Walking trail
Short walk around Ayrmer Cove
Follow this gentle 1 mile walk along farmland with impressive views of Bigbury and Burgh Island (made famous by Agatha Christie's 'Then there were none'). This linear route finishes just above Ayrmer Cove and a well placed bench to stop and rest.
Map
Start:
Ringmore National Trust car park, grid ref: SX649456
1
From the car park take the waymarked path to Tobys Point, through the bank and follow the track out towards the coast.
Enterprise Neptune
The Neptune Coastline Campaign our longest running appeal, which over the last 46 years has raised over £67 million. Donations to the campaign are used wherever there's a need around the shores of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are used to help us obtain more land, as well as manage the existing sites more sensitively and sustainably. The campaign also helps us to promote coastal issues to supporters and the general public.
2
Continue along the track until you arrive at a field gate. Take the path to the right. This path has been levelled with a solid base to provide an easy access route to the stunning Devon coastline.
Wildlife
The fields are rich in wild flowers associated with arable cultivation. These include plants with fascinating names such as weasels snout and field woundwort that have become scarce due to changing farming practices, such as the increased use of herbicides. These land use changes have also caused a dramatic decline in bird life, including the cirl bunting. This small bird, which superficially resembles the more common yellow hammer, can be found in the area. Numbers are now recovering through carefully targeted habitat improvement measures, funded through government agricultural incentive schemes.
3
Continue along this path. Stop at the resting points and enjoy the views across the valley to Bigbury and Burgh Island.
Burgh Island - out at sea
Ideal for hermits, wreckers and smugglers, Burgh Island lies just 275yd (250m) off the mainland of the Devon coast. It's an easy walk at low tide, but best avoided at high tide. Early island dwellers included monks escaping from the distractions of everyday life and fishermen watching for the shoals of pilchards. Today, the island is the destination of a different kind of visitor, those heading for the art deco style hotel built in 1932 and most famous as the setting for a number of Agatha Christie novels.
4
Towards the end of the path look at the dry stone wall on the right-hand side. There are often adders basking on top of the wall throughout the summer.
5
Once you reach the end of this path stand and take a look at the stunning views, down into Ayrmer Cove and out over to Burgh Island. The bench is a good spot for a picnic, where you can take the time to truly enjoy the surrounding views and wildlife.
6
Return to the car park by retracing you steps. If you'd like a longer walk, why not combine this with our Ayrmer Cove, Ringmore downloadable walk. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks for details.
7
We hope that you really enjoyed this one-mile walk. The National Trust looks after some of the most spectacular areas of countryside for the enjoyment of all. We need your support to help us continue our work to cherish the countryside and provide access to our beautiful and refreshing landscapes. To find out more about how you too can help our work as a volunteer, member or donor please visit the National Trust website.
End:
Ringmore National Trust car park, grid ref: SX649456
