Wembury - The Great Mewstone and Wembury Point Paddle Trail

1-1.5 hours

Duration

3 miles

Distance

Out and Back

Moderate Challenge

Difficulty

PL9 0HP

Start Postcode

PL9 0HP

End Postcode

A. Park in the Wembury Beach National Trust car park. To begin your journey, you will need to carry your kayak from your car and down a stepped slope onto the beach (100m).

B. Launch your kayak in the middle of the beach, near the stream, to avoid any rocks. Head directly out towards the Great Mewstone (South Westerly direction)

C. Once you arrive at the Mewstone head clockwise around the island.

D. When you get to the back of the island you have two options. You can paddle between the Great Mewstone and Little Mew (the small, steep island to the South West) or you can extend the journey by paddling around Little Mew.

E. Continue circling around the Great Mewstone and you will see a small cave. Once you pass the cave you can head directly North towards the nearest headline of Wembury Point (look for the radar station on the hill).

F. Once you arrive at Wembury Point follow the coastline until you arrive back at Wembury Beach.

Accessibility

Park at National Trust Wembury Beach Car Park (NT members park free). Toilets open all year round, Café (Please call 01752 863280 for up-to-date opening hours).

From the car park, there is a stepped slope down to the beach.

Discover More

Please use this area to tell people a little more about interesting things they may see along the route. Include websites related to places mentioned along the trail.

Wembury was designated as a Marine Conservation Area in 1981 and falls within the Plymouth Sounds and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation and South Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For more information, visit Wembury Marine Centre.

The Great Mewstone is now a nature reserve owned by the National Trust and home to a variety of cliff nesting birds including cormorants, shags, and fulmars. Please do not land on the island and ensure you keep your distance from the cliffs, especially during bird nesting season (February – August). You will often see seals on and in the waters around the Mewstone, so please follow the marine code of conduct by keeping your distance and not approaching the seals.

The triangular island has a fascinating history and was once home to a prisoner and his family who lived in the turret-shaped building you can see today on the East of the island.

During WWII, Wembury Point was requisitioned by the war office as a naval gunnery land base, and after the war, the HMS Cambridge gunnery school was established. There are few signs of its military past to be seen now.

For more information about the history of the Mewstone and the Wembury area, please visit Wembury’s history | Devon | National Trust.

Licence Information

The waterways on this trail do not require you to have a licence to paddle on them. However, if you paddle regularly and want to explore more places to paddle, you could consider becoming a member of Paddle UK. You’ll get a whole range of benefits as an On The Water member, including an annual licence to paddle on 4,500km of Britain’s waterways, liability insurance, and great discounts on paddling related products. Join today at www.paddleuk.org.uk

JOIN PADDLE UK

Safety Information

This route is tidal- Please check tide times to plan your journey. You will not be able to access Newton and Noss creek if the tide is out.

We want you to have fun and a safe paddle! Here are some helpful tips to ensure you paddle responsibly and stay safe on your journey. Please take a moment to review these important safety tips:

– Always wear a correctly sized buoyancy aid

– Carry a mobile phone – in a waterproof case

– Tell Someone Where You’re Going

– Check the weather and conditions

– Know your limits

Check out some useful blogs and e-learnings on how to keep safe

Environment

Wherever and however you paddle, our Paddlers’ Code helps to ensure we can all enjoy and share the water safely and protect our precious environment.

Don’t get sick doing what you love. We know water quality is a concern for many paddlers. Click here for some simple advice on water quality and how to protect yourself.

Get informed, stay safe and make good decisions by checking the National Storm Overflow Map

Paddlers can play a vital role in keeping our waters free of harmful non-native species. It is crucial you Check, Clean and Dry you boat and equipment to prevent the spread. Click here for more information on Invasive Non-Native Species.

For more environmental advice and guidance, see our Blue Space Blogs section on the Paddle UK website.