Hope Cove Area Guide

A guide to the area around Hope Cove for villagers and visitors alike.

Hope Cove, on the South Devon Coast, is a charming fishing village characterised by secluded coves, sandy beaches and outstanding natural beauty.

Visitors here are treated to everything the traditional seaside holiday has to offer. It's safe for sea swimming thanks to the sheltered shape of the cove. Its rugged cliffs are a scenic backdrop to spectacular coastal views. Walkers are treated to miles of south devon coastline thanks to the coastal path and thrill seekers can take part in water sports such as paddle boarding, sailing and kayaking.

Read more information about Hope Cove itself here. This guide is about the wider area and things to do in South Devon for visitors using Hope Cove as a base to explore other parts of the county.

Area Guide Contents

• Walking Trails

  • South West Coast Path
  • South Hams Way

• Popular Attractions

  • Woodlands
  • Totnes Castle
  • South Devon Railway
  • Kingswear Castle Paddle Steamer

• Nearby Towns and Cities

  • Salcombe
  • Dartmouth
  • Kingsbridge
  • Paignton
  • Buckfastleigh
  • Ivybridge
  • Plymouth
  • Exeter

• Beaches

• Dartmoor National Park

• South Devon Natural Landscape

• Golf Courses

• Hope Cove Tide Times

Discover Hope Cove and Surrounding Areas

Whatever your interest, you can find it nearby

The picturesque village of Hope Cove nestles in the sheltered bay of Bolt Tail (at Bolt Head) in the curve of Bigbury Bay near Salcombe. With its charming thatched cottages, rugged coastline, clean sandy beaches, welcoming inns, and peaceful, relaxed atmosphere, Hope Cove offers the ideal holiday retreat.

For today's tide times see our Hope Cove Tide Times page. At high tide please be careful of being cut off. At low tide, rock pooling is a must.

There are miles of delightful and varied scenery along this rugged Heritage Coastline. Local beaches include Mouthwell Sands / Mouthwell Beach, Soar Mill Cove, Slapton Sands, Bantham Beach, South Milton Sands and South Sands. Hope cove's beaches are called Harbour Beach and Mouthwell Sands. There is a seasonal dog ban during the summer season for hygiene reasons.

The area is renowned for its unique flora and fauna, including the nature reserve at Slapton Ley, and for its interesting walks to secluded coves and spectacular viewpoints. The lovely old sailing town of Salcombe is only a few minutes away.

Plymouth Sound is just 12 nautical miles away and the cities of Plymouth and Exeter, the resorts of Torbay and the wild expanses of Dartmoor are only about an hour's drive away.

You will be in easy reach of 12 golf courses (we have special concessions at Thurlestone, Bigbury and Dartmouth Golf Courses), tennis courts and riding. Fishing is available from the breakwater and rocks, or from a boat.

Hope Cove is an ideal location from which to sail your own boat, with an open beach, a slipway at Inner Hope and parking for your trailer in our car park.

With the high number of shipwrecks in the locale, diving is also a popular sport for visitors to Hope Cove.

The local town is Kingsbridge, an attractive market town with interesting shopping, pubs, restaurants and a superb leisure centre and indoor pool.

For children, there are a wealth of local activities (in addition to the wide selection of beaches!). There is a highly acclaimed adventure park – Woodlands near Dartmouth, also nearby are Pennywell Farm, River Dart Adventures, National Marine Aquarium Plymouth, Paignton Zoo, South Devon Steam Railway to name a few. Locally, there is also horse riding, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and many other exciting outdoor activities. The fun is only limited to your imagination!

During the summer months the locals regularly hold their Hope Cove Weekend event. It usually takes place on the August bank holiday weekend. Take part in sandcastle competitions down on the beach during this free festival and take a look around the old lifeboat station and old fishermen's cottages in the old part of the village called Inner Hope.

Outdoor adventures

Right here in Hope Cove you take part in water sports, observe children jumping into the water from the harbour wall or get your hiking gear and hear to the nearby Dartmoor national park.

Of course, the South west coast path also offers opportunities for adventure and hiking too. Explore the stunning coastline direct from The Cottage Hotel