Walking the South West Coast Path Through Torbay: The Best 5 Sections

The South West Coast Path runs 630 miles from Minehead to Poole, but the stretch that loops around Tor Bay is one of its most varied. In a single morning you can walk from sandstone cliffs on the north shore to a working fishing harbour, then on to limestone headlands fluttering with butterflies. None of these walks are technically hard. What they are is well-placed, well-signposted and within easy striking distance of a tea room or a pub. Here are five of the best South West Coast Path Torbay sections, picked for the rhythm of the route rather than the headline mileage.

1. Maidencombe to Babbacombe (4 miles, moderate)

Start at the Thatched Tavern car park in Maidencombe (TQ1 4TG) and pick up the path heading south. This is one of the harder sections in terms of ups and downs (Watcombe valley is a proper drop) but also one of the prettiest, with red sandstone cliffs, oak woods and views back to the Exe estuary on a clear day. You’ll pass Watcombe Beach (steep steps down if you fancy a swim) and Oddicombe before climbing to Babbacombe Downs.

Finish with coffee at the Cary Arms (book if you want a table) or take the Babbacombe Cliff Railway down to Oddicombe Beach for a quick paddle before retracing. Allow three hours including stops.

2. Babbacombe to Torquay Harbour (3.5 miles, easy-moderate)

From Babbacombe Downs the path winds along the cliffs above Anstey’s Cove and Walls Hill, an open headland that’s also a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its limestone grassland. Wildflowers in May, sea views all the way, and just enough up-and-down to keep it interesting without being punishing.

You’ll drop to Meadfoot Beach (a swim option) before rounding the headland to Daddyhole Plain and into Torquay harbour. Catch the open-top number 22 bus back to Babbacombe Downs if you don’t want to retrace. The cafe at Meadfoot Beach is a decent halfway stop.

3. Torquay to Paignton (4 miles, easy)

This is the family-friendly section: flat, paved most of the way, and following the seafront cycle path. From Torquay harbour you head west along the promenade past Torre Abbey Sands, on through Livermead and Hollicombe Park, and down into Preston, then Paignton.

It’s an out-and-back, or you can return on the number 12 bus (every 10 minutes most of the day) or jump on the steam train from Paignton’s Queens Park station back to Goodrington if your timing works. A genuinely good walk for buggies, mobility scooters and people who don’t want to be vertical.

4. Paignton to Brixham via Broadsands (5.5 miles, moderate)

Pick up the path at Paignton harbour and head south. Goodrington seafront takes you to the steep climb at Roundham Head (proper steps, but only for about ten minutes) and on to Saltern Cove, a Geopark site where fossil fish were found in the red mudstone. Drop down to Broadsands (the best swim of the walk) and across the green to the cliff path.

Beyond Broadsands you pass Elberry Cove and climb to Churston Point before descending to Fishcombe and into Brixham. The whole stretch is around 5.5 miles, allow three hours. Reward yourself with fish and chips on the harbour. Catch the 12 bus back to Paignton.

5. Brixham to Mansands via Berry Head (5 miles, moderate-hard)

Save the best for last. From Brixham harbour you walk past the marina and Shoalstone tidal pool, then climb to Berry Head Nature Reserve. The headland has 200-foot limestone cliffs, the country’s shortest (and highest above sea level) working lighthouse, a Napoleonic-era fort and, in season, a noisy guillemot colony of around 1,200 birds.

From Berry Head the path heads south to St Mary’s Bay, climbs Sharkham Point (more wildflowers, more views) and drops steeply to Mansands. The descent to Mansands is the steepest of the walk and the climb back up the other side is honest work, but the cove itself is one of the quietest in Devon. Return the way you came or pick up the country lanes back via Hillhead.

Practicalities for Walking the South West Coast Path Torbay

Direction: the path is waymarked with an acorn symbol on a black-and-yellow disc; you can’t really get lost. The convention is to walk clockwise (i.e. with the sea on your left), which the prevailing wind also tends to favour.

Buses: the number 12 (Brixham-Paignton-Torquay) and number 22 (Babbacombe-Torquay) run frequently and are the easiest way to make a one-way walk work. Day tickets are cheap.

Footwear: walking shoes for sections 1, 4 and 5; trainers fine for 2 and 3 in dry weather. Carry water, especially in summer; the path is exposed in places and shade is sporadic.

Tides: only matters if you want to drop to a specific beach. The path itself stays above the high-water line everywhere.

Refuelling: pubs and cafes are well spaced along the route. The Cary Arms (Babbacombe), Meadfoot Beach Cafe, Rockfish (Brixham) and the Berry Head Cafe are all reliable. Carry a sandwich for the Mansands section, as there’s nothing between Brixham and the country lane network.

If you want to dig into specific stretches, our pieces on Berry Head Nature Reserve and Brixham’s secret coves go deeper on the southern sections.