Groups visiting Plymouth can enjoy a walking trip that takes in the sights of Britain’s Ocean City, positioned between Dartmoor national park and the UK’s First National Marine Park, Plymouth Sound.
The Devon-based city has ocean and countryside views for walking groups of all abilities to enjoy, with long coastal trails, cyclist and walker-friendly routes and trails taking in local wildlife and history.
Providing a connection between Dartmoor National Park and Plymouth Sound is the South West Coast Path National Trail. This 630-mile trail crosses the city and extends across the Southwest of England. It was recently used for a film adaptation of The Salt Path featuring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.
Groups heading along the trail can enjoy panoramic views over Drake’s Island, accessible via ferry and home to seals napping on the rocks which groups can enjoy on bespoke tours, and the Tamar Estuary nature reserve home to wildfowl and invertebrate animals. Small detours from the path offer opportunities to see vibrant marinas, cobbled streets and spots for refreshments.
The trail also takes walkers via Mount Edcumbe Country Park, the former home of the Earls of Mount Edcumbe set in Grade I Cornish Gardens within 865 acres Country Park.
Devil’s Point forms part of the South West Coast Path with the ‘Stairway to Devon’ - opened in June 2013 and recently re-furbished - which enables walkers’ direct access to Plymouth’s Royal William Yard, a historical hub home to the largest collection of Grade I listed military buildings in Europe and a range of restaurants and bars, shops and arts and cultural activities.
Devon’s coast-to-coast route, known as The Two Moors Way, begins in Wembury and links Dartmoor to Exmoor where land meets the sea. The walking routes crosses heritage areas and every section tells the story of Britain’s maritime and rural past.
Other walking routes which groups can enjoy include Drake’s Trail, which features wooded river valleys and across open moorland home to wildlife including Dartmoor ponies, and Plymouth’s Waterfront Walkway which passes through Plymouth, Stonehouse, Devonport and Plympton - as well as numerous villages, including Cattedown, Oreston, Hooe and Turnchapel.
The Plym Valley Trail is open all year and heads out of the city towards Dartmoor following the Plym River. The trail offers country views and the opportunity to get close to wildlife. It is also of interest to geologists. A series of bespoke guided walks is also available in the free Plymouth Trails app, including trails celebrating links between Plymouth and communities in the USA developed over 400 years.
Group visits to Plymouth
Groups visiting the city by coach take advantage of coach parking at Plymouth Pavilions and Stagecoach West. There are plenty of group-friendly accommodation options including Invicta Hotel, Residence One Rooms by Bistrot Pierre and Jurys Inn Plymouth.
The city is home to group-friendly attractions which can be enjoyed when not taking in views on a walking route. Head to Dartmoor Prison Museum to find out about the history of the city’s prison, or head to The Box, a museum, gallery and archive where groups can discover more about Plymouth and see a life-sized mammoth alongside naval history.
For more group visit inspiration go to www.visitplymouth.co.uk/.
