Trailblazer guidebooks provide practical information on specific routes in less accessible parts of the world.
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Dorset & South Devon Coast Path (South-West Coast Path Part 3)
by: Henry Stedman & Joel Newton
UPDATES
Updated information
Thank you to the people who wrote in with the following updates including: Alan Cadwallader, David Mallinson, Helen Older, David Schache, Janine Watson and Roland Thorpe, Gordon Rhodes, Paul Southward, Kevin Thomas, Nicola Haynes.
The information has not yet been checked by Trailblazer but it will be for the next edition.
Updates relating to the 3rd Edition
July 2025
p128 and map 16, East Portlemouth. The café at the East Portlemouth slipway is now called The Old Stables, not The Venus
Map 16, East Portlemouth. Village Farm, Cafe and Farm Shop, (footpath opposite the slipway 15 minutes up the hill). A walker recommends 'amazing cakes!'. www.villagefarmdevon.com/cafe, Tel: 01548843532
p128 and Map 16, Mill Bay. Lollapalooza is a food and drink Citroën HY van on the left just before the NT carpark, in the summer, sells ice cream, coffee, drinks and snacks.
Map 20, Start Point. There’s no longer a drinks van at the Start Point carpark.
p131 Start Point. There are various information boards in the Start Point carpark with the history of Hallsands.
p138 and map 24, Blackpool Sands. The café is now called The Blackpool Sands Café, not Venus Café.
p140, Stoke Fleming. The restaurant at Leonards Cove Holiday Park is now Trattoria Spaggia, not Radius 7.
p142 and Dartmouth map. There’s a Marks and Spencer Foodhall on Mayor’s Avenue
p142, Transport, Dartmouth. Bus routes and numbers have changed. The number 93 runs between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge every hour. It calls at the various coastal stops to Torcross then heads inland. It doesn’t go to Slapton village, only to Slapton Turn. The number 3 is now a Plymouth and Kingsbridge service.
April 2025
p102 and p105, Map 5, Wembury and the Yealm. Yealm Community Electric Transport
(YCET ) have this year (2025) taken over the Ferry across the Yealm from Billy who has retired after 31 years of fantastic service.
Ferry Service / Water Taxi. Yealm Community Electric Transport ( YCET ) will be running a Ferry / Water Taxi operation from 10:00 until 16:00 7 days a week between 1st April and 30th September with extended hours on Weekends, public holidays and the main holiday season. The service may be restricted outside of school holidays or during bad weather.
Use the signal board to call the ferry, phone or text 07399 067942, Marine VHF channel 69 or info@ycet.co.uk
Feb 2025
p237 Higher Eype. Downhouse Farm has closed permanently.
May 2023
Swanage. Arbour House B & B, 19, Walrond Road, Swanage BH19 1PB. Is 200m from the safe sandy beach and promenade, and within five minutes’ walk of the town centre. All rooms are en-suite. Tel: 01929 761125, 07986 644677. www.arbourhouseswanage.co.uk.
Updates relating to the 2nd Edition
July 2021
p113 Map 11, Bantham. Crossing the River Avon. One walker reports: 'You have to use a foot ferry to cross or walk via Aveon Gifford, a six mile diversion. Talking to the Bantham ferryman he told me you can wade across the estuary – at low tide – in much the same way you can at the Mothecombe estuary 4 miles to the west. I don’t know the actual crossing point but the boatman told me it was “a few hundred yards upstream of the ferry”.'
July 2018
p99 Map 3, Bovisand Point. Cliffedge Cafe is no longer there. However the Beachcomber Cafe is not far away and that is still open.
Updates relating to the 1st Edition
February 2018
p294 West Lulworh and Lulworth Cove. Durdle Door Holiday Park. There is a place for tents away from the crows.
What to take. First-aid kit: one walker had a bad encounter with ticks and recommends taking a tick card or special forceps to remove ticks.
November 2017
p106 Wembury. Wembury Bay B and B, 2 Warren Close, Wembury, Plymouth, Devon PL9 0AF. Tel: 01752 863392. Mob: 07554 919295. www.wemburybaybedandbreakfast.yolasite.com
October 2017
p257 Blue Anchor Café, West Bexington The cafe does exist, but we were disappointed to be refused coffee yesterday morning as (a) the cafe doesn't open till midday and (b) they don't serve coffee, only full meals. (Note from Trailblazer: we believe this may now be called The Club House but it is still a fine-dining type of establishment.)
September 2017
p140 Slapton Ley Cottage B&B is not available here now; there are new owners.
November 2016
p238 Lyme Regis. Dorset House B&B, Pound Road, Lyme Regis, DT7 3HX offers accommodation and opened since the last edition of the book. Tel: 01297 442055. www.dorsethouselyme.com
Some walkers recommended Lyme Regis as worth a rest day to check out museums and also on right day - opportunity to go to 'River Cottage' for a meal which is a potential highlight for international visitors who have seen the TV series.
page 220 Sidmouth. The Fort Cafe, The Esplanade, Sidmouth is a very dog friendly cafe at Sidmouth, right on the Sea front. Good grub, and water and a biscuit for MONTY! Eating looking over the sea, as well.
p240 Lyme Regis. The Lyme Tree, a restaurant on the sea front near the Cobb. It's been in business for about a year and offers an early bird deal for dinner from 5 to 6.30pm. The owner was very friendly and the food good. www.thelymetree.co.uk 29 Marine Parade, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3JF. mail@thelymetree.co.uk
p260 Chesil Beach. Chesil Beach Centre, approx. 1/4 mile south of The Ferry Inn has information about Chesil Beach, binoculars for looking at the birds, a café and toilets.
p276 In Fortuneswell. Brackenberry House has closed.
5 September 2013
p149 Dartmouth. Eight Bells B&B, South Embankment, Dartmounth, Devon TQ6 9BB. Tel: 07813 803472.
The Maitland B&B has closed.
p 152. Jan & Freddie's Brasserie has closed.
30 July 2013
p 304. Kimmeridge. Bradle Farm B&B is about 1 mile inland from the coast path. It has 3 rooms: 2 doubles and one twin. The address is: Bradle Farm, Bradle, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5NU. Tel: 01920 480712. www.bradlefarmhouse.co.uk
Dorset & South Devon Coast Path (South-West Coast Path Part 3)
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