Devon

East Soar Ranger Run

This circular trail run dips and climbs along rugged cliffs where 'Dartmoor meets the sea'. A wild, partially tamed landscape with views of the Atlantic ocean, sandy beaches and farm land. Overhead raptors fly, and long-horned Highland cattle peacefully munch on the rich grassland.

Near to

East Soar

Start point

East Soar car park, TQ7 3DR, SX712375

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Moderate

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 12 (km: 19.2)

Duration2 hours 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*Rugged and wild route. Coastal climbs and descents with high, flat sections to get your breath back. For further information visit the section marked Terrain.
**Steep ascents and descents, rocky and narrow coast paths. For further details, please see Access section.
***Dogs welcome: please keep them on leads around livestock. For further information visit the section marked Facilities.

Ranger Run Series

This route has been created in collaboration with expert trail runners and adventurers Jen and Sim Benson, as part of our Ranger Run Series.

Address
East Soar Car Park, TQ7 3DR, SX712375
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Totnes train station 20 miles and Plymouth train station 25 miles.
On foot
The long-distance walking trail, the South West Coast Path, travels along the coast from Plymouth to Salcombe. It passes National Trust sites at Thurlestone, Hope Cove, Bolt Head, Bolberry Down, Bolt Tail and East Soar on the way. The path continues again on the east side of the estuary, going from East Portlemouth to Torcross via Prawle Point.
By ferry
Daily ferry services from Salcombe to South Sands. Check with South Sands ferry for more information. From South Sands it is a short hike up the hill to Overbeck’s Garden and a further kilometre to East Soar along footpaths.
By bus
Regular bus services from Totnes train station and Plymouth city centre to Kingsbridge. From Kingsbridge there are buses to Salcombe.
By road
The A379 from Plymouth and the A381 from Totnes both meet at Kingsbridge. The A381 continues south to Salcombe where you can follow signs to Soar.
The route is a mix of coastal climbs and descents with high, flat sections to get your breath back. It's 97% off road on well-marked trails and the South West Coast Path. Enjoy the descent into Soar Mill cove where a quick dip in the sea can refresh the legs for the final push and the climb out of Starehole Bottom under towering Devonian rocks.

All along the coast there are grazing animals from sheep to Dartmoor ponies and Highland cattle. Cattle are docile and passive and quietly munch away as you run past. All our tenants select livestock which are passive and happy to be around people.
Total stages: 13
Total stages: 13
Start point
East Soar car park, TQ7 3DR, SX712375
Stage 1
Turn right out of the car park and along the road.
Stage 2
Follow this quiet lane for a few hundred metres to the junction. Turn right at the T-junction, run for 100m then turn left and climb up steps onto footpath.
Stage 3
Follow the footpath across two fields, over a stone stile past the National Trust office at Southdown Farm, then left-right dog-leg by the farm road to find the public footpath and continue along the field to the green lane.
Stage 4
Turn left on Jacobs lane (green lane) and follow this to the end and the road.
Stage 5
Turn right on the quiet road down the hill to the T-junction.
Stage 6
Turn left on road then run for 75m and take the next right at the road junction.
Stage 7
Follow the quiet road for 300m and turn left on to a green lane then turn left on to a footpath then turn right before Higher Barton farm, and continue up the hill.
Stage 8
At the top of the hill turn left on the path and follow the path across the fields and then down through Hope Cove village till you hit the South West Coast Path by the sea.
Coastline at East Soar, Devon | © National Trust/Pat Kinsella
Stage 9
Turn left and follow the South West Coast Path past the RNLI lifeboat station and beach. Start the climb up to Bolt Tail and onto the amazing coastal route. As you climb up from Hope Cove you will pass through the remains of an Iron Age hillfort before following the hill to the top. At the top, remember to stop at the gate and turn around to appreciate the amazing views over to Burgh Island, the Eddystone Lighthouse (18m offshore) and on clear days out to the Lizard.
Stage 10
Follow the South West Coast Path which will always be the path closest to the sea (to avoid taking a wrong turn) and appreciate the views. Halfway along the coast path you will start to drop down into Soar Mill Cove with great views and the chance to have a dip in the sea to refresh the legs for the climbs to come. A little further on the interestingly named Starehole Bottom nestles below rocky crags with many ancient hut circles and structures hidden among the banks and plants.
Stage 11
After approximately 10km pop out on the road below Overbeck's Garden. Turn left and climb the hill past the car park and the entrance, and take the footpath marked Sharpitor that runs alongside the wall of the garden.
Stage 12
Continue straight on the track over the field gate and stile. Don't turn left on the footpath.
Stage 13
Follow this path across the fields arriving back to the car park to finish.
End point
East Soar car park, TQ7 3DR, SX712375
Trail map
Map of the East Soar Ranger Run trail in Devon | © Crown Copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey
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The garden at Overbeck's with Salcombe Bay beyond

Trail

East Soar to Overbeck's Garden walk

A linear walk from East Soar to Overbeck's Garden. Follow the trail along the runway of what used to be RAF Bolt Head, taking in panoramic views of the South Hams coast and countryside.

A walker in a U-shaped valley, with craggy cliff rocks up to the left, walks towards a sea with headland in the distance

Trail

East Soar to Bolt Head Walk

Explore an easy circular walk on the South West Coast Path near Salcombe, taking in the views and beaches around Bolt Head, Starehole Bay, Overbeck's and Tor Woods.