Salcombe To Hope Cove Walk Guide

The walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove in South Devon has been on my list for a while. Actually, someone mentioned it to me on TikTok. Well, here I am. I made it.

Looking over the bushes to the rocky cliff setting of hope cove at the end of the walk from Salcombe.

What was the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove like?

Wow. The walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove is definitely up there with my top ones. Jagged pointy rocks, tor outcrops, secluded beach coves, turquoise water, highland cattle, and the most stunning presentation of Hope Cove at the end. Rows of pretty flowers and bluebells, rugged terrain. As I walked along, things just kept getting better and better.

A highland cow standing on the grass looking out to the beach cove on the walk from Salcombe to Hope cove

Looking down the a beach cove surrounded by rugged rocky cliffs on the coastal walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove.

A cliff peninsular with jagged rocks on the left and the blue sea on the right.

Pointy Tor outcrops on the Salcombe to Hop cove walk.

Looking over the hedge to Hope cove at the end of the walk from Salcombe. The cove is made up of a small sandy beach on the right, with rocks around the side and into the blue turquoise sea. There is a cluster of houses behind the beach.

A dirt trail lined with bushes and wild garlic.

The walk itself is a mix of hills and flats. The first part to and around Bolts Head, is a little more challenging with the hills and rocky ground. Then it’s flat for a while along the clifftop. Around Soar Cove it gets steep and hilly again, before levelling off and taking you downhill for the remainder of the walk to Hope Cove.

For a moment there, I was nervous of the cows, what with my recent encounter of getting cornered and trapped by them. But I reminded myself that the highland ones are the friendly ones, and soldiered on through them.

Logistics for the coastal walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove

Start: Salcombe
Finish: Hope Cove
How to get there: If you don’t have a car, you can catch the number 164 bus from Totnes and through Kingsbridge to Salcombe. Totnes has a train station on the Great Western Railway line. Hope Cove is a bit more tricky – see tips.
Distance: 8.5 miles
Time: 3h 15min
Terrain: Road, dirt trail, rocks, grass.
Elevation: Highest point is about 129m. With the ups and downs, elevation gain is about 482m
Difficulty: Medium with easy bits
Dog friendly: There are no styles, but there is livestock around.
Amenities: Everything in Salcombe. A restaurant a bit past Soar Mill Cove. Viewpoint benches along the route. Hope Cove is very small, but they have a couple of pubs with fantastic reviews (The Cove, Hope and Anchor). There is also a lobster place with pods, which also has great reviews.
Time of year: Spring

Tips for the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove

Hiking boots. Now, this isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s super rocky in places, so you would be more comfortable this way.
Check the bus times. Hope Cove only has 3 buses to get you out per day. Morning, midday and early evening/late afternoon (depending on what kind of person you are).
To get back from Hope Cove to Salcombe after the walk, you can catch a bus to either Marlborough or Kingsbridge, where you change for another bus to Salcombe or wherever else you want to go…..
Or you could walk. It’s only 2.5 miles to Marlborough, mostly through fields, and then you can catch a bus from there. There are regular buses running through Marlborough.
Take swimwear for a dip in the sea, in one of the secluded beach coves.

Map or the coastal walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove

More walk ideas near Salcombe and Hope Cove will be at the end, with a link to the full guides.

A Guide To The Walk From Salcombe To Hope Cove

If you are starting the walk to Hope Cove from the harbour in Salcombe, then the first 2 miles will be on the road. There isn’t really a way around this. Well, not that I could see anyway. It’s not too bad, it’s actually quite pretty. Saying that, I did this walk on a weekday out of season, when there were barely any people or cars. It might be a different story during the summer months on a weekend.

Walk to North Sands and South Sands

Starting from Salcombe, you can walk a bit along the harbour, but you will eventually be pushed onto the high street. First past all the shops, and then some lovely pastel coloured houses, with a fantastic view across the water.

Looking across the calm water to a strip of beach on the other side in Salcombe, at the start of the coastal walk to Hope Cove. There is a green hill behind the beach with a few houses.

A narrow road leading up through the pastel coloured buildings.

When you reach the road fork, take the left. You should see a coast path sticker on the lamppost. There isn’t much pavement, and the road becomes quite narrow. But as I said, it’s quite pretty and (for me anyway) there weren’t many cars. Actually, I cant recall any on this bit.

A road spilt with a houses in between. the left road continues level, the right road goes uphill.

A pole with a south west coast path sticker.

A road with a wooden fence on the left and stone wall and hedge on the right.

A road lined with stone walls and an archway ahead.

A road snaking down and to the right, with bushes and a stone wall on the left and a tall hedge on the right.

You will pass by some footpath signs directing you off the road, however, from what I could see on my map, these won’t work. They take you complete the wrong way.

This road will soon lead you down to North Sands.

A beach where it meets the sea, with a small cliff covered in trees on the left.

A stone wall separating the sandy beach on the left and road on the right. There is a cluster of white houses ahead and lots of trees behind them.

From North Sands, continue following the road as it curves you uphill to the right and then left. Still no pavement. Still pretty.

A road circling uphill to the right, lined with a stone wall on both sides, with houses behind the walls.

Looking down to the sandy beach with a tree covered hilltop of the other side on the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove. There are a few houses nestled within the trees.

When you reach the junction with a red post box, go left, following the sign for South Sands.

A country road to the left and a big hedge and pillarswith a wooden door and red post box to the right of it.

A sandy beach, with a small cliff on the other side. There are houses perched on top of the cliff.

At South Sand, continue following the road up, and at the junction, take the left towards Overbecks.

A road, with a stone wall on the left. There is a brown sign pointing to the overbecks.

Fun Fact: Overbeck’s has a subtropical garden with plants from all over the world. It’s a National Trust area incase you are wondering. I didn’t go on this occasion. I have been meaning to get a National Trust Membership, so I will wait until then.

Walk to Bolts Head

Follow the road, still ignoring any footpath signs, until you reach the fork with the yellow arrow signpost. This is the sign you want. The yellow arrows. They point you both ways here. A little confusing, but take the left. You will approach an area that says ‘Private, residents only’. Ignore that and keep going. This will lead you to the start of Bolts Head and all the good stuff.

As I reached this area, another man was leaving, and he told me he has just seen the best view he has ever seen in his whole life. I wasn’t sure what he was referring to until I saw it. The pictures don’t do it justice really, but it’s a long trail lined with pretty flowers and bluebells. It really was quite magical and fairytale like.

A dirt trail lined with bushes and wild garlic on the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove.

A dirt trail with long grass and bushes on the right.

A long dirt trail lined with purple and pink flowers and wild garlic on the walk between Salcombe and Hope Cove. — .

Walk to the tors

Near the end of the woods, is where the trail starts to become quite rocky.

A narrow rocky trail leading uphill, with low bushes and a tree on the left and tall bushes on the right.

I wasn’t completely paying attention to what was ahead of me, as I was looking back at the Salcombe view. Then I turned back to look ahead, and was stopped dead in my tracks at what I saw.

A narrow dirt trail leading to some jagged tor outcrops ahead.

Everything so far had been quite soft and pretty, and I was suddenly presented with jagged, pointy tor outcrops. I wasn’t expecting this at all. It was stunning, and I didn’t yet realise it was about to get a lot better. This was the taster.

As I made my way towards the tors, I looked back a few times to the Salcombe view, and what would usually have impressed me, was now quite bland. Bland in comparison to what was ahead.

A narrow dirt trail leading to and through the middle of large pointy, jagged tor outcrops on the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove.

The trail then leads up some steps through the tors, and over the other side is an insane view down to some little beach coves.

A stone wall on the left and jagged tor outcrops to the right and ahead.

Looking down to a bay with a couple of beach coves, surrounded by grass covered cliffs, with undulating hilltops. — .

Walk around Bolts Head

From up here, if you look across, you can see the trail running across and over the hill. Actually, see the photo below, see the trail. This is one of the reasons I recommend hiking boots. The trail is quite narrow at times with a steep drop down the side. Although, this photo makes it look a bit more dramatic than it is when you are there.

A very narrow trail along the side of the steep hill on the right, and some undulating hills ahead. A small beach cove is visible below.

The trail now goes along the side with some downs and ups, and a lovely view back as you walk around the cove.

A narrow trail running alongside a grassy hill on the right, with the sea to the left.

Looking down to a small beach cove suddounded by cliff and a tall grass covered hilly clifftop, on the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove.

Once around the cove, over the hill, and past some more tors, there is a steep bit coming which was made so much harder because of the headwind. It felt like I had entered some sort of vortex. I had to fight my way up, as the wind tried to push me back down.

A rocky trail leading uphill, with some small tors to the right and large tors to the left. There are three people walking uphill ahead.

Once at the top and through the gate, the wind died down a little (just a little), and the trail levelled out.

A grass field leading to a stone wall with a wooden gate. There are two people walking through the gate.

A grass clifftop with some yellow gorse ahead.

I had seen signs for cattle grazing, which made me wary. I hadn’t seen any yet, but their poos were dotted around. So I knew they were somewhere not far. I stayed alert

Walk to Soar Mill Cove

For the next while, the trail is on relatively level ground. I savoured the flatness. I wasn’t sure what was to come, and the level of hills that were waiting for me.

When up on this section, there are a number of trails around, so if you get confused, just head towards this house in the photo, and keep following the coastline.

A gorse covered cliffside, with a small houses perched on the edge of the cliff ahead on the Salcombe to Hop Cove coastal walk.

Looking down to the cove made up of a rocky cliffside then steep grass and gorse covered hill.

A grass field with a stone wall running diagonally across it from bottom right to top left on the Salcombe to Hope cove coastal walk. There is a small house in the field on the other side of the wall.

Looking over the bushes and gorse to some hills and tors on the other side, with the sea beyond that.

After mostly level walking with a few undulations, the trail then heads down past a cluster of tors. These tors became my snack break spot. It was nice and sheltered from the wind here, and had a stunning view down and along the rugged coastline.

Looking down the grass hill with the blue sea ahead, and some jagged tor outcrops to the left.

Looking down along the coastline on the coastal walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove. The blue sea is on the left, and it meets a rocky cliff face, with the clifftop being grass covered and undulating. There is a narrow dirt trail running across the hills.

I could see what was coming now. It looked like there would be a few hills, and then a flat section later on. Yes, this was a good time for my snack. I would need some energy soon.

From the snack break tor, it’s straight downhill and then some up, with some very rocky bits of trail along the way. And then, just like magic, Soar Mill Cove comes into view.

A rocky trail leading up and surrounded by grass and rocks.

A narrow dirt trial winding around the hill, with a view to the rocky, cliffy coastline ahead on the left, with the blue sea on the right.

Sore Mill Cove – Just over halfway in the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove

I made my way down to Soar Mill Cove, and as I got near the bottom, I saw them. The cows. Normal cows in one field, and then the highland ones in the other. I looked down to the beach and wondered if I could somehow get down onto it and across the other side, avoiding the cow fields.

I could not.

So I slowly made my way through the first cow field. Keeping to the edge by the barbed wire fence, not taking my eyes of them. My escape would be to jump over the fence, probably getting severely scratched up in the process. Although, that was a risk I was willing to take. I was also aware though, that the highland cows with horns were in that field. I would be escaping from one cow field to another. I tried not to think about that.

After I made it safely through the first cow field, I stopped and stared at the cows in the next one. I wasn’t ready to proceed yet.

A highland cow sitting on the grass on the right, looking out to the sea and rocks to the left, on the coastal Salcombe to Hope Cove walk.

I then saw a couple of people coming up from the beach and walking past the cows. This was it, my time to move. Safety in numbers.

Once safely past the cows, it was a steep uphill climb, a bit rocky in places, with a fantastic view looking back down into the valley and along the rugged coastline.

Looking down the grass covered hill into the valley and then hill on the other side.

Looking down to the undulating grass covered hills, with the sea to the right. There is a trail below, with a couple of people walking on it.

Walk to Bolt Tail and the Hope Cove viewpoint

Once up from the hilly bit, it’s relatively level walking across Bolberry Down, for the rest of the walk to reach Bolt Tail.

A dirt trial snaking across the top of the cliff, with grass to the right and the sea to the left.

There is, I think a restaurant coming up. Google Maps tells me it’s a restaurant. Basically, there is some human activity and a car park. Past here, the trail turns into a neat well kept path, lined with gorse.

A wooden trail signpost with a white acorn and yellow arrow on the Salcombe to Hope Cove walk. The sign is nestled in the bush, and there is a rocky trail on the left.

A wooden trail cross sign post pointing right to Hope Cove and Left to Soar Mill Cove.

A neat path lined with grass and yellow gorse.

I’m so happy I know what these are called now. I don’t have to say yellow plants anymore. It’s something I had wondered for years, and I found out recently via TikTok. See, social media isn’t so bad is it.

Through the gate further along, you get a lovely view to some villages along the coastline on the other side. I wasn’t sure which bit was Hope Cove yet. I figured I would find out soon.

A neat path leading to a wooden gate and fence, with the sea beyond that.

Looking down along grass filed, with a cluster of houses in the distance next to the sea.

When I first saw the view, I thought it was cute. Then when I walked a bit further down, the cove opened up and I was blown away. It reminded me a little of when I walked to Polperro. When the little cove suddenly opened up out of nowhere.

Looking down along the grassy valley to the blue sea and Hope cove on the other side, near the end of the walk from Salcombe. Over at Hope cove are a few beach coves and a rocky cliff face surrounding them. There is a cluster of houses within the cove.

Well, now I knew which bit was Hope Cove, and seeing it there across the fields, I had this urge to walk straight to it.

But no. I had to walk the coast path. No shortcuts. Hope Cove would have to wait a little longer. So I continued walking along the edge towards Bolt Tail.

Walk around Bolt Tail

Now, you don’t need to walk to Bolt Tail, but I do actually recommend it. The terrain is quite different from the walk so far between Salcombe and Hope Cove, and there are more nice cliffy views.

First, the walk towards it is along grass trail, mostly downhill, and then it’s uphill along this red rocky ground. I wondered if this is what it’s like on Mars. All the sheep were hanging out around here with clusters of wool dotted about. This must be the sheeps favourite bit.

An undulating grass covered clifftop with a red dirt trail winding along it.

A wooden trail signpost with yellow arrow and white acorn next to a very rocky trail.

A red rocky cliff face, with a grass covered clifftop near the end of the Salcombe to Hope Cove coastal walk. There is a red trail running along the clifftop and a few sheep ahead.

The final stretch of the walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove

After wandering around Bolt Tail, there are a few grassy trails you can take. Doesn’t matter which one really. Just walk in the direction of Hope Cove. You should see some woodland on the other side of the valley. This is what you need to head towards.

Through the woods, with the occasional framed view of Hope Cove to the left, you will reach a gate and then the road. Voila, you have made it.

A wooden trail signpost on the left with a yellow arrow, and a red dirt trail on the right, near the end of the coastal walk from Salcombe to Hope Cove. There are bushes on the right of the trail, and a view to a cluster of houses over the top of the bushes.

A wooden fence and gate, surrounded by bushes, with a few houses visible further ahead.

Looking over the bushes to a village cove ahead.

Looking across the blue and turquoise sea with Hope Cove at the end of the walk from Salcombe. At Hope Cove there is a small sandy beach cove, surrounded by red rocky cliffs. There are some houses in the cove and on top of the cliff.

There is a beach here on the left, or, you can walk up the road (it’s the last but also very steep uphill), and you will see a little trail on the left to take you down, past the pods and to the other beach.

A road winding uphill, with a brick wall and then the sea to the left, and a thatched roofed cottage to the right.

A sandy beach with cliffs to the left and the sea ahead. There are a couple of people carrying a kayak out of the sea.

A sandy beach with lots of boats resting on it, and some cliffs ahead.

Walk back to Salcombe from Hope Cove

Now, if you decide to walk back to Salcombe or Marlborough, I will give you a quick guide. It’s quite easy really.

From the beach, head back the way you came, past the pods, to reach the road. At the road turn left and take the little trail to the right of the church. Now go straight, and keep going straight. You will pass over another road at first, then the trail will lead you to the field. It’s field after field walking for a bit.

A man walking up a trail through the bushes.

A sheep with a red heart painted on it, grazing on the green grass.

When I walked it, one of the entrances to a field was covered in sheep. There was a bit of a sheep commotion as I entered. They all jumped up and started following me, then stood still and stared.

A group of sheep standing in the grass field, facing the camera.

I felt a little uneasy when I looked back at them. All standing there, looking kind of evil. I didn’t know what they were thinking, but I didn’t want to find out, so I picked up the pace to get out of the field on the other side.

Keep going in the direction of straight, past the wind turbine things, then at the end of one of the fields, the trail will turn right and then left into another field. Keep going, and the trail will lead you to the road. At the road, turn right, and then it’s a short walk to reach Marlborough.

A wide country road surrounded by some bushes, with a thatched roofed cottage ahead on the left.

The bus stop is located next to the co-op petrol station.

More walk ideas near Salcombe and Hope Cove

Salcombe to Prawle Point takes you from Salcombe and along the coast path in the other direction, passing by even more gorgeous beach coves than the walk to Hope Cove. It’s also nice and rugged.

Gara Rock walk is much shorter and takes you on a circular route. It’s perfect if you want to experience some South West Coast Path goodness and hidden beach coves, but don’t fancy a massive hike.

Salcombe to Snapes Point is also a short circular route, but does offer some fantastic views across the harbour.

Noss Mayo circular is one which is actually a little further away, but I wanted to mention it because you can actually see Hope Cove from it. Way in the distance. If you want to get there from Salcombe, then realistically, you need a car. Public transport would take a long time and involve changes.

For a more detailed side by side comparison, you can read my guide on the best walks from Salcombe.

For more walk ideas in Devon, you could check out the Visit Devon Website.

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Salcombe to Hope Cove coastal walk guide in South Devon