Walking The Salt Path: Follow in Raynor Winn’s Footsteps

As The Salt Path makes its long-awaited cinematic debut on 30th May, Raynor Winn’s moving memoir will captivate a new audience with its tale of resilience, love, and nature’s quiet power to heal. Her journey along the South West Coast Path is more than just a walk, it’s a pilgrimage of hope. For those inspired to retrace her steps, South Devon’s southern arc offers a stunning stretch of coastline to explore, paired perfectly with a handpicked Finest Stays retreat to rest weary legs.

From the tranquil creeks of Newton Ferrers to the cultured coastline of Torquay, here’s how to experience The Salt Path, South Devon style.

Newton Ferrers & Noss Mayo

Stay: Riverdale [coming soon]

The picturesque twin villages of Newton Ferrers & Noss Mayo offer a gentle introduction to the Salt Path, with boats bobbing in the tide and quiet footpaths skimming the shoreline. For those craving something wilder, follow the circular walk around the Yealm Estuary, weaving past Warren Point, Cellar Beach, and Stoke Beach before rejoining the coast path. From here, the journey westward intensifies, past Battisborough Cross and Ayrmer Cove, climbing along jagged cliffs to Bolberry Down, a National Trust gem where sheer drops meet sweeping sea views. With kestrels circling above and the wind rolling in from the sea, it’s a stretch of path that feels truly untamed, the kind of landscape where Raynor Winn’s reflections echo in the air.

Mothecombe Beach
Stay: Silver Moon

Just east of this rugged run lies Silver Moon, nestled in the peaceful village of Holbeton, moments from Mothecombe Beach. Begin the day to birdsong and estuary mist, then descend the tree-lined trails to golden sands that feel a world away. Follow the curve of the Erme Estuary, letting time slow and the elements lead. And when the day’s walking is done, return to the warmth of a hot tub, and enjoy a glass of wine with starlight above. This might be a world apart from Winn and Moth’s canvas nights, but one still deeply connected to the healing pulse of the path.

Bigbury-on-Sea & Bantham
Stay: Juniper House

Cross the iconic tidal causeway to Burgh Island, famed for Agatha Christie’s musings, before ambling along cliff tops to Bantham Beach. The vast, rolling surf and panoramic vistas over Bigbury Bay stir the soul. Nestled in Bantham, Juniper House is a grand yet welcoming retreat, complete with an outdoor sauna experience. Return here after wind-whipped hours on the coast path for fireside stories, al fresco suppers, and a long soak with views over the valley.

Thurlestone
Stay: Avon Rock or Yellow Sands

With its dramatic cliffs and iconic shoreline, Thurlestone offers beauty from every angle. Pause on the headland to spot seals bobbing in the bay or stroll towards the sweeping sands of South Milton. Choose between the light-filled elegance of Avon Rock or the coastal charm of Yellow Sands, both perfect for gazing out to sea with a steaming cup of tea and Raynor Winn’s words in your mind.

South Milton Sands
Stay: Swift Cottage

Small but mighty, Swift Cottage can only be likened to a warm hug after a day on your feet. Set in the heart of South Milton, this cosy bolthole places you just a breath away from the beach and nearby clifftop trails. It’s a chance to immerse in rural solitude, where the salt-scented air and birdsong recalibrate the senses.

Hope Cove

Stay: The Lanterns

Quintessentially Devon, Hope Cove is a picture-perfect pause on your walking journey. From Thurlestone and South Milton, clamber over rolling cliffs and rest in rock pools before descending into the village. At The Lanterns, a stylish coastal retreat overlooking the sea, you’ll be greeted with golden sands, coastal views, and the sound of the ocean from your pillow.

South Sands, Salcombe
Stay: Sand’s Edge

Arrive by ferry or follow the woodland trail down to South Sands, a sheltered crescent of water tucked beneath tree-lined cliffs. Just moments from the shore sits Sands Edge, a calm, elegant retreat where the only interruptions are the songs of the sea. From here, lace up your boots for the Bolt Head walk, one of the most breathtaking sections of the coast path. The trail winds up through coastal heath and along jagged cliffs, with dramatic views across the Salcombe estuary and out to sea. It’s a route that stirs both awe and perspective, the kind of place where cliffs fall away into the deep, and the vastness of the landscape anchors you in the moment.

North Sands, Salcombe

Stay: Topwood, Asman or The Cove

North Sands may be small in size, but its charm is mighty. Imagine a tucked-away cove with fine sand, rolling waves, and the beloved Winking Prawn beach café just opposite, perfect for post-walk seafood or barefoot breakfasts. Topwood, Asman, and The Cove sit just above, perfectly positioned to soak in every glint of sunlight on the water and every shift of the tide. Their wide windows frame sea panoramas that stir a deep sense of freedom. Relish long evenings here, with the comfort of a coastal retreat you won’t want to leave.

Salcombe
Stay: Brewery Cottage, 7 Victoria Quay, or Sea Shimmer

A jewel of the South Hams, Salcombe is a natural waypoint on your route. Rich with maritime heritage and vibrant food spots, it invites a slower pace. Choose Brewery Cottage for its charming character, 7 Victoria Quay for its waterfront buzz, or Sea Shimmer for pure, sea-facing serenity. All offer the comfort Winn and Moth could only dream of.

Kingsbridge

Stay: The Moorings or West Charleton Grange

An inland diversion brings you to Kingsbridge, where estuary stillness replaces crashing waves. The Moorings, with its waterside perch, or the stately West Charleton Grange offer a moment of calm. Walk the gentle trails along the creek, or simply rest in gardens that hum with bees and breeze.

East Portlemouth
Stay at Waterhead Cottage or Upalong

With Salcombe shimmering across the water, East Portlemouth is one of South Devon’s best-kept secrets, a place for slow mornings, salty air, and deep stillness. Stay at Waterhead Cottage, full of rustic charm, or at Upalong, a refined coastal escape with sweeping sea view, both ideal for quiet reflection. For those eager to roam, the walk from East Portlemouth is one of the coast path’s most rewarding. Begin at Mill Bay Cove, a hidden sandy inlet, then follow the coast path as it winds along the cliffs toward Gara Rock Beach, wild, dramatic, and unforgettable.

Hallsands & Strete

Stay: The Lodge

The walk from Start Point to Strete Gate Beach is one of the most exhilarating of the South Devon coast. Begin at Start Point lighthouse, its beam once guiding ships away from treacherous rocks. From here, the coast path winds its way along rugged cliffs, through windswept fields and steep valleys, offering panoramic views of Start Bay at every turn. As you walk, the drama of the landscape is ever-present. Eventually, you descend toward the long, shingle sweep of Strete Gate Beach, where the path flattens and the sea stretches in every direction. It’s here, as Raynor Winn wrote, that the coast path feels most raw and wild, where the connection between self and landscape is most tangible. Return to The Lodge with tired legs, ready to curl up by the fire or take in the starlit sea from your window, a luxurious refuge that still honours the spirit of the path.

Dartmouth
Stay: 2 Dart Marina or 3 Manor House

Historic Dartmouth offers a refined pause on your journey, where riverside charm meets centuries of maritime history. 2 Dart Marina brings sleek waterfront luxury, while 3 Manor House blends elegance and heritage, ideal spots to watch the harbour life go by. Walk from Stoke Fleming through Little Dartmouth, tracing dramatic cliff tops to Sugary Cove, a hidden gem beneath Dartmouth Castle. With sweeping sea views and rugged beauty, this stretch combines nature and history in perfect harmony, a snapshot of what the Salt Path is all about.

Torquay
Stay: Vane Lookout or Austiger House

Complete your coastal stretch in Torquay, where subtropical palms fringe the seafront and the English Riviera’s charm is unmistakable. Base yourself at the contemporary Vane Lookout or the design-led Austiger House, each offering stylish comfort. Lace up for Torquay’s cliffside trails, starting with the striking London Bridge arch, then winding past the secluded beauty of Thatcher’s Point, Hope’s Nose and the hidden gem that is Anstey’s Cove. These coastal paths blend geological wonder with outdoor adventure, the perfect finale to your journey through South Devon’s wild edge.

One Foot in Front of the Other…

Raynor Winn’s story is one of hardship, transformation, and the deep grounding power of the natural world. To walk even a fragment of the coast path is to reconnect with something essential, and to do it while staying in thoughtfully curated homes in the Finest Stays collection is to merge adventure with comfort, just as nature intended.

“Life is now, this minute, it’s all we have.” Raynor Winn, The Salt Path

So, pack your boots. The sea is calling. Browse our South Devon holiday homes.