Hope Cove: The Prettiest Village in South Devon
Hope Cove is the prettiest village in South Devon... it's a bold claim but I stand by it.
I have been twice and my conviction on that has only strengthened. It is not the most famous, not the most visited, and maybe that's why I love it so much. It doesn't have the glitz, glamour and fame of Salcombe, and yet it is only just down the road.
Hope Cove is home to stunning, wild and rugged cliffs, a sheltered beach, and storybook thatched cottages.
The coastal walk south towards Soar Mill Cove is one of my favourite stretches of path anywhere in Devon, and yet it seems I'm always the only person on it.
The village itself is tiny, you can walk end to end in ten minutes, but it has everything you need. It has a pub, café, beach, and car park.
About Hope Cove
- 🏖️ How far from Salcombe: 20 minutes
- 🌞 How far from Plymouth: 45 minutes
- 🚗 Parking: yes, paid car park in the village
- 🐶 Dog friendly: Harbour Beach allows dogs all year, while Mouthwell Sands has a ban from 1st May to 30th September
- 📅 Best time to visit: April-October
The Village
Hope Cove is made up of two small settlements, Inner Hope and Outer Hope, just five minutes walk apart and forming one of the most photogenic spots in the South Devon coast.
Inner Hope is home to a cluster of whitewashed thatched cottages arranged around a small square, looking straight from a storybook.
There are no chain shops or amusement arcades, no signs that the modern world has made much of an effort to get here. Just cottages, a pub, the smell of the sea, and the sound of seagulls!
Outer Hope sits just below, sprawling towards the harbour and the working character of the place becomes more visible with fishing boats and nets.
The whole place takes around ten minutes to walk end to end even at a meander.
Is Hope Cove Worth Visiting?
Yes, without question, Hope Cove is worth visiting - especially if you love walking.
Hope Cove took around five minutes to win me over, I just love the thatched cottages, the beach, and especially the coastal path south towards Soar Mill Cove.
I have been twice and would go back tomorrow. If you are based in Salcombe, which I'd recommend as your base for this part of Devon, it is an easy half day and one of the best decisions you will make on a South Devon trip. I've included Hope Cove as a day trip in my south coast road trip itinerary, which covers the full route from Sussex to Cornwall.
Alternatively, why not spend a night or two here? I stayed in Soar Mill Cove Hotel which is accessible to Hope Cove by car in a few minutes, or you can take the beautiful coastal walk.
The Beach
Hope Cove has two beaches with different vibes.
Harbour Beach is in Inner Hope, tucked into the curve of the harbour wall. It is a mix of sand and shingle, sheltered and calm, easy in almost any weather.
The harbour wall takes most of the the wind and the water stays relatively flat even when it is rough further out, meaning swimming here is safe and accessible.
Dogs are welcome on the beach year-round.
Mouthwell Sands in Outer Hope is the larger and more open of the two. It's a sandy beach that catches more sun and more swell, it's my personal favourite.
It is the better beach on a hot, still day and the one most families head for.
Dogs are restricted here between 1st May and 30th September from 10am to 7pm, so if you are visiting in summer with a dog, Harbour Beach is your spot, or arrive in the morning or evening.
The swimming at Hope Cove is some of the most sheltered on this stretch of coast. The headlands on either side of the village protect the bay from the worst of the Atlantic, which makes it a better bet for a swim than many of the more exposed beaches further along the South Hams.
Both the Hope and Anchor pub and the Lobster Pod Bistro are dog-friendly, so you can come straight off the beach without leaving anyone outside.
The Coastal Walk to Soar Mill Cove
This is the walk that turned Hope Cove from a place I liked into a place I keep coming back to. Most people who visit the village spend their time on the beach and in the pub, which means the coastal path south towards Soar Mill Cove is always quiet, despite being beautiful.
The walk starts at the southern end of Outer Hope, where a signed path climbs up from the village onto the cliff top above Mouthwell Sands. The ascent is short and sharp, five minutes of effort (I was huffing and puffing a little), and then the path levels out and the views open up.
The path is well-maintained but uneven in places, with exposed tree roots and rocky sections that make sturdy shoes essential. In wet weather the grassy sections become slippery and the clifftop edges are exposed, so take care in poor conditions.
The walking itself is some of the best on the South Devon coast. The cliffs here are rugged and uninterrupted, you won't pass a road, there are no buildings, it's just the path, the cliff edge, and the sea.
On a clear day the views stretch east towards Salcombe, the estuary mouth visible in the distance, and the scale of the South Hams coastline becomes very apparent.
The path to Soar Mill Cove takes around 40 to 50 minutes one way. There are no shortcuts and no bail-out points midway, so make sure you have enough time and energy for the return leg before you set off.
Soar Mill Cove itself is the payoff, it's a small, wild, south-facing beach at the bottom of a steep descent from the clifftop.
The beach is small so there are no facilities, but it is just a few minutes walk from Soar Mill Cove Hotel if you want to grab a drink or a bite to eat as a reward for the walk. This is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches in Devon and you will likely have it all to yourself.
🐕 The entire route is dog-friendly. The clifftop sections are exposed so keep dogs under control near the edges, and be aware of livestock in the fields adjacent to the path.
How to Get to Hope Cove
There is no train station in Hope Cove and no realistic way to arrive without a car. The closest station is Totnes, from where you can take the hourly 164 bus to Kingsbridge and then the 162 Tally Ho bus which runs to Hope Cove three times a day.
In practice this is a significant undertaking and the bus frequency makes it difficult to plan a day trip without a lot of waiting around. A car is the only practical option for most people.
From Salcombe:
There is no direct bus from Salcombe to Hope Cove. Hope Cove is around 20 minutes by car. The route is straightforward but the lanes narrow considerably as you approach the village, go slowly and be prepared to reverse for oncoming traffic. This is not a route for large vehicles or nervous drivers on their first experience of Devon lanes.
From further afield:
Follow the A38 to Exeter, then signs for Totnes and Kingsbridge. Hope Cove is signposted off the Salcombe road before you reach Malborough, follow the lane through Galmpton and into the village.
Parking:
There is a pay and display car park in the village which fills quickly in summer. Arriving before 10am in July and August will save you considerable frustration. The car park is a short, flat walk from both beaches.
The car park takes cash payment or via the PayByPhone app. Signal is patchy in the village so make sure you have the app downloaded before you arrive. The PayByPhone parking code is 810445.
Parking costs £3.20 for 2 hours, £5.20 for 4 hours, and £7.30 for 24 hours.
FAQs: Hope Cove, Devon
1. Is Hope Cove worth visiting?
Yes, Hope Cove is definitely worth visiting. It is one of the most unspoiled villages on the South Devon coast and the coastal walk to Soar Mill Cove alone makes it worth the trip. A half day from Salcombe or a full day from further afield, either way it earns its place on any South Devon itinerary.
2. Is Hope Cove dog friendly?
Hope Cove is very dog friendly. Harbour Beach in Inner Hope allows dogs year-round, and Mouthwell Sands in Outer Hope has a seasonal restriction from 1st May to 30th September between 10am and 7pm. The coastal path to Soar Mill Cove is dog-friendly throughout, and both the Hope and Anchor pub and the Lobster Pod Bistro welcome dogs.
3. How far is Hope Cove from Salcombe?
Hope Cove is around 5 miles from Salcombe and takes approximately 20 minutes by car. The lanes narrow significantly on the approach so allow a little extra time if you are unfamiliar with Devon roads. If you are a keen walker, you can walk the coastal path all the way.
4. What is the prettiest village in South Devon?
Hope Cove makes a strong case for the title, the thatched cottages of Inner Hope are among the most photographed in Devon. That said, Salcombe as a town and Bantham as a beach village are both strong contenders depending on what you are looking for.
5. Is Hope Cove beach sandy?
Both beaches in Hope Cove have sand. Harbour Beach is a mix of sand and shingle, sheltered and calm. Mouthwell Sands is the larger and sandier of the two, more open and better on a hot still day. Both are worth visiting and between them suit most conditions.
6. How long is the walk from Hope Cove to Soar Mill Cove?
The walk from Hope Cove to Soar Mill Cove takes around 40 to 50 minutes one way at a reasonable pace. The walk follows the South West Coast Path south from Outer Hope along the clifftop. It is a moderate walk with one short steep ascent at the start, sturdy shoes are essential. Allow around an hour and a half to two hours for the full out-and-back route including time at Soar Mill Cove.
Hannah is a UK-based travel creator and founder of Postcards by Hannah, sharing destination guides and hotel recommendations for travellers planning considered, experience-led trips.
She was born and raised in the English countryside, going to university in London and living there for half a decade before heading back to her country roots.
Hannah has travelled extensively around the UK, especially England, opting for countryside and coastal travels rather than the big cities. She loves train travel, country houses, long walks with the cocker spaniel Baxter, and sunny days on the south coast.
Her dream is to convert a camper van, pack her bags and travel the whole length of Britain’s coastline with her trust sidekick, Baxter.
