(S) From Plymouth Station, head south to The Hoe along the pedestrian walkway, Armada Way. Either head straight for Smeaton's Tower or a) turn left when you reach Citadel Rd to go to the Barbican Landing Stage (go along Lambhay Hill to Castle St. and down the steps to Commercial Rd). Here you can catch a ferry over to Mount Batten Point and avoid a lot of roads walking. In this case, when you get to the other side, pick up the South West Coastal Path past the Tower and Dunstone Point. Follow the coastal path past Rum Bay and Jennycliff Bay down to Staddon Heights Farm where the longer route reaches the coast
(1) You can use the shorter route along Citadel Rd to reach the Marina or b) go past Smeaton' Tower bearing left along the coastal road, past The Citadel and over the swing bridge at the Marina. This will also give you the chance to see The Hoe, just a few meters west of Smeaton's Tower. From the other side of the swing bridge, weave your way through Coxside and Cattedown to Laira Bridge.
(2) Don't use the footbridge/cycle track next to the road bridge as our route turns right at the first roundabout and then heads into Oreston. There are options here too. At the first roundabout on Pomphlett Rd, turn right down Breakwater Rd to stay close to the water opposite Cattedown, taking a longer way round to Hooe Lake. Another alternative is to continue on Oreston Rd as far as Rollis Park Rd, where you turn right to go down to The Quay. Skip across the grass to join the South West Coastal Path and turn left to reach Hooe Lake. The more direct route is to use the tarmacked path parallel to Oreston Rd (on the left) that is an old railway line that goes under Honcray and runs parallel to Longlands Lane and Lawson Grove. It goes under Plymstock Road and comes out onto Kingfisher Way at Hooe Lake. Follow Kingfisher Way southeast round to the causeway between Hooe Lake and Radford Lake. One alternative is to cross the causeway and go round the other side of Hooe Lake and through Turnchapel to reach Mount Batten Point. The other alternative is to continue along Radford Lake, through Radford Park and past the Beckley Centre at Mayers Way. At the junction with Hooe Rd, take the path diagonally opposite and follow the path close to the stream, then through Buddle Wood and Radford Woods Nature Reserve. At a crossroads of paths near Radford House, ignore the Erme-Plym Trail going off to the left and head straight on for Staddon Lane. After passing Staddon Fort and Staddon Heights Golf Club, pick up the South West Coastal Path below Staddon Heights Farm (use a footpath off to the left from the road at a bend to the right, about 100m before the road heads into the trees).
(3) Follow the coastal path along Rams Cliff, past Bovisand Pier and Fort Bovisand, almost down to Bovisand Beach from the parking lot and up to the signpost at Bovisand Lane. Follow the indications for the Coastal Path, heading south along the shore to Andurn's Brake. Stay on the Coastal Path round to Chad Rock and Westlake Brake, finally arriving at Heybrook Bay. Keep following the signposts indicating the Coastal Path around Wembury Point. From the tops you can look down to Wembury Marine Conservation Area and as you come down to the road you can visit the Marine Centre at Wembury.(E)
