Plymouth’s best autumn walks: sea views, history and a drink

Autumn suits Plymouth’s waterfront: the paths are often quieter, the light can be clear across the Sound, and there is plenty to look at without leaving the city. A good starting point is The Hoe, where the broad promenade faces Drake’s Island, Mount Edgcumbe and the busy waterway. You can keep this as a gentle stroll around Smeaton’s Tower, the Royal Navy Memorial and the Armada Memorial, or follow the 2.1-mile Hoe Trail towards Sutton Harbour and the Barbican. The trail takes about 90 minutes, although some sections include steep hills and steps. Smeaton’s Tower is open daily from 10am to 5pm during its 2026 season, which runs until 1 November; admission is £8 at the box office or £7 online for adults. The tower’s 93 steps lead to views over the Sound, while Tinside Lido provides another recognisable stop at the foot of the cliffs.

For a longer city walk, join the Plymouth Waterfront Walkway. The full route runs for 9.3 miles from Admirals Hard in Stonehouse to Jennycliff, passing the Royal William Yard, Durnford Street, The Hoe, the Barbican, the Mayflower Steps, Cattedown, Laira Bridge and Mount Batten. It is mainly on pavements and is suitable for many family outings, though the stretch between Laira Bridge and Mount Batten has steps and steep parts. Along the way, keep an eye out for the route’s playful public art, including the knitted-breakfast plaques, the golden scallop, the ten-ton rhino and the Rusty Anchor Seawall. The Royal William Yard makes a natural pause: its former naval buildings now contain cafés, bars and restaurants beside the water. There are also refreshment stops around the Barbican, Mount Batten and Jennycliff, with pub and café plaques helping walkers spot them.

If you want more open coast, the South West Coast Path continues from Jennycliff towards Wembury. The Plymouth-to-River Yealm section is about 15 miles and is rated moderate to easy, so it is better suited to a full day than a casual wander. From Jennycliff, the path enters the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, passes close to the sea beyond Andurn Point and continues towards Wembury, with views of the Great Mew Stone. A shorter option is to walk only the Waterfront Walkway, or use the year-round Mayflower Steps–Mount Batten ferry to cut out part of the route. The ferry cannot accommodate wheelchairs, and conditions can change: the South West Coast Path Association notes a diversion in Passage Wood at Noss Mayo following a March 2025 landslip, so check the latest route information before setting off.

The Plym estuary gives you another way to build an autumn walk. Explore the Mount Batten breakwater and the paths around Jennycliff, then pause to look across the water towards the Royal Citadel. The 17th-century Mount Batten Artillery Tower adds a small piece of military history, although its steep, uneven steps mean it is not wheelchair accessible. For a drink after the walk, options listed along the wider route include The Ship, The V.O.T, Cliff Edge Cafe and Cliff Top Cafe. Opening times can vary, particularly outside the main season, so it is worth checking before you leave. For route maps and current walking information, Plymouth’s walking guide and the South West Coast Path Association’s Plymouth-to-River Yealm guide are the most useful places to start.