Self-guided · South West · England
Your walk from
Plymouth to
Exmouth
Plymouth to Exmouth along the South Devon coast — past Salcombe, through the South Hams, and across the estuaries that slow you down in the best possible way.
- Distance
- 166 km
- Ascent
- 3,217 m
- Stages
- 4 – 10 days
- Grade
- Moderate
Trail Essentials
This is the estuary stage — 166 kilometres through the South Hams and along Torbay, where the coast path keeps getting interrupted by rivers, and interrupted is no bad thing. Ferries across the Erme, Avon, Dart and Kingswear give the walking a different rhythm to the rest of the trail: shorter days broken up by boat crossings and sailing towns.
It suits anyone who likes their coast walking with a bit of variety — Salcombe's sheltered ria, Dartmouth's naval harbour, and the brasher seaside towns of the English Riviera all sit within a few days of each other.
Build your trip
Customise your South West Coast Path Stage 5: Plymouth to Exmouth.
Pick your pace, party size and dates. The itinerary, distances, nightly stops and the price all update live — no commitment until you're happy.
- Days sized to your walking speed
- Each night ends at a stop with accommodation
- Pricing reflects party size and seasonality
- Save and share the itinerary with your group
Your day-by-day itinerary updates live in the Your itinerary section below.
Build your itinerary above.
This is the itinerary you're building. Change the pace, party size or start date in the planner above and every stage, distance and date updates here.
Where you'll stay
Where you'll sleep
Sailing-town hotels and estuary-view B&Bs suit this stage well — Salcombe and Dartmouth both have proper, comfortable places to land after a ferry crossing. We time your itinerary around the tidal ferries so you're never stranded at the wrong bank.
- Harbour hotels in Salcombe and Dartmouth with estuary views
- Itineraries planned around tidal ferry crossings
- Rest-day options in Torbay's larger seaside towns
- Drying space for boots after estuary-path mud and rain
Every trip is planned around your dates and party, so we can't promise you a specific inn — but we can promise the kind of welcome that makes a walking holiday feel like a proper holiday.
What's included?
Self-guided, but properly supported. You turn up, you walk, you eat well, you sleep well. We handle the logistics.
Custom itinerary planned around your pace
Comfortable accommodation booked for you
Daily luggage transfer where available
GPX + day-by-day route notes
Big Trail Adventures app for door-to-door navigation
On-trail route support
Not included
- Travel to Plymouth and from Exmouth
- Lunches and evening meals (we'll recommend the best places)
- Travel insurance
Travelling solo? You're still connected.
Walking the South West Coast Path Stage 5: Plymouth to Exmouth alone doesn't mean being out of touch. We lend you a small GPS tracker for the trail, and a private map link lets the people who care about you follow along from home.
A lightweight GPS tracker
Carry it in your pack and it updates your position as you walk — no phone signal required.
A private live map
See your own progress on a secure map, with your overnight stops visible at a glance.
Share with people you trust
Send the private link to family or friends so they know you've arrived safely each day.
Book your South West Coast Path Stage 5: Plymouth to Exmouth adventure.
- Free cancellation to 60 days
- Confirmation within 24 hrs
- ABTOT financially protected
We'll start planning your trip right away. Not happy with anything? We'll adjust it or refund you — no questions asked.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Big Trail Adventures (member 5690). Protection is provided for non-flight packages. Full details in our booking conditions.
Things walkers ask us.
How fit do I need to be?
On the Hiker pace this stage runs to 8 walking days averaging around 21 km a day with steady cliff undulations. You should be comfortable walking a full day with a daypack.
When should I walk it?
May through September is best. May–June is peak wildflower and seabird season. July and August are busy — book accommodation months ahead. September gives long light and quieter beaches.
Do you include luggage transfer?
Yes — bags up to 20 kg are moved between accommodations every walking day. A few remote overnights need a short taxi transfer, which we plan and book for you.
What kind of accommodation do you book?
Small family-run B&Bs, harbour inns and walker-friendly hotels — en-suite where the village allows, breakfast included, drying space for boots.
Not sure this stage is right for you?
Tell Craig your dates, party size and preferred pace. He'll come back with a route that fits — or suggest a neighbouring stage if this one's not the match.
Other trails we run.
West Highland Way
154 km, Glasgow to Fort William. Scotland's most famous long-distance walk.
Great Glen Way
127 km from Fort William along Loch Ness to Inverness. Lochside and forest walking.
Rob Roy Way
127 km through the southern Highlands, following the outlaw's old country.