Bolt Head walk
Discover the dramatic coast around Salcombe, walking from East Soar, the journey will first take you around the jagged rocks at Bolt Head. Hugging the coastline you then drop into the valley and the see impossibly blue turquoise waters of Starehole Bottom. Continue along this stretch of the South West Coast Path to see fantastic views of the Salcombe Estuary.
Map
Start:
East Soar car park (National Trust), grid ref SX713375
1
Leave your car at East Soar car park, just past Soar hamlet. Walk down the lane and opposite the brick building turn right, through the gateway, towards Middle Soar. Follow the track, past the buildings of Middle Soar, to reach the warren wall. Continue straight ahead, through the gate and onto the cliffs. Turn left at the signpost, towards Bolt Head.
Soar Mill Cove
A right at the signpost takes you to the charming beach at Soar Mill Cove.
2
Continue along the coast path, through gates and along the lower path (signposted 'Bolt Head and Salcombe'). Go through another gate to arrive at Bolt Head, with its dramatic jagged rocks. The views from the headland stretch from Dodman Point in the west to Prawle Point in the east.
Bolt Head
People have been farming at Bolt Head for centuries and the cliffs are dotted with the remains of field boundaries and animal enclosures, some dating back to the Bronze Age. Today, Dartmoor ponies graze on the cliffs, preventing blackthorn and gorse from smothering the slopes. Look out for grey bush crickets and their great green cousins (the largest in the British Isles). Fulmars, gulls, cormorants and shags bred on the cliff-faces. The headland was the site of a Second World War lookout until it was demolished in 2007, and is also a stop over for migrating swallows and house martins.
3
Follow the coast path to Salcombe, around the headland and down the slope towards Starehole Bay.
Starehole Bay
On calm days you'll see the dark patch of seaweed beneath the north waters of the cove, marking the Hezogin Cecile wreck. This grain clipper ran aground off Soar Mill Cove on 24 April 1936. For seven weeks the ship lay stranded whilst sightseers in their thousands lined the cliffs, holding their noses from the stench of rotting wheat. The ship was smashed in a July gale after being towed to Starehole Bay.
4
Return to the coast path, cross the bridge and go through the gate, soon passing on your right the ruins of a telegraph cable testing house. Continue along the path towards the crags of Sharp Tor. Follow the path along the cliffs and into Fir Wood. You are now above the treacherous Salcombe Bar which stretches across the ria to Leek Cove.
Salcombe Bar
This shallow sandbank, evoked by Tennyson in his poem 'Crossing the Bar', lies across the ria's mouth and is barely 60cm (23 inches) below water on an ebb tide. Devon's worst life boat loss occurred here on 22 October 1916, when the 'William & Emma' capsized rowing back from a rescue.
5
When you reach the road, turn left uphill towards Overbecks, before taking the path on your right into Tor Woods. Continue along the path, keeping left, as it winds uphill to offer views of South Sands. Climb the steps out of the woods and follow the path across the fields, through the gate, then turn immediately right. Continue through another gate and follow the edge of the field towards the windsocks until meeting the track to the car park.
Tor Woods
The trees in Tor Woods are mostly sycamore, oak and ash with some younger pine and sweet chestnut, above a carpet of native bluebells, ramsons, wood sorrel and celandines in spring. Watch out for sika deer as well as black caps, chiffchaffs and woodpeckers.
6
Go through the gate, turn right (to Malborough) and cross two fields. Turn right at the track, and follow it to the car park.
End:
East Soar car park (National Trust), grid ref SX713375
