A circular walk from Little Dartmouth
A beautiful four-mile circular coastal walk with far-reaching views across the sea and towards Dartmouth. A great walk to see birds, grasshoppers, crickets and butterflies.
Follow the boats along the coast to the safe harbour of Dartmouth
This moderate graded walk joins the coast path and includes some impressive sea and estuary views. A small detour will take you down to the secluded Compass Cove, or extend your trip with a visit to the Dartmouth Castle tea-rooms (not NT). For many the highlight of the walk is the ruins of Gallants Bower, an old Civil War fort with impressive 360 degree views.
Map
Start:
National Trust Little Dartmouth car park, grid ref: SX874491
1
Follow the path at the southern end of the car park towards the sea, joining the coast path at Warren Point. The Point gets its name from the large burrows where rabbits were bred for meat and fur in the 19th century (long gone now). From the Point there are far-reaching views south across Start Bay to Start Point Lighthouse 8 miles (13km) away.
2
Follow the coast path eastwards passing Western Combe Cove (don't be tempted by the steep unstable steps carved into the cliff face). Walk past the gorse-covered outcrop of Combe Point and the rocky inlets of Shinglehill Cove and Willow Cove. (You'll pass an inland path which offers a short cut back to the car park.)
Look out for basking seals
Look out for basking grey seals on the rocks below. These cliffs are Trust-owned, managed by the tenant farmer, and are valuable areas of coastal grassland, home to whitethroats, stonechats, linnets, yellowhammers and cirl bunting.
3
The coast path eventually loops around Compass Valley, then descends seawards, bearing right at the bottom and over a stile; a detour, right, takes you down to the cove. Turn left and continue along the coast path crossing a footbridge spanning a rocky inlet beside a cave.
Compass Cove
Take the steps down to Compass Cove, once the site of an old cable house, part of an early communication system that used electric signals transmitted over wires to send messages. It was from here on 2 November 1870 that one of the earliest undersea telegraph cables to Guernsey was laid. Although soon after it was decided to move this end into the harbour at Dartmouth. The cable was 67 miles (108km) long and was in use until the 1950s, except during the German occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second World War when it was severed.
4
Continue along the coast path and onto Blackstone Point. Follow the path as it climbs steeply through woods above Deadman's Cove and Sugary Cove, until you reach the lane at Compass cottage (if you turn left here you can bypass Gallants Bower and return to the car park). On the estuary below stands Dartmouth Castle (English Heritage) with refreshments and toilets.
Dartmouth Castle
Dartmouth Castle was built between 1481 and 1494. Kingswear Castle, on the east bank, was completed just a few years later, and together the twin forts guarded the narrow entrance to the estuary and the prosperous merchant port. At times of threat, a great chain was stretched across the water and raised to obstruct any attacking ships. Dartmouth castle is owned by English Heritage and is open all year; Kingswear Castle is now a holiday cottage owned by the Landmark Trust.
5
Turn right, going downhill along the lane. After a short distance on the left take the path up into Gallants Bower (Dartmouth Castle is now below you). Follow the path up through the woods. Through the gate into the open area - the site of the fortification. Take the path westwards staying below the fort. Then back through a gate and down through the woods and on to the lane. Bear right heading up hill, passing the old Coastguard Station and continue along the bridleway back to Little Dartmouth car park.
Gallants Bower
Although now just a ruin, the fort is still an impressive place to explore with amazing 360 degree views across the estuary and inland. Built between 1643 and 1645 to defend Dartmouth against the Parliamentarians, it saw the fiercest action in 1646, when it came under attack from Roundhead forces under General Fairfax. The Royalists having already fled the town and the castle finally retreated to Gallants Bower where they soon surrendered. Four years later the the fort was dismantled. It is now one of the best-preserved in the country.
End:
National Trust Little Dartmouth car park, grid ref: SX874491
