South Devon winter walks and cosy coffee stops

One of the top things to do in winter in South Devon is to get outside into the dramatic landscape for a jolly good hike, before settling in for well-deserved coffee and cake at the abundance of cosy cafes. In the mood for bracing South Devon winter walks, from cliff top trails to woodland wanders? Pop on your wellies, wrap up warm, and head to a few of our favourites for guaranteed rosy cheeks, feel-good-factor, and soul soothing sustenance as your reward.

A gentle jaunt around Daddyhole Plain in Torquay

In the area known as the English Riviera, Torquay sits in a horseshoe-shaped bay and is known for its palm trees, Victorian villas, and impressive marina. There are lots of walks in the surrounding area, but for a gentle jaunt, the twoo-mile loop around Daddyhole Plain offers views of the harbour and the bay itself. Taking you through a conservation area, rich in rare plants and wildlife, including its own colony of the nationally endangered horseshoe bats, it’s a walk brimming with intrigue.  

Coffee shop: Meadfoot Beach Cafe

Located at the bottom of the steps leading up to the plain, Meadfoot Beach Cafe is in an enviable location overlooking the water and the Blue Flag beach. Understated, warm, and welcoming, they are dog-friendly and offer a menu that ranges from hearty fare to great cakes.

The Revelstoke Drive and Noss Mayo circular loop

For a winter walk that spans woodland, picturesque villages, and far-reaching ocean views, the Revelstoke Drive and Noss Mayo walk is a circular loop, starting in the National Trust car park on Hannaford Road. Around four miles in total, it’s guaranteed to work up an appetite, with a healthy number of Devon hills to climb. Before you get back to the car park at the end, you go through the old fishing village of Noss Mayo – then it’s time for that well-earned cup of tea.

Coffee shop: The Green Deli

Add a slight detour to your loop and head into Newton Ferrers for a visit to The Green Deli – an independent deli-cafe, specialising in local produce. Proponents of fresh bread and proper coffee, they serve breakfast, lunch, and all the bits in between, and also have plenty for you to take home as well.

A South Devon winter walk from Little Dartmouth

Taking you towards Dartmouth Harbour, this enchanting four-mile loop offers estuary views and vistas of boats bobbing along. See how many different species of wildlife you can spot along your way, not to mention the ruins of the old Civil War fort, Gallants Bower. Start at Little Dartmouth National Trust car park, and enjoy the journey.

Coffee shop: Dartmouth Castle Tea Rooms

For a cup of tea with a difference, stop off at Dartmouth Castle Tea Rooms and tuck into savoury snacks, sweet treats, and superb coffee surrounded by the ramparts of Dartmouth Castle. The impressive artillery fort was built to protect Dartmouth harbour, with parts of it dating to the 1380s.

Adventure along The Avon Estuary from Bantham 

For those in the mood for an adventurous day out, the 8.8 mile walk along The Avon Estuary is a treat. Start in Bantham Sand car park, and roam from muddy lanes to the tidal road, wooden banks along the estuary, and over the historic salt marsh bridge.  Along the way, keep an eye out for herons near Cockleridge, Curlews, and perhaps swimming trout and salmon.

Coffee shop: Gastrobus X Bosko Bus

Set yourself up for the day’s exertions with breakfast baps, burritos, locally roasted coffee and baked goods at the Gastrobus X Bosko Bus, located in the carpark at Bantham beach. The popular food truck is known for its range of fare, including plenty of healthy options. Check the opening times before you head out to avoid disappointment.

The scenic route from Salcombe to Soar Mill Cove

A 6.6-mile curricular route from North Sands car park in Salcombe, along to Bolt Head, past Starehole Bay, all the way to Soar Mill Cove, the South West Coast Path takes you on one of the most breathtaking routes on a challenging hike that’s well-worth a caffeine hit at the end. A spectacularly beautiful walk that invites you to keep an eye out for dolphins, seals, wild flowers, and more, you can pick up a snack at East Soar Outdoor Experience’s Walkers’ Hut honesty cafe to keep you going before finishing off at the famous Winking Prawn.

Coffee shop: The Winking Prawn

If you have not yet been to The Winking Prawn, then now is your chance. This beachside cafe has been welcoming guests for almost 30 years, and is a landmark in its own right. Recently featured in the Hollywood movie, The Roses, its shabby chic interiors are warm and welcoming – visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, cake, ice cream, and summer barbecues. You might opt to swap out coffee and cake for a pint of prawns and a glass of wine, or our personal favourite, deep-fried popcorn shrimp with sweet chilli dip. You can even pick up a pink prawn hoodie as a holiday souvenir.

Stroll from Salcombe to East Portlemouth and Gara Rock

Perhaps one of the most iconic walks in Salcombe is when you take the Salcombe Ferry over to East Portlemouth, and make your way along the coast path up to Gara Rock. Roughly four miles once you’re on the East Portlemouth shore, it gives you a different view of this picture-perfect coastal town from the other side of the estuary, wiggling along the coast past popular beaches all the way to Gara Rock Hotel. Stop off there for lunch, coffee, cake or a tipple, and then take the easy way back to the ferry – mostly downhill through woodland.

Coffee shop: Gara Rock Hotel

Ultra stylish, Gara Rock Hotel is a clifftop retreat that always offers a warm welcome to guests, and is also dog-friendly. Step onto the underfloor heating after a bracing stroll, and into a contemporary but cosy space with panoramic views of the crashing waves below. 

Hope Cove hike to Bolberry Down

For a circular loop with coffee or lunch in the middle, a hike from the beautiful Hope Cove, up along the coast path past an Iron Age (700BC to 43AD) promontory fort, and along to Bolberry Down is a joy. Upwards on the way out via Bolt Tail, and largely downhill on the way back, take in the most incredible views that stretch all the way towards Bigbury Bay and out into the deep blue yonder. It’s just under five miles in total.

Coffee shop: Thirty-Three by the Sea 

Owned by Jamie Burnard of Kingsbridge’s Twenty-Seven restaurant, Thirty-Three by the Sea sits proudly on the headland in the middle of this walk, and is a vibrant space open for teas, coffees and light bites all the way through to seafood feasts.

A stroll from Bantham to South Milton Sands 

Start in the Bantham car park by the beach, and head out for a bracing stroll along the coast towards South Milton Sands (you can turn back at Thurlestone Sands for a slightly shorter route). A circular jaunt, you get the most impressive views of the crashing waves as you go along the golf course and past Leas Foot Sands. If you continue to South Milton Sands you can refuel at the Beachhouse, or continue back to the end of your walk and stop off at The Sloop Inn at the end. 

Coffee shop: The Beachhouse or The Sloop Inn

The Beachhouse at South Milton is the stuff of storybooks – a literal beach shack serving fresh fare in a buzzy environment. After a devastating fire destroyed the original premises in the summer of 2025, they have returned as a quirky pop-up, and we are absolutely here for it! You can also head to The Sloop Inn at Bantham for post-walk sustenance in the popular 14th-century inn. It is steeped in tradition and history, and has mastered the art of superb fish and chips.

Deer Park Trails in Dartington

The Dartington Estate near Totnes is a magical place, boasting more than 800 acres of forest, rivers, and wildlife-rich countryside. Within it, you’re invited to walk as you please, whether it’s enjoying the glorious Grade II listed gardens, or on longer adventures. The Deer Park is particularly beautiful for exploring, whether you go on their short, one-mile trail, which is great for pushchairs, or the longer route along the River Dart, which is just over two miles.

Coffee shop: Garden Café

Also within the Dartington Estate are a number of foodie favourites, from the White Hart Pub & Restaurant, to The Green Table, Montreal-Style Bagels, and the Garden Café. All offer something special, but we particularly like the Garden Café for its collection of home baked cakes, scones, cookies and tea cakes.

Explore Blackdown Rings

Blackdown Rings is a unique location for exploration, offering an impressive viewpoint and geological intrigue. Consisting of an Iron Age hill fort with a Norman motte and bailey castle within the prehistoric embankment, it’s a location with lots of history. There’s a fairly easy circular walk of around half a mile in length, which is a great way for the whole family to get out into the fresh air. It’s also very close to Andrew’s Wood, a Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve, which offers three different walking routes, all of which take about 40 minutes long.

Coffee shop: Heron Valley Coffee Shop & Bar

After getting your fill of fresh air, hop in the car for the three-minute drive to Heron Valley Coffee Shop & Bar in Loddiswell, which is surrounded by orchards, high up on the banks of the Avon River Valley. A beautiful place to warm up, they serve wood-roasted coffee, and a carefully curated menu of delicious dishes. It’s also the site of Weaver Green, so you can shop for gorgeous, recycled and sustainable home furnishings at the same time!

Beach walk from Holbeton to Mothecombe Beach

Mothecombe Beach is a real (fairly hidden) treasure of a beach location, set in a secluded corner of South Devon. Accessible only on foot, it’s a privately owned beach on the Erme estuary, close to Holbeton, and dogs are allowed on the sand from 1st October to the end of April, making it ideal for Devon winter walks. The gentle stroll from the village to the beach is just under two miles through quiet country lanes, and is a lovely way to venture out into the fresh air. 

Coffee shop: The School House Devon

The School House Devon is perfect for warming up after a run around on the sand. In the heart of The Flete Estate, it’s a five-minute walk from Mothecombe beach, with a Mediterranean influenced vibe and everything from breakfast to sourdough pizzas on the menu. There’s always a cake of the day, as well as more substantial dishes. When you’re ordering your sides, don’t forget to add the rosemary salted fries.

Perfect places to stay in South Devon

Whether it’s a windswept coastal path or a gentle riverside stroll, winter walking in South Devon is about slowing down and savouring the season, but of course, it wouldn’t be complete without somewhere to stop, find sustenance, and enjoy the feeling of a well-earned rest. Stay in a hideaway so you can step straight out of your door and onto a footpath, or book a holiday home in the heart of town so you can flop into the nearest cafe whenever you feel like it.

With South Devon coffee shops tucked into beachside corners and scenic locations, Devon winter walks come with comfort and style waiting at the end. So, lace up your boots, breathe in that fresh sea air, and reward yourself with the warmth and welcome that makes our beautiful corner of the world special at all times of the year.

For more things to do in winter South Devon and the best places to stay, explore Finest Stays