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Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creek

2.17 miles (3.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Enjoy a circular walk to the lovely Bowcombe Creek from the popular market town of Kingsbridge in the South Devon AONB. There's much to enjoy in the area with lovely views of the boats in the estuary and nice green lanes with lots of wildflowers and butterflies to look out for.
The route starts in the town centre and passes through the town before heading east through the countryside to the Bowcombe Creek. The creek is a great place for bird watching with herons, egrets, redshank and shelduck to look out for. Buzzards and Peregrine Falcon are often seen overhead.
After exploring the creek the route then follows other footpaths back through the countryside to the town.
You can extend your walking in the area by heading south and enjoying a circular walk along the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary.
Here you will find reed beds, mudflats and eelgrass beds supporting an abundance of wildlife on the estuary. Dolphins, seals and basking sharks can all be seen from the paths.

Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creek OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creek Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

Head to the Crab Shell Inn for some refreshments after your walk. The pub is located in a great location on the quayside with fine views of the estuary. They do excellent seafood and also are well known locally for their excellent pizzas. You can find the pub at a postcode of TQ7 1JZ for your sat navs.

Dog Walking

The area is nice for dog walking and the Crab Shell Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head south and you can try the Salcombe and Bolt Head Circular Walk which visits some lovely cliff tops and woodland near the town.
A few miles to the north there's the worthy village of Loddiswell where you can enjoy some fine trails through the River Avon Valley. Near here there's also the climb to the viewpoint and Iron Age Hillfort at Blackdown Rings and the pretty riverside village of Aveton Gifford to explore.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Devon Walks page.

Photos

Kingsbridge Estuary, Kingsbridge - geograph.org.uk - 126799

Looking almost due North up the estuary towards the town centre from the embankment by the Crabshell Inn, Tacket Wood on the opposite bank.

Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Estuary - geograph.org.uk - 871033

Kingsbridge Estuary With the tide out. The town’s lower public car park is on the right, where there is a preserved limekiln. In the 19th century sailing vessels would have tied up at the quay here, bringing limestone and culm to burn in the kiln

Bowcombe Creek - geograph.org.uk - 1522323

Bowcombe Creek. Looking towards and down the creek from Kingsbridge Footpath 6, across a side valley with High House Farm. The main Kingsbridge Estuary is on the right. Not the best time of day for this view, taken into the sun.

Head of Bowcombe Creek - geograph.org.uk - 230347

Head of Bowcombe Creek. Taken from the western top end of Kingsbridge Footpath 9 on Shindle Mill Hill, with the footbridge at the head of the creek that marks normal tidal limit.

South Hams , Bowcombe Creek - geograph.org.uk - 1919171

The southern end of Bowcombe Creek on a crystal clear summer day.

Seats in Kingsbridge - geograph.org.uk - 3856625

Seats in Kingsbridge. A view of the pleasant town centre of this market town.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creek.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creek.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)