Devon

Salcombe Hill accessible walk

View from Salcombe Hill looking down to Sidmouth and the Jurassic coastline | © George Taylor / National Trust

This short, accessible walk offers a fantastic introduction to the South West Coast Path for visitors with reduced mobility. Take in views of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site cliffs from one of the clifftop benches and orient yourself using the toposcope.

Near to

Sidmouth countryside

Start point

Salcombe Hill car park (National Trust), grid ref: SY148889

Trail information

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Difficulty

Accessibility*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 0.8 (km: 1.28)

Duration 30 mins to 1 hour

Dog friendly

*Follows a series of well-maintained gravel paths suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. For further details, see section marked Access.

Address
Salcombe Hill car park (National Trust), grid ref: SY148889
Directions via Google Maps
Cycling
A Route 2 cycle path from Sidmouth passes immediately in front of the National Trust car park where this circular walk commences. For further information about this cycle path please view the National Cycle Network website.
Sustrans
By bus
Summer: The Sidmouth Hopper (running free hourly services from May – September excluding Sidmouth Folk Festival week) passes the National Trust car park. Ask the driver to stop at the National Trust car park/Norman Lockyer Observatory stop.
Outside of summer: Take a bus to Sidmouth and then commence this circular walk from the eastern end of Sidmouth seafront next to the seascape mural at The Ham.
By road
The National Trust car park is opposite the Norman Lockyer Observatory (postcode: EX10 0NY) which is signposted from the A3052.
Total stages: 4
Total stages: 4
Start point
Salcombe Hill car park (National Trust), grid ref: SY148889
Stage 1
Take the path from the car park past the National Trust orientation board. Follow the path to the left passing through the gap between oak leaf routed National Trust bollards towards to the coast. As the path forks continue forward until you reach the cliff top.
Stage 2
Follow the path around to the right towards the Salcombe Hill toposcope which identifies points of interest along the coast.
Stage 3
Continue right along the path to one of the benches for a rest and to admire the views across Sidmouth, High Peak, Ladrum Bay and beyond.
Stage 4
Continue along the path leading around to the right (ignoring the South West Coast Path turning to the left which leads down into Sidmouth) until you reach the fork in the path once more. Bear left and follow the path back to the car park.
End point
Salcombe Hill car park (National Trust), grid ref: SY148889
Trail map
Salcombe Hill accessible walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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view of valley and winter trees with blue sky

Trail

Salcombe Views and Valleys Walk

Follow the Salcombe Hill circular walk trail in Devon for views of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site cliffs and valleys and to the Weston Plats for its 19th-century cliff allotments.

Sunny view over flowering clifftop gorse bushes down to the seaside town of Sidmouth, red sandstone cliffs in the distance

Trail

Salcombe Hill to Sidmouth circular walk

Starting with views across the Sid valley, this 5 mile circular walk showcases the regency town of Sidmouth, and then takes you upriver through a tranquil riverside park.