waterfront House, Dartmouth (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Mar - 31 Oct 2024 £170 £288
  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - via Totnes

    Outward route Price per person Latest
    arrival time
    taxi Totnes station to hotel (0h45) £18-£19 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Totnes station (0h30) £12-£13 flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi to collect car
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from A to B, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel’ section for the options available.

    For practical information about travelling to the UK, see the 'what do I need to know about travelling to England, Scotland and Wales?' question.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
  • As a minimum, you will need a passport to enter the UK; requirements vary according to your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. You’ll need to check requirements on the website of your own country’s government or that of the British government. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
     
    English is the most widely spoken of several official languages; in Wales, for example, Welsh has equal status. The currency is the British pound (Scotland issues its own bank notes, but Bank of England notes can be used in Scotland and vice versa). The UK follows Greenwich Mean Time during autumn and winter, but switches to British Summer Time (GMT + 1) from late March until late October.
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