Lyme Bay
The South West Coast Path rises and falls on the cliffs, fields and woodlands of the East Devon countryside, before dropping to sea-level and passing along Sidmouth’s Esplanade. Nowhere are the views finer on the 630 mile walk than those from Salcombe and Peak Hills overlooking Lyme Bay. All part of the glorious 95-mile Jurassic coastline. England’s only natural World heritage site, 185 million years in the making.
South West Coast Path
From the Western Plats near Weston Beach, the South West Coast Path skirts inland before turning back to the cliff path and zig-zagging towards Sidmouth. Sidmouth is the ideal spot to relax and recuperate whether you’re walking a few miles or the whole path. Our hotel, the Royal York & Faulkner, is ideally placed on the Esplanade just a few steps from the beach and the SWCP. Adjacent to the hotel is Blinis, our café wine-bar. It serves lunch, snacks and drinks throughout the day. And, especially for tired aching muscles, we have Aspara, our stunning spa with hydrotherapy pool, steam and sauna rooms.
Salcombe Hill
If you are staying in Sidmouth and don’t have the time or inclination to walk the entire path, you can walk the section that passes through the town. There’s a National Trust car park near the top of Salcombe Hill just before the Norman Lockyer Observatory (which is well worth a visit – check for opening times). The walk is sign-posted from the car park. Take the right fork of the path and in a few minutes you will find wonderful views overlooking the town, the beaches and Peak Hill. Continue on the path. Keep the town on your right and you can either climb down the steep wooden steps through the woods to the town and join the Esplanade. Or turn left on the hill and walk along the cliff path towards Weston and a steep stepped descent to Weston Beach.
