Description

This is a tremendous hike along the rugged Devon coastline, where you’ll have the chance to take in many natural delights that you may not expect to find on the British Isles.

Turquoise sea and long sandy beaches, and an unusual stretch of road with the sea on one side and a beautiful lagoon on the other.

The walk is also full of British icons: fields with very green grass full of sheep, a castle and a charming pub! * N.B.

The Tradesman Arms Pub burned down in 2021 but is reportedly being rebuilt in 2022! * Beginning at Dartmouth Castle car park, stand and admire for a second the striking image of the 600-year-old castle perched on the edge of the Dart Estuary.

From the car park, follow the footpath signs for "Coastal Path" pointing you east in the direction of Blackpool Sands beach.

The path quickly leads you far away from any signs of settlement, with only the sound of the waves, seagulls, and the squelch of mud underfoot to be heard.

The trail goes through a series of fields on clifftops, with a couple of well-placed benches along the way, allowing walkers to stop and feel like the kings of the wold whilst eating their sandwiches! The trail eventually descends down to the beautiful sandy beach of Blackpool Sands, where you can stop at the Venus Cafe for ice cream in the summer months.

The path then pulls away from the beach, ascending up through a series of fields once more, before hitting a string of very quaint little villages: Stoke Fleming, Strete, and Strete Gate.

A highlight of the walk is the stretch along the Slapton Sands between Street Gate and Stokenham.

Here you pass along the immensely enormous and gorgeous Slapton Sands Beach and its close neighbour the Slapton Ley lagoon.

Pass along the furthest edge of the Slapton Ley, following the main road up to Stokenham.

Jumping on the public footpath across the field and just after the village green, you will come to your final destination: The Tradesman Arms Pub.

It’s a gorgeous 14th century thatched pub with an open fire in winter and a beer garden in summer, plus great ales and a mean fish pie served all year round! Find out more here: https://www.thetradesmansarms.com/ **Sources** https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dartmouth-castle/