There’s something about the South Devon coast that resets your whole body.

The salt in the air. The sound of waves rolling against the rocks. The way the sea just glistens when the sun hits it right.

And on a good day - when the skies are clear and your legs are itching to move, there’s no better way to soak it all in than this gentle loop from South Milton Sands to Hope Cove and back again.

Not too long. Not too steep. Just full of cliffside views, wildflowers, and a pub stop waiting halfway!

This is the kind of walk that makes you feel like you've earned your lunch.

The Route: What to Expect

Start at the South Milton Sands National Trust car park. There’s usually plenty of space (just make sure to pay for a ticket), and from here, the South West Coast Path is easy to find - clearly marked and hugging the coastline to your left.

Right away, the path lifts gently above the shoreline. It’s not flat, but it’s friendly - grassy ridges and narrow earth trails that rise and fall just enough to stretch your legs. Nothing too strenuous!

The higher you go, the more the sea opens up beside you - one of those views that just keeps you wanting to move forward.

Within the first 10–15 minutes, you’ll see Thurlestone Rock - that iconic stone arch just offshore. It rises from the water like something out of a travel magazine, resembling Durdle Door. If the tide’s low, paddleboarders often drift through it lazily, silhouetted against the horizon like tiny moving dots in a painting.

Continuing on, you’ll skirt the edge of golden beaches and pass through fields lined with low stone walls and windswept wildflowers. In spring and early summer, you might see banks of bluebells and wild garlic lining the path.

This walk honestly just makes me fall in love with Devon all over again, there’s a sense of space out here - wide skies, open water, and that quiet hush you only get when the sea breeze is the loudest thing around.

What You’ll See:

Clifftop views stretching across Bigbury Bay toward Burgh Island
Thurlestone Rock, a dramatic natural sea arch
Bantham and Burgh Island visible across the bay on clear days
Golden beaches, tucked into coves below you
Fields of buttercups and cow parsley brushing your legs as you walk
The soft, low-roofed houses of Hope Cove in the distance, tucked against the land like it’s trying to hide from the wind

This is the kind of route where you’ll stop for no reason other than to breathe it in.

To point. To stare. To say “look at that” more times than you’ll want to admit. (I recently did this walk with my mum to show her the beauty of what’s on my doorstep in Devon, and I can confirm, we did this a lot!)

Wildlife to Watch For:

If you’re the sort who likes to notice things, you’re in for a treat. Keep an eye (and ear) out for:

Fulmars and kestrels floating on the cliffside breeze
Robins, stonechats, and the occasional wagtail darting through the hedgerows
Skylarks - if you hear that high, whirling song overhead, look up
Seals, bobbing in the shallows below the rocks
On very lucky days? Dolphins, carving smooth shapes in the water further out!

Even if you’re not looking for wildlife, it has a way of appearing - like the way the birds suddenly rise in a group from a field, or a rabbit bolts from the grass just ahead of you.

Dog-Friendly Tips

Yesp your four-legged friend can absolutely come along - and they’ll love it (Our golden retriever, Tucker, definitely did!)

Dogs are welcome on the coast path year-round
Bring water—there are no taps or streams en route
Lead up around grazing livestock (you’ll likely pass sheep or cows)
Seasonal dog ban on the Inner Hope beach (April–September)
Good news: The Hope & Anchor is fully dog-friendly, indoors and out

There’s also a dog bin near the Hope Cove slipway, and outdoor water bowls at the pub. Just watch for hot weather - there’s not much shade along the cliffs, so mid-afternoon walks are best avoided in summer.

Halfway Reward: The Hope & Anchor Pub

After about 45 minutes, you’ll begin the gentle descent into Hope Cove - a postcard-perfect fishing village split into Inner and Outer Hope.

Here, I swear time slows down. Lobster pots line the slipway. Boats bob quietly in the harbor. Kids chase dogs through the shallows.

The Hope & Anchor is a St. Austell Brewery, put that sits right at the water’s edge. It’s the kind of place where you can sit outside with a drink on the terrace and watch the tide roll in - shoes off, shoulders sunk, pint in hand.

Whether you order a pint of local cider, a plate of fresh fish and chips, or a Devon cream tea (jam first, always), the food tastes better with a sea breeze.

Bonus: If you can time it for sunset, this is one of the most golden corners of the coast!

The Way Back

Refuelled and happy, you’ll retrace your steps from a different angle this time - though the return walk feels like a different world. With the sun behind you, the light hits the fields differently. The cliffs seem taller. You’ll notice things you missed the first time.

And by the time you step back into the car park at South Milton Sands, it hits you:

You don’t even feel tired... you actually feel more alive than when you started.

Quick Notes (Perfect to Save)

🗺️ Route: South Milton Sands to Hope Cove (out and back)
⏱ Time: 45 mins each way + stop at pub
🐾 Dog-Friendly? Yes, but lead near livestock and beach ban applies April–Sept
📍 Terrain: Coastal path, grassy ridges, gentle inclines
🧭 Difficulty: Easy to moderate
🍽 Pub Stop: Hope & Anchor, Hope Cove
🌸 Best Time: March–October (wildflowers + dry paths)

It’s hard to explain why some walks stay with you - but this one does. Maybe it’s the views. Maybe it’s the lunch overlooking the sea. Maybe it’s just the feeling of being out, really out, where the only plan is to put one foot in front of the other.

Either way, this is a loop you’ll want to save!
Pin it. Bookmark it. Tell your future self to come back here!

Because once you’ve walked it once, you’ll find yourself thinking:

“Let’s do that again next weekend.”

A Seaside Loop You’ll Want to Walk Again: South Milton to Hope Cove (and Back)