Classic Devon & Cornwall - Hiking
Country
England
Region
Devon & Cornwall
Theme
Classic
6
Days
5
Nights
Accommodation
3* / 4*
From Dartmoor’s Tors to Cornwall’s Coastal Paths.
This journey traces a striking line from the drama of Dartmoor to Cornwall’s sculpted north coast. High moorland paths, wooded river valleys and classic coastal walking are woven into a programme that feels balanced, varied and packs in plenty of local history and colour.
Designed for walkers who value landscape, heritage and time to absorb it all, this is our favoured way to see England’s south west. Big horizons early on give way to intimate harbours, coastal paths and evenings by the water, each day flowing naturally into the next.
Highlights
- High-level walking across Dartmoor’s iconic tors
- Woodland paths along the River Teign
- Time in Mevagissey and the Lost Gardens of Heligan
- Coastal walking via St Enodoc Church and Polzeath
- Harbour towns, ferry crossings and wide Atlantic views
- Three nights based in Padstow to explore the coast at ease
Handpicked Accommodation
Old Custom House, Padstow
Set on the harbour front, this former 19th-century customs house now offers relaxed coastal accommodation with views across the Camel Estuary.
Why we chose it
Stepping straight out onto the harbour allows guests to slip immediately into Padstow’s atmosphere, with boats rocking gently outside and the tide setting the tempo
The Three Crowns, Chagford
A historic coaching inn set right on Chagford’s village square, The Three Crowns dates back to the 13th century and remains one of Dartmoor’s most characterful bases.
Why we chose it
Step outside and you’re in the village’s daily rhythm. Step beyond that and you’re on the moor. It’s an easy, natural base for varied walking
Itinerary
Day 1 – Exeter St Davids to Chagford and Scorhill
Meet at Exeter St Davids and travel onto Dartmoor for lunch in Chagford. Sitting on the edge of the moor, Chagford has long been a hub for artists and writers drawn to Dartmoor’s light and scale, a creative undercurrent that’s still felt in the village today.
In the afternoon, set out across open moorland towards Scorhill Stone Circle. Scorhill is one of Dartmoor’s best-preserved prehistoric sites, its stones arranged with remarkable symmetry against the wide, empty landscape. The walk offers an atmospheric introduction to the moor, with big skies a constant feature. Return to Chagford for the evening.
Day 2 – High Dartmoor and the Teign Valley
Today explores Dartmoor’s most recognisable forms. The morning walk takes you up to Haytor and Hound Tor, two granite outcrops shaped by millions of years of erosion. Haytor’s stone was once quarried and transported by horse-drawn tramway to be used in landmark buildings, including parts of London Bridge.
After lunch in Bovey Tracey, the landscape softens. The afternoon follows woodland paths along the River Teign, one of Dartmoor’s major rivers, which rises on the high moor and carves its way south through steep, wooded valleys. Ferns, moss and birdsong create a cooler, enclosed feel. A final night in the quiet village of Chagford awaits.
Day 3 – Mevagissey and the Lost Gardens of Heligan to Padstow
Transfer to Cornwall and begin with a walk around Mevagissey. The harbour town was once one of Cornwall’s busiest fishing ports, and its tightly packed streets reflect a time when boats and nets shaped daily life. Even today, the working harbour remains central to the town’s identity.
From here, continue to the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Once part of a large Victorian estate, the gardens fell into decades of neglect after the First World War, when many of the estate’s gardeners never returned. Their restoration is now regarded as one of the most important garden recoveries in Europe. Later, transfer north to Padstow, where the Camel Estuary opens wide and the pace of the journey shifts again.
Day 4 – Rock Ferry to Polzeath
Cross the Camel Estuary by ferry to Rock, a short journey that has linked the two sides of the river for centuries. From Rock, begin walking along the coast path, soon reaching St Enodoc Church, set quietly among sand dunes. The church is famously associated with the poet Sir John Betjeman, who is buried in the churchyard overlooking the estuary.
Continue along clifftops towards Polzeath, where Atlantic views stretch north and west. In the afternoon, visit Port Isaac, whose steep streets were shaped long before cars existed, forcing buildings to cling tightly to the contours of the harbour. R
Day 5 – Stepper Point, Trevone and Harlyn Bay
Follow the coast path west from Padstow towards Stepper Point, passing the daymark tower that once helped guide ships safely into the Camel Estuary. The headland offers some of the widest views on this stretch of coast, with seabirds often riding the updrafts along the cliffs.
The walk continues past Trevone and on to Harlyn Bay, where sandy beaches interrupt the rocky shoreline and the coast begins to open and curve. In the afternoon, transfer back to Padstow for free time. With its harbour, estuary and fishing heritage, there’s plenty on offer.
Day 6 – Departure or Extension
After breakfast, the tour comes to a close. Guests may depart or extend their stay in Cornwall
Itinerary Designer
Though Devonians and the Cornish will wholeheartedly disagree, these two counties are just as wonderful as one another!
Will
Featured Experience
Rock Ferry Crossing and Coastal Walking from the Camel Estuary
A short ferry ride can transform a day. The Rock crossing sets you down on the far side of the Camel Estuary with the harbour behind you and the coast path ahead.