Salcombe Hill circular walk
Following parts of the famous South West Coast Path, the views of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site cliffs and valleys are not to be missed. Take a flask of tea and sit on a bench at the Frogstone Steps for a stunning vista before heading through the valley and up to Weston Plats, 19th Century cliff allotments which back then rivalled Jersey's early crop of new potatoes.
Map
Start:
Salcombe Hill car park (National Trust), grid ref SY148889
1
Start your walk at the National Trust car park. Take the path past the picnic tables, and follow the footpath to the cliff where you can enjoy fantastic views of Sidmouth, High Peak, Ladrum Bay and beyond.
Salcombe Hill viewpoint
Following parts of the famous South West Coast Path, the views of the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site cliffs and valleys are not to be missed.
2
Take the path to the left and follow the ‘Coast Path Salcombe Mouth ½m' sign through South Combe Farm which was dedicated as a permanent open space by Oliver Vaughan Cornish in 1937. After enjoying the view at the ‘frogstone’, walk down the ‘frogstone steps’. At the bottom of the valley, continue past the steps which lead to Salcombe Mouth and follow the “Coast Path Weston Mouth 1m” sign and along the edge of the field and across a small footbridge.
Frogstone Steps
The froglike stone, was placed here by helicopter from a Royal Navy frigate in 1956. From the top of the steps you can enjoy wonderful views over the Salcombe mouth valley.
3
After crossing the bridge, follow the Coast Path across the field towards Weston Mouth and up the steps to Higher Dunscombe cliff. At the top of the steps, continue to follow the Coast Path towards Weston Mouth (signposted ‘Coast Path Weston Mouth 1½m’) across two fields and through a kissing gate to get a fantastic view of Weston beach.
4
After admiring the view, continue following the coast path towards Weston Mouth, through a small wood, up some steps and along the coastline. Please take care along this part of the route. After prolonged wet weather this path can get slippery.
Lincombe
Enjoy the views from the South West Coast Path.
5
Turn right in the next set of woods (signposted ‘Weston Mouth ¼m’) and continue following the coast path past Weston Plats. Turn left at the kissing gate at the steps leading down to Weston Mouth beach (signposted ‘Public Footpath Dunscombe 1m’).
Weston Plats (National Trust)
The Weston Plats offer a unique glimpse into long forgotten cliff top farming practices carried out in Devonshire in the 19th century. The Weston Plats were once thriving market gardens farmed by villagers from Branscombe (one mile away) and provided a source of food for local communities as well as commercial produce for shops as far afield as London. Donkeys regularly assisted the farmers by transporting seaweed from nearby beaches up the cliff to fertilise the soils and they carried the harvested crops back to the village.
6
Head inland and walk across two fields. At the signpost, take the footpath to the right towards Slade House Farm (The Donkey Sanctuary). Continue heading inland through The Donkey Sanctuary’s ‘Field of Dreams’ and past their nature centre and hermitage woodland hut. As you reach The Donkey Sanctuary’s paddocks, turn left and follow the ‘Public Footpath Salcombe Regis 1½m’ sign which will lead you into the heart of the dog-friendly Donkey Sanctuary (admission free, open every day until sunset) which is home to over 500 donkeys and mules.
The Donkey Sanctuary
The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in 1969 by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen, MBE. Today the Donkey Sanctuary at Slade House is home to over 500 donkeys and mules. FREE entry, open every day and dog-friendly.
7
After exploring The Donkey Sanctuary, leave the main car park (next to Shelter 1) and take the path opposite (just to the left) signposted ‘Public Footpath Trow ½m, Salcombe Regis 1m’. Continue across two fields. After passing the third kissing gate you will come to a crossroad of footpaths, continue straight over taking the path through the metal gate which is to the left of a five-bar gate. Follow this path across a field and diagonally across a second field.
8
Turn right at the stile and follow the quiet road down the hill to Salcombe Regis. At the end of the road, by Soldier’s Hill House, turn left and walk down the hill towards Salcombe Regis church.
Salcombe Regis Church
St Mary and St Peter’s church was originally built in the 12th Century and was restored in 1845. The church contains monuments to Sir Ambrose Fleming who died in Sidmouth in 1945 and another to Sir Norman Lockyer who established the nearby observatory after his retirement in 1913. In the spring, the churchyard bursts with colour as magnificent trees blossom and yellow daffodils bloom among the old lichen encrusted gravestones.
9
After visiting the church and walk down the hill towards the beach and then take the footpath on the right opposite Springcombe House (signposted ‘Public Footpath South Combe Farm and Coast Path ¾m”). Take the second footpath on the right through the woods (signposted ‘Public Footpath Sidmouth 1 ½m’ and continue straight ahead towards Salcombe Hill and carpark. Continue along this footpath until you reach a dirt road next to a barn. Turn right onto the dirt road and follow this back to the National Trust car park where you began your walk.
Salcombe Hill woods
Enjoy a stroll through the Salcombe Hill woods (National Trust).
End:
Salcombe Hill car park (National Trust), grid ref SY148889