East Portlemouth to Gara Rock Web Page.Indd
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TH DEV U ON SO Walks and Trails Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Directions East Portlemouth to Gara Rock 1. From spring to autumn the ferry to East Portlemouth runs Step out along the coast path, from the Salcombe Estuary from the ferry Pier, 200m beyond Whitestrand along Fore St. and out to meet the wide open sea. Exhilarating scenery, 2. At the top of the steps from the jetty turn right along the road. and a wonderful way to get the wind in your sails 3. At Mill Bay bear right, signed ‘Gara rock 2 ½m’. Ignore both Start: Ferry Pier, Salcombe a left turn signed ‘Top Path to Gara Rock’ and a left fork for the beach, and follow the ‘acorn’ waymarkers along the Distance: 3.75 miles. coast path. Circular Walk: Yes 4. When you reach the ‘Gara Rock’ waymarker, bear left and head up to the small round white lookout post. Pass in Grade: Moderate front of the lookout, through the gate, and turn left at the fi ngerpost, signed ‘Mill Bay 1 ¼m’. Coastal footpath, uneven and rocky Terrain: in places; surfaced road; green lane; 5. Follow the lane leading inland. After 200m turn left onto fi eld footpath. public footpath. 6. Cross straight over the fi eld ahead. Where you drop down Obstacles 1 steep ascent. This route is not to a track, cross over and down bridleway, following blue & Steep suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. waymarker arrows. Gradients: 7. At Mill Bay turn right and retrace you steps along the road to Bus services to Salcombe: 606 from the jetty, and the ferry back to Salcombe. Public Kingsbridge; 93 from Plymouth and transport: Kingsbridge. Follow pedestrian signs into town centre from bus stop. Several pubs, cafes, and restaurants Refreshment in Salcombe. Lookout Café at Gara stops: Rock open in summer. Public toilets at Mill Bay; also at Toilets: Whitestrand, Salcombe. Shadycombe Car Park, Shadycombe Parking: Rd, Salcombe. Please contact Salcombe Tourist Accommodation: Information Centre 01548 843927 [email protected] Post offi ce and variety of shops in Salcombe. Tourist Information Centre Other in Council Hall, Market St, Salcombe. facilities: Public payphone at Whitestrand, Salcombe. OS map: Explorer 0L20 Grid Ref: SX 742388 Phone: 01803 861384 Email: [email protected] www.southdevonaonb.org.uk TH DEV U ON SO Walks and Trails Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Start & finish point Salcombe PC N WE S © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. South Hams District Council. 100022628 2007 © All photographs - South Devon AONB Unit copyright Phone: 01803 861384 Email: [email protected] www.southdevonaonb.org.uk TH DEV U ON SO Walks and Trails Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Further Interest The Trust is working to reduce the amount of scrub cover, and create a rich variety of habitats for wildlife. For more Heritage information on the National Trust visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk East Portlemouth has As you approach Gara Rock, you may be able to make out the always looked to the sea. signs of ancient fi eld systems on the hillside across the valley. These days a small and This hill is called Deckler’s Cliff, and the fi elds here are thought sleepy settlement, in the to date from the Bronze Age. Middle Ages it was a Wildlife thriving port and a centre of ship building. In the late spring, Bluebells A report survives of an bloom along 18th century service in the the coastal part church being interrupted of the walk. by news of a shipwreck The presence in the locality. The church of bluebells emptied immediately, with are often a the service abandoned sign of ancient and the rector tearing off woodland, so his surplice to join the it may well be rush to see what could be that this stretch plundered. of coast was In the 1800s the owner of East Portlemouth was the Duke of once wooded. Other fl owers include the bobbing pink clusters Cleveland. He was advised by his land agent that his tenants of thrift, along with Sea Campion, which has a small ‘bladder’ at there seemed to be interested only in the sea, that they would the base of its white- petalled fl owers. not work the land, and that the Estate would be better off You may also fi nd the dramatically- named Bloody Cranesbill, without them. a wild geranium with vivid magenta fl owers. The ‘bird’s beak’ The Duke duly evicted almost half the population, demolished shape of the seed cases give these fl owers their name. their homes, and turned the land into three large farms. This The sea occasionally yields sightings of dolphins, seals, and destructive behaviour eventually came to national attention, even whales – and basking sharks sometimes visit these and the Duchess of Cleveland was shamed into fi nancing the waters in the summer to feed on plankton. restoration of the parish church. Seabirds seen here include herring gulls, blackbacked gulls and During World War II, the beach at Mill Bay had a concrete cormorants. You may also see Gannets gliding on long, slender, slipway built across it. Landing craft used in the Normandy black- tipped wings over the sea, before plummeting abruptly to Landings were prepared, maintained and repaired here. dive into the sea after fi sh, sometimes from great heights. They Behind the small white thatched lookout that marks the end of have a cushioned, reinforced head and neck to enable them to the outward route, the Gara Rock Hotel once stood, until it was withstand the impact as they bullet into the water. demolished in 2006. The hotel was a stylish and trendy place to Among the rarer butterfl ies found here are the Pearl and stay in the 1930s, with a succession of glamorous and famous Small Pearl- bordered Fritillaries – beautiful species with black guests. The site was originally developed as a coastguard markings on deep orange wings and delicately patterned fringing station in 1847. around the edges. You may also spot the striking black and Landscape white Marbled White, and the Green Hairstreak, a small butterfl y The land above you as you walk out towards, and beyond, the whose brilliant green underwings stand out when it is at rest. mouth of the estuary, is known as Rickham Common. Part of Reptiles fi nd a home along this stretch of the coast. A Common the land was once divided into 141 long thin strips, on which Lizard may occasionally be seen on a quiet day, basking on the local people grew vegetables, and a 9- hole golf course the path or the rocks nearby, as may the Slow Worm, a legless occupied the cliff top here at one time. lizard which closely resembles a snake. The National The shy Adder – a true snake with distinctive diamond Trust now patterning down the back – is a rare sight here. Although their owns Rickham bite is poisonous, adders are shy creatures and will avoid Common. The people if they can, unless pestered. land is managed The green lane that takes you back down to Mill Bay is lined under the with old lime trees. Limes, with their elegant heart- shaped Countryside leaves and yellow fl owers, are a rarity in Devon. Stewardship Scheme to restore rare maritime grassland. Phone: 01803 861384 Email: [email protected] www.southdevonaonb.org.uk.