SOUTH WEST
01 DEVON BEESANDS & HALLSANDS
■Distance: 5¼ miles/8.2km ■Time: 3 hours ■Grade: Easy
FAMILY WALK
This walk offers an easy section of coast path with fine views of Start Bay and down to the start point, linked by pleasant field paths and quiet lanes. South Hallsands (Point 5) was once a thriving fishing village. Built on a raised beach, the village depended on offshore Skerries Bank as its natural protection from sea, but 650,000 tons of shingle had been dredged from the Skerries to extend Devonport Dockyard in the 1890s and South Hallsands was devastated by the disastrous storm of 1917. Its tragic story is told in words and period photographs on the viewing platform. Visitors also read of heroic Ella Trout. In 1917, 20-year-old Ella saw the steamer Newholm sunk by a German mine off Hallsands. Ignoring the dangers, she rowed out immediately. Between them, Ella, her boy cousin and local fisherman William Stone saved nine men.
1 Start
Facing sea, turn L (north) along back of beach past lake. At end of beach access track, turn L behind large white house, then L again signed ‘Public Footpath’.
2 ½ mile/0.8km
Go through gate into large field. Keep hedge on L to end of field. Turn R as signed through two gates into woodland. Keep R past houses. Continue on private drive signed ‘Public Footpath’. After 250m, turn L at waymark. Follow waymarks. Descend field with wall on your L. Go through gate. Follow ‘Public Footpath’ almost straight ahead, passing L of Lower Widdicombe Farm. Take R of two gates. Cross valley bottom, join track, bear R into Beeson.
ROUTE
Start/parking Beesands seafront, grid ref SX819404, postcode TQ7 2EN Is it for me?
Coastpath, footpaths and quiet lanes. No demanding slopes Stiles 4
PLANNING
Nearest town Dartmouth Refreshments Cricket Inn, Beesands (01548
