Explore Devon’s coastline on foot in seven simple steps

Devon is spoilt for choice when it comes to spending time by the seaside, with two separate coastlines and a variety of landscapes and activities to enjoy it. Its diverse natural beauty is the reason why many of us choose to live here or to visit. The best way to explore the coast is with a walk along the South West Coast Path. Even better, is to experience it in a sustainable way to preserve its natural beauty.

The Devon stretch covers a total of 214 miles along the UK’s longest National Trail and its virtues are plain to see. It travels through three areas of outstanding natural beauty, two world heritage sites, a Geopark and a UNESCO Biosphere reserve.

If that’s not enough, you could always take in the entire length of the South West Coast Path for 630 miles – but maybe not all at the same time! Most people who complete the distance, do so over a number of weekends or week long holidays. A new map that enables walkers to mark off sections they have completed, is available from www.swcp.org.uk

Whether you fancy a short stroll or a week long hike, with these seven easy steps you can walk tall knowing you’ve done your bit to help preserve this special landscape for future generations to enjoy. You can search for walks by location or specific interest, whether it’s wildlife, heritage, culture or geology. Download walking routes near where you’re staying at www.southwestcoastpath.com

Step one - a luggage transfer 
Step two – a green café or restaurant
Step three - a car free journey
Step four – a boat ride along the water's edge
Step five – an eco-friendly hotel
Step six – a coastal campsite and holiday park
Step seven - a holiday at home


Step one - a luggage transfer 

While most people prefer a short walk, the idea of completing longer routes is less daunting with the help of Luggage Transfers UK. 

It recently launched a service transporting bags to stop off points on the entire South West Coast Path and claims to cut carbon emissions by about 150 tonnes a year. One of their drivers will pick up your bags in the morning and deliver them to the next Bed and Breakfast, hotel or campsite en route.

By taking a number of bags, it cuts down on individual journeys and reduces traffic. This leaves you free to stride out on the Coast Path knowing that you’ve lightened the load off Cornwall’s carbon footprint as well as your own back. www.luggagetransfers.co.uk 

Step two – a green café or restaurant

Work up an appetite on the Coast Path and stop off for a bite to eat at one of the many café, pubs and restaurants that serve fresh, local produce and cut down on food miles.

Multi award-winning Venus Café prides itself on its green credentials and offers a reward scheme for walkers with the Venus Passport. The Venus Company also supports work on path improvements. There are various outlets along the South West Coast Path in South Devon www.venuscompany.co.uk

Step three - a car free journey

Leave the car at home and combine the Coast Path in one direction with an inland one in the other to create a circular trip. Or take a bus or train and walk back along the Coast Path at your leisure.

For those just visiting, there are good train links too. Exeter to Barnstaple is a scenic train ride with excellent bus links to the North Devon coast. Plus, you can join the Coast Path from the town itself. In East Devon the First Great Western route between Starcross and Teignmouth is one of the most spectacular for coastal views. 

Frequent connecting bus services operate throughout the county with the Jurassic CoastlinX53 and 54, stopping at various coastal towns along the UK’s only Natural World Heritage Site. Plymouth has good links to the South Devon Coast, the English Riviera and Geopark – the only UK urban site of its kind with UNESCO status for its geological heritage.
Plan your car free journey at www.travelinesw.com 

Step four – a boat ride along the water's edge

Another great way to see the coast is by boat. Stuart Line Cruises and the Greenway Ferry and Pleasure Cruises are just two must do boat trips.

See the Jurassic Coast from the waterside to view the dramatic changes in rock formations that mark 185 million years of the earth’s history. Walk the Coast Path back to your start point for a closer look and the chance to find your very own fossilised prehistoric plant or animal.

Explore the English Riviera’s Geopark and the beautiful River Dart by combining some of the county’s most picturesque walks with a boat trip. Add to this a good water-side pub serving fresh local food and drink and you’ve got all the ingredients for a great day out.

Plan ahead and check times of tides and ferry crossings before setting off.
Visit www.stuartlinecruises.co.uk and www.greenwayferry.co.uk

Step five – an eco-friendly hotel

The Thurlestone Hotel in South Devon is not only Britain’s best large hotel according to the Enjoy England Excellence Awards (at the ceremony held in April 2010), it’s also green accredited, graded 4 stars and it’s on one of the most scenic routes of the South West Coast Path.

A family run hotel for over 100 years, it’s committed to providing a good high quality service and this includes caring about the local area and environment. As a member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme (Silver Award), it has an ongoing commitment to sustainable practices and tourism.

It has adopted green business practices to minimise the environmental impact of its activities, including management of water, energy conservation and recycling of waste. 

In addition, it supports the local community by purchasing its produce from local suppliers through the South Hams Food & Drink Association and Taste of the West. All its local suppliers are listed on the website so you can see exactly where the food has been sourced. www.thurlestone.co.uk 

Step six – a coastal campsite and holiday park

Eco-friendly and green camping in Devon is nothing new but as holiday parks have grown, so has their impact on the environment.

You can take responsibility for your own impact by getting back to basics.
Helping to reduce your own waste and turn off lights when not in use will minimise light pollution so you can see the stars more clearly!

In addition, various schemes helping to counteract these negative effects include the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) and David Bellamy’s Conservation Awards. 

Devon Cliffs in Exmouth is a 5 star holiday park with a gold award 2009 in the David Bellamy scheme and silver in GTBS. It offers caravan style family holiday homes on the East Devon coast, set above a sandy bay with direct beach access.
For luxury camping there’s Beverly Park, situated on the English Riviera at Paignton, which has great sea views for campers and tourers. It’s also a conscientious GTBS member and is conveniently located for exploring the South Devon Coast on foot.

Visit www.devoncliffs-park.co.uk and www.beverley-holidays.co.uk

Step seven - a holiday at home

The staycation is the green alternative to lengthy queues at airports and flying to expensive destinations, significantly increasing carbon emissions in the process. It’s far better to save time, money and the planet by having one less holiday abroad.
Why not take in the fresh coastal air on a Coast Path walk instead and discover unique insights into the history, geology, culture and wildlife of Devon? Download walking routes for free at www.southwestcoastpath.com