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East Devon Walks – Salcombe Regis Circular
- Start: Salcombe Regis, East Devon, EX10 0JH
- Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
- Length: 3 miles (2.5 hours)
- Parking: St Peter’s Church, Salcombe Regis, EX10 0JH
- Public Transport:
- Nearest town: Sidmouth, Devon
- Facilities: None in Salcombe Regis. Cafe, shop and WC at Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary
- Dog Friendly Walk: Yes, but keep dogs on a lead near livestock or near cliff edges
- Ordnance Survey Explorer 115 (best for walking) or Landranger 192. We also like and use the Ordnance Survey App.
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Hidden in the East Devon countryside, just a couple of miles from Sidmouth, Salcombe Regis feels delightfully off the beaten track. Waymarked paths lead to Salcombe Regis Beach and Weston Mouth. On clear days, views from the South West Coast Path stretch from Berry Head to Portland Bill. You can see, almost, the entire Jurassic Coast and certainly all of the vast expanse of Lyme Bay.
Here, we outline a relaxed three-mile walk, with simple ways to make it longer or shorter to suit your desired distance.
Begin at St Peter’s Church, Salcombe Regis (EX10 0JH). Parking is limited and donation-based. Alternatively, park for free at the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary and combine the walk with a visit. It’s one of our favourite things to do near Sidmouth.
Map
Salcombe Regis
The starting point of this walk is the quiet village of Salcombe Regis, which is tucked into a wooded combe just east of Sidmouth. Its name means “the salt valley belonging to the king”, Regis, denoting royal ownership, and the settlement appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a small manor held by the Crown. Early life here would have revolved around mixed farming, orchards and fishing along the nearby coast, with seaweed used to fertilise the rich red soils.
By the 12th century, villagers had built a simple stone church on the slope above the valley. Dedicated to St Peter, patron saint of fishermen, it served a scattered rural community that relied on both land and sea. Much of the present church still contains Norman and medieval masonry, although it was enlarged in the 14th and 15th centuries and restored in the Victorian era. From its churchyard, you can glimpse the sea.
From the 18th and 19th centuries, this stretch of coast supported small-scale market gardening. The best-documented example is the Weston Plats above Weston Mouth, where cliff-top plots once grew produce for local markets and for Sidmouth.
Today, Salcombe Regis remains unchanged mainly in scale, comprising a handful of cottages, farmhouses, and the church, surrounded by National Trust land and footpaths that lead up to the South West Coast Path. The lanes, fields and terraces preserve the shape of a medieval parish that has evolved slowly over the centuries, offering a living glimpse of historic East Devon.
There are a handful of places to stay in Salcombe Regis, predominantly holiday cottages, Salcombe Regis Camping and Caravan Park. The nearest shops are about two miles away in Sidmouth.
Stage 1 – From Salcombe Regis to the Coast Path
From the small car park beside St Peter’s Church in Salcombe Regis, turn left and walk gently downhill through the village. The lane soon narrows between old stone walls and cottage gardens, giving glimpses of the wooded valley ahead. At the first junction, follow the clear fingerpost signed Salcombe Mouth Beach.
The lane descends steadily through peaceful National Trust farmland, where field boundaries of red earth and wild hedgerows mark out the landscape. In spring, the verges brim with primroses and campion; later in summer, look for butterflies along the banks and swallows sweeping the valley.
After about half a mile, you’ll reach a wooden signpost and a small footbridge over a stream. Pause here a moment to enjoy the sound of running water and birdsong in the combe. Cross the bridge and turn left to join the South West Coast Path. From this point, the route climbs gradually towards the clifftop, revealing wide views of Sidmouth and the Jurassic Coast.
Salcombe Regis Beach
Salcombe Mouth Beach is wonderfully secluded. Should you wish to visit, instead of turning left, walk straight ahead until you see a signpost and path off the field that will take you down to the beach. Be aware that it is pretty steep and there are no facilities on the beach at all. Re-trace your steps to the footbridge to continue the circular walk
Stage 2 – Climbing towards Dunscombe High Cliff on the South West Coast Path
From the footbridge, begin a steady climb towards Dunscombe High Cliff. Bear diagonally across the pasture to the top right corner, keeping the hedge on your right for the final few metres. A welcome wooden bench awaits with a broad view of Sidmouth and the sweep of the East Devon coastline. On clear days, you can pick out the red cliffs above the town and the long curve of Lyme Bay beyond. Catch your breath here before tackling the steeper section.
Follow the waymarked path uphill. The track narrows between bracken and gorse, with short flights of steps in the steeper parts. After rain, this stretch can be slippery, so take your time. In spring, the banks are bright with primroses and bluebells. In late summer, you may hear grasshoppers and see common lizards basking on warm timber.
The gradient eases as you enter mixed scrub, low oak, and holly. Watch for the acorn symbols of the South West Coast Path at junctions. As you crest the slope, the light changes and the trees thin, then the route breaks out almost suddenly onto open farmland on the clifftop. The horizon widens at once, with sea to your right and big skies ahead. Pause at the field edge to take in the height you have gained and the classic Jurassic Coast panorama before continuing towards the clifftop section of the walk.
Stage 3 – Along the Clifftop towards Weston Mouth
Keep straight on with open fields to your left and the clifftop falling away to your right. This is classic Jurassic Coast scenery with expansive sea views and a constant breeze off Lyme Bay. The cliffs along this stretch are naturally unstable, and erosion is continuous, so stay well back from the edge and keep children and dogs close.
The coast path runs just inside the field boundary, giving you sea views without needing to approach the cliff edge. As you walk, look for kittiwakes and fulmars riding the updraft and for buzzards circling over the pasture. In late spring, the hedgebanks carry stitchwort and red campion, and in autumn, the hawthorns show bright berries.
After a gentle rise and fall, the path reaches a well-placed bench and a viewpoint. From here, you can look into Lincombe, a small sheltered valley that cuts inland, with Little Weston Beach tucked beneath the cliffs. On clear days, the view runs east towards Weston and on to Branscombe
For most of this section, the South West Coast Path keeps to the high ground, going just slightly inland around the valley while still giving constant sea views. The trail undulates gently, then returns to the clifftop for the big panoramas. At around 430 feet above sea level, you can look east towards Weston, Branscombe and the long curve of Lyme Bay. On a clear day, the coastline seems to run on for miles, and Portland Bill may be visible in the distance.
Underfoot, it is mostly grass with short earthy sections, occasionally rutted after rain. Keep to the waymarked line and use gates where provided, as this is working farmland and you may meet livestock.
Continue ahead and watch for a short side path on the right that leads to a bench and viewpoint. The views here are good but slightly spoiled by vegetation. Return to the main path and walk a few more minutes to a clear junction: the route left is signed Dunscombe for the inland return, while the Coast Path continues steeply down to the right towards Weston Mouth.
Stage 4 – Inland through Dunscombe and back to Salcombe Regis
At the junction, follow the fingerpost left to Dunscombe, leaving the Coast Path and heading inland. The route begins as a gentle descent through open pasture before curving between hedges and small copses of oak and ash. To your right, you’ll catch glimpses down into Dunscombe Coppice and Weston Combe, a steep-sided valley that tumbles towards the sea. In spring, the valley is alive with bluebells and wild garlic, while in autumn it becomes a patchwork of gold and russet.
Continue along the well-worn footpath, which soon levels out before rising slightly to meet the edge of Dunscombe Manor Caravan Park. This quiet, well-kept site sits in a valley with views of both the sea and the countryside. Walk carefully through, following the public footpath and respecting residents’ privacy.
At the far side of the park, pass through a gate to reach a narrow country lane at Dunscombe. Turn left along the lane, which meanders gently uphill between banks of ferns and wildflowers. Traffic is light, but keep to the verge where possible. Within a few minutes, the lane brings you back to the outskirts of Salcombe Regis, where the tower of St Peter’s Church soon comes into view above the trees.
If you have time and energy, you can extend the walk by turning right instead of left at the Dunscombe Lane junction. This short detour of less than half a mile leads to The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, one of Devon’s best-loved animal charities and a lovely place to pause for refreshments. There is a café, gift shop and toilets, and the paddocks are home to hundreds of rescued donkeys. After your visit, simply retrace your steps to Dunscombe and continue the final leg of the circular walk back to Salcombe Regis.
Start or Finish at The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth
The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth offers free parking and entry, a café, toilets and wide coastal views. Founded in 1969 by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen, it provides lifelong care for hundreds of rescued donkeys and mules.
If you begin here, walk through the main car park to the road, turn left for Dunscombe and there to complete the circular walk through Salcombe Regis.
If you do start or end your walk here, whilst car parking is free please do support their work by buying a coffee, having a bite to eat in the cafe or by making a small donation.
Variants and Easier Options
As well as dropping to the beach at Salcombe Mouth or Weston Mouth, there are several simple ways to vary the route.
For a shorter outing with a gentler climb to Dunscombe Cliff, leave Salcombe Regis but, instead of heading for the beach, branch left on the signed footpath to Combe Wood Farm. Continue on this path to meet the South West Coast Path at the clifftop, which corresponds to Stage 3. To shorten the circuit further, turn inland at Lincombe, follow the field path back to the lane, then turn left to return to Salcombe Regis.
For an easy, almost level walk with big views, start from the Donkey Sanctuary if you prefer. Follow the road towards Salcombe Regis and take the signed footpath left for Lincombe to join the Coast Path without the steeper ascent. Turn left along the clifftop to enjoy the panorama and then follow the way back to Dunscombe.
If you want a longer day, use a map to begin from Branscombe and link onto the clifftop section above Lincombe, or start from the National Trust car park near the Norman Lockyer Observatory on Salcombe Hill and descend to meet the Coast Path before looping back. Always check tide times if you plan to include Weston Mouth, as sections of the beach and nearby coves can be cut off at high water.
Walk Safely on the East Devon Coast Path
The cliffs here are steep, and erosion is ongoing, so keep well back from the edges and supervise children and dogs.
Surfaces can be muddy or slippery after rain, so wear sturdy footwear and stick to waymarked paths. Check local tide times before exploring Salcombe Mouth Beach, and remember that at high tide, some coves along this coast become cut off. Turn back in good time and avoid walking beneath unstable faces.
Carry a mobile phone plus a paper map or the OS App, as the signal can drop in the valleys. In warm weather, take water and sun protection. In cooler months, be ready for strong winds and sudden sea mist. With care and just a little preparation, the Salcombe Regis Circular Walk is a safe and memorable way to enjoy the Jurassic Coast.
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