Walking the South West Coast Path | Bantham to Salcombe
Last week, three members of our marketing team walked 12 miles from Bantham to Salcombe as part of the South West Coast Path Association’s Team Challenge. The event aims to set a new world record for the number of times the Coast Path can be covered in one month and to raise awareness of the work the South West Coast Path Association carries out to protect our beautiful coastline for future generations.
We set out cheerful and possibly a little blasé about the distance ahead of us, on a beautiful morning from Bantham Beach. From Bantham we passed the pretty sandy beaches of Thurlestone and round the headland into Hope Cove; then the inclines got a bit steeper as we walked across Bolberry Down and although there was the odd ‘ how much further is it?’, a stash of Jaffa Cakes and the rather beautiful views at Soar Mill Cove soon revived us. The home stretch took us via Starehole Bay, around Bolt Head and down into Salcombe past the lovely beaches at South Sands and North Sands and on to the finish line at the Victoria Inn where the comfy sofas and a few refreshments were much appreciated.
Walking on the South West Coast Path is a great way to explore the West Country’s beautiful countryside and dramatic coastline, and there are lots of suggestions of walks for all abilities on the South West Coast Path Association’s website. We got a lift back to our car but there are plenty of circular walks taking in pretty villages and country lanes as well as the coast. The scenery is spectacular all year round, from the changing autumn colours to the blooming of wild flowers in spring and summer and there’s lots of wildlife to be spotted too. We saw a peregrine falcon during our walk, and along the Path’s route around the South West’s coastline from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset, sea birds, seals, dolphins, rare butterflies and wild ponies are regularly seen as well as the occasional basking shark.
As proud sponsors of the South West Coast Path, we’re delighted to offer lots of great properties along its route, many with front doors that open straight onto the Path. Some favourites that we passed on our walk include Sloopside at Bantham, Lockslea at Thurlestone, High Beach at Hope Cove and Rose Cottage at East Soar.
