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holiday@torbay.gov.uk
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Paignton Harbour and Roundham Head

Paignton Harbour & Roundham Head

1 mile (1.6 km) - Circular route - Grade 2 or 3 - surfaced paths and pavement with option of beach section and steps. Main route accessible to wheelchair users.

Starting Point: North Quay, Paignton Harbour, arch by Harbour Lights Café.

This very accessible centre-piece of the bay provides the walker with the colourful and varied activity of Paignton's picturesque harbour and a headland walk around which the entire bay is presented in its full majesty.

Paignton Harbour as you see it, was created in 1838 when a more efficient landing place was required to take out the two important exports of the area - cider and giant pole cabbages. Today a crab processing plant provides employment and a popular food for local hotels and restaurants whilst the leisure boats ply their trade with visitors.

At the top of the slope leading up to the road, the small whitewashed building overlooking the harbour, now the Public toilets, used to be 'The Preventatives Station'. The preventatives, or coastguards, had the unenviable job of trying to apprehend the smugglers who were so numerous along this coast during the 18th and 19th centuries. Large quantities of contraband were landed on Paignton beach and much of the time the preventatives sensibly turned a blind eye!

To access Roundham Head from the harbour there is a choice of routes. The paved route, suitable for wheelchairs is via Cliff Road whilst another more difficult but interesting approach is along the South Quay and across Fairy Cove, climbing up the steps to join Cliff Road.

Once out onto the headland, the advantage of height to appreciate the view becomes obvious. Below the footpath on the initial section are rocks known as the Paignton Ledges. Here in February 1804 a warship named Venerable was shipwrecked. Luckily out of a crew of 555 men only 3 lost their lives.

As the route rounds the head itself, Goodrington beach comes into sight and soon another choice of pathways. In order avoid steps, keep to the top path and this will eventually bring you to Roundham Road. For those who wish to descend to the promenade below, a well-constructed network of paths and steps lead the walker down over the red sandstone which gives this headland its attractive colouring. This Rock Walk and the promenade were constructed during the 1920's, the work being carried out by Welsh miners as part of a work creation scheme during the Great Depression. Some of the semi-tropical plants that were supplied at the time by Herbert Whitley of Paignton Zoo, still survive today.

Returning to the top of the cliff by any one of a number of routes, you join with Roundham Road and make your descent back down to the harbour.