Friday 22 December marked the shortest day of 2023 which means the longer days are beginning to creep in to 2024. Why not get some walks in around our National Marine Park to catch up with friends and family, or if you just need some time out in the fresh air and exercise. Here’s a list of our favourite green spaces to stroll around with a view of Plymouth Sound.
Plymouth Hoe
If you’re close to the city centre and don’t fancy travelling to enjoy our big blue, a stroll around Plymouth Hoe is a brilliant option for you! All year round there is a great variety of sea life, boats, swimmers and paddle boarders. The rustic, cobbled streets of the Barbican is just around the corner from Plymouth Hoe and is chock-full of fish ‘n chip bars, bakeries and ice-cream shops. We’d always recommend grabbing some treats before or after your sight-seeing.
Mount Batten
Switch up your view on our National Marine Park by taking the water taxi run by Plymouth Boat Trips from the Barbican, or by bringing the car/bus around through Plymstock. If you’d rather stay at water-level, take a right when exiting the Mount Batten water taxi pontoon to make your way to the pier with the length of 279 metres!
Fancy a challenge? Take the steps up to Mount Batten Tower that hosts a fantastic panoramic view of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Pop further around to corner and you’ll find Mount Batten beach to be closer to the shore and marine wildlife found in and around rockpools.
Jennycliff
Extend your seaside gander from Mount Batten beach! Follow the coastal path around to Jennycliff or follow the road around towards Fort Stamford. You will grassy hot spot with families and dog walkers. Jennycliff is a higher up than Mount Batten which provides a wonderful top-down view on our slice of ocean. If you get peckish, there is a café close-by to the Jennycliff carpark.
Devil’s Point
Back on the Plymouth side of the pond, Devil’s Point and Firestone Bay is just around the corner from Royal William Yard. There are plenty of parking areas inside Royal William Yard and at Devil’s Point itself (great for a lunch break!).
Devil’s Point is another popular area for family walks with flat paths, green spaces and rocky shores with step access. If you’re steeled against the cold and have your swimmers on you, join the sea swimming community for a dip! We’d recommend hot drink/food afterwards which you can grab from cafes/restaurants inside the walls of Royal William Yard.
Mount Edgcumbe
Even though Mount Edgcumbe is a Cornish destination, it still provides a beautiful view of our Plymouth Sound. You can catch the Cremyll ferry from Admiral’s Hard, with the The Edgcumbe Arms pub waiting for you on the other side (if you’re so inclined).
Mount Edgcumbe is one of the larger and most hilly walks in this list. However, it also has a brilliant blend of historical sites, gardens, activities and blue/green spaces. Around Mount Edgcumbe House there are roads that are suitable for wheelchair access. It’s well-worth visiting multiple times to really take in the lot!
Wembury
For those that are happy with a longer journey (but still not that long!)… Wembury is a brilliant choice. Wembury Point which has a great view of the Mewstone and with a wide, flat path throughout it’s fairly accessible for all.
For sandy-citizens, we’d also recommend Wembury beach which is fantastic for rockpooling, chilling and water sports. The Wembury Marine Centre, also host rockpool safaris and surveys which can be found on our events page.
