Gara Rock
This circular walk on the South Devon coast visits Gara Rock from East Portlemouth. You could also start from the Gara Rock car park at postcode TQ8 8FA for your sat navs. It's a beautiful area with a cliff top hotel and a peaceful beach to enjoy.
The walk starts from the public car park at East Portlemouth and follow a footpath south west to Small's Cove where you can pick up the South West Coast Path. Follow the waymarked trail south along Salcombe Harbour to Mill Bay, Biddlehead Point, Rickham Common and Limebury Point. Here you turn east passing Leek Cove before heading across Portlemouth Down to Rudder Cove, Abraham's Cove and Gara Rock. There's a fine hotel here and a lovely secluded beach which you can walk down to on a steep slope.
The route then turns inland, following a bridleway to Rickham before returning to the coast near East Portlemouth.
Gara Rock Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Gara Rock Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Gara Rock OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Gara Rock Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
On the route you could stop off at the Restuarant at Gara Rock for some refreshment. They serve good quality food with fine coastal views to enjoy with your meal. You can find them near the rock at postcode TQ8 8FA for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The coastal paths make for a great dog walk and the hotel mentioned above is also dog friendly. Dogs are also allowed on the Gara Rock beach all year round.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Continue east along the coast path and you could visit Gammon Head and Prawle Point, the southernmost point of Devon.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Dartmoor Walks and Devon Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
The beach, East Portlemouth
Salcombe and Mill Bay beach
The Salcombe Estuary from Sharp Tor
Portlemouth Down. A section of coastline, looking towards landmarks such as The Bull, Shag Rock, Pig's Nose, Gammon Head and Prawle Point, to name a few, on the South West Coast Path.
Gara Beach. A deserted sandy beach in calm sea conditions.
The Site of the Gara Rock Hotel. The hotel was demolished in 2006 in order to build a number of self-contained holiday units however work on this appears to have stopped. It appears to me that the developers would prefer to lease the new units (once they have been built) as long-term lets, i.e. second homes, however the local council regards this as a change of use which would not be of any benefit as a local amenity and have been refusing planning permission on this basis.
Farm land above Gara Rock
East Portlemouth: Gara Rock lookout. This building once formed part of the Gara Rock Hotel which appears to have been demolished [2007]. Seen from the South West Coast Path