SWCP Section 8, Brixham to Lyme Regis

Your South West Coast Path adventure begins in Brixham, a historic fishing harbour, where you'll pass the Statue of William of Orange and explore the significant naval sites at Battery Gardens. After leaving the bustling harbour, the path takes you through wooded areas and along beautiful beaches like Churlston Cove and Elberry Cove, with spectacular views of Torbay. As you continue through the charming town of Paignton, you’ll pass the iconic English pier, seaside gardens, and Torre Abbey, a museum housed in a former home for prisoners from the Spanish Armada. In Torquay, you'll walk through cosmopolitan gardens and the lively marina before heading up the Devon Coast Path, passing Thatchers Rock, Hopes Nose Rocks, and the impressive Kittiwake colony. The route then takes you through the picturesque Anstey’s Cove, leading to the twin beaches of Babbacombe and Oddicombe, where you can take the famous 240-foot cliff railway. Your first overnight stop is in the peaceful, wooded coves of North Torbay at Babbacombe.

Leaving the English Riviera, the South West Coast Path transitions to red sandstone cliffs and offers a rollercoaster trail through wooded valleys like the Valley of the Rocks, leading to the thatched village of Maidencombe. The path continues with steep climbs and descents, eventually opening to views of Teignmouth, reached after passing the iconic Ness and crossing the River Teign by a historic ferry. The route then briefly passes through classic South Devon resorts before following the dramatic coastline alongside Brunel's impressive coastal railway, passing through tunnels and by red sandstone stacks to Dawlish, known for its black swans. Finally, the path enters the Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve, a significant birdwatching site at the mouth of the River Exe, before concluding with a ferry crossing from Starcross to the Georgian town of Exmouth, marking the gateway to the Jurassic Coast.

Continuing through the Red Cliff Lands, today's walk begins by leaving the Exmouth sand dunes to reach Orcombe Point, marking the start of the Jurassic Coast. The path follows dramatic 250-million-year-old red cliffs, passing Littleham Cove and climbing to West Down Beacon. Descending through woodland, you arrive at the unspoilt Georgian resort of Budleigh Salterton with its unique shingle beach. The route then diverts inland to cross the River Otter estuary, a birdwatching haven, via a trail built by Napoleonic prisoners. Rejoining the coast path, you pass Brandy Head to reach the photogenic Ladram Bay with its red rock stacks. A steep climb leads to High Peak and Peak Hill, both with Neolithic sites and panoramic views, before descending into Sidmouth, a charming village with a promenade and grand mansions reflecting its aristocratic past, including visits from a young Queen Victoria.

Today's strenuous yet rewarding walk along the Jurassic Coast features dramatic scenery with the appearance of cretaceous rocks. The path involves four energy-sapping climbs and descents through valleys after crossing the River Sid. Highlights include the ascent to Sidmouth Gap with Frog Stone and the Norman Lockyear Observatory, challenging zigzags above green cliffs at Dunscombe, and passing through the Weston Mouth wildlife reserve to reach secluded coves and steep climbs near old chalk and lime pits. A tranquil interlude is offered by the village of Branscombe with its traditional features and historic church, contrasting with the more recent MSC Napoli shipwreck. The day culminates with the unearthly Hooken Landslip, a haven for fossil hunters and rare fauna, leading to Beer Head and the white chalk cliffs of Beer, a former smuggling haven now known for lace production and its pebble beach and Beer Stone Quarry Caves.

Today’s walk on the South West Coast Path takes you through the fascinating Downlands Undercliff, a National Nature Reserve shaped by a dramatic landslip in 1839, creating a jungle-like terrain filled with wild flora and fauna. As you navigate this untouched landscape, you’ll eventually emerge above the coastline, taking in stunning views of the Golden Cap and the Isle of Portland. The day ends in Lyme Regis, a town steeped in history, known for its iconic 13th-century harbour, The Cob, and its reputation as the heart of fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast, where the famous Mary Anning unearthed some of the world’s most important fossils.