Walk · Devon

Bantham to Thurlestone and back

Bantham · TQ7 3AJ
Thurlestone Bantham West Buckland River Avon N 880 YD © OpenStreetMap contributors
3.2MILES
1h 45mON FOOT
130mCLIMB
CircularSHAPE
The route A-road B-road Lane Track Path Water Woodland
Off-road 80% 20% shares tarmac with cars
Field & moor path 58%Lane & track 22%Road with traffic 20%

Our drawing of the route, over road and path data from OpenStreetMap. It shows where the walk goes and what it goes through. It is not a survey and not a navigation aid — carry OS Explorer on the hill. Off-lead information here is what walkers reported or what signage allows — never our advice. Whether and when a dog is off the lead is the owner’s decision and legal responsibility; keep dogs under control near livestock and follow signs on the day.

Starts at
Bantham Beach car park, at the end of the lane past the village TQ7 3AJ
Parking
Paid estate car park behind the dunes, large but gated and closed overnight; the village lanes are unsuitable for parking
Directions to the start →

A gentle 3.2 miles of about an hour and three quarters over the dunes and low cliffs to Thurlestone Sand and the Thurlestone rock, returning through the village and by field paths, with only 130 metres of climbing and firm going throughout. Start at the paid Bantham Beach car park, which is run by the Bantham Estate and closes its gates in the evening, and note that the lane in from Buckland is narrow and busy with surfers all summer. The dog position is unusual here and worth getting right: the South Hams council order names only Bigbury, Mouthwell Sands at Hope Cove and Salcombe South Sands, so Bantham's own summer dog rules are set by the estate that owns the beach, while Thurlestone Sand a mile along the walk is dog-friendly with a stream to drink from.

THE SMALL PRINTBantham beach is privately owned by the Bantham Estate and is not covered by the South Hams dog PSPO, so the estate's own seasonal restrictions apply on the sand and in the car park; check the notices at the gate. The council order restricts Bigbury, Mouthwell Sands and Salcombe South Sands only.

House rules, decoded

Off-lead allowed
Livestock — leads on
REGION · DEVON
GRID · 50.2790, -3.8730
SOURCE · HTTPS://WWW.SOUTHWESTCOASTPATH.ORG.UK/WALKSDB/99/
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