Scroll down to view walk details (available as the episodes are aired)
Following on from stunning travel series The Greek Islands with Julia Bradbury, Twofour has been commissioned by ITV to produce a brand new 8 x 30’ series with Julia exploring Cornwall and Devon by foot.
This new eight-part series for ITV features Julia Bradbury taking us to parts of the West Country that can only be explored on foot – from the epic wilderness of Dartmoor, to the white sands and azure seas of the Atlantic coastline, to the soaring cliffs of Land’s End. If you didn’t catch them whilst they were on, you can still watch them on the ITV hub!
Episode 1: Land’s End
In the first episode, Julia visits a stretch of coastline in west Cornwall known for its mythical landscapes and a special quality of light that is said to have inspired artists for centuries. The Cornish name for Land’s End, Penn an Wlas, means ‘End of the Earth’, which this wind-battered walk certainly feels like. There are soaring granite cliffs, secret beaches only accessible by tunnels carved from the rocks, wind-swept heather-covered headlands and the ruins of Cornwall’s once prosperous tin mines.
Episode 2: The North Atlantic Walk
In the second episode, Julia walks five miles of the stunning north Cornish coast, from popular picturesque Padstow to the surfing hotspot of Trevone Bay. Cornwall is the surfing capital of Britain, thanks to its beautiful coastline and the reliably large waves coming off the wild North Atlantic Ocean. Cornwall is also a walkers paradise, home to a large chunk of the South West Coast Path, the longest established national trail in the country.
Episode 3: The Dartmoor Walk – Haytor to Saddle Tor
This week Julia is walking in Dartmoor National Park, one of the UK’s most inspirational landscapes and last great wildernesses. On a seven-mile circular walk from the iconic Hay Tor, Julia has a go at climbing its towering granite rocks. She also learns about the Dartmoor Pony, and discovers some of the myths and legends of the moor.
Episode 4 – The Isles of Scilly Walk – St Martin’s Loop
Walking a five-mile circular loop around St Martins, an island renowned for its white sand beaches and azure seas, Julia discovers what is believed to be the oldest beacon in Britain, visits a rum distillery and harvests seaweed on a windswept beach. Julia finishes her island adventure with a hop to Tresco, where she visits the Abbey Gardens, world famous for its sub-tropical plants.
Episode 5 – South West Coast Path – Salcombe to Prawle Point
Setting off from the attractive town of Salcombe, Julia takes a ferry across the estuary and joins the South West Coast Path towards rugged Prawle Point, Devon’s southern-most tip. Along the way she samples world-famous Salcombe crab, rambles the coast in search of wildlife with naturalist Claire, and meets one of the volunteers of the National Coast Watch who helps prevent shipwrecks on this dramatic and stunning part of the coast.
Episode 6 – The Lizard Walk – Kynance Cove to Cadgwith
Starting at the much-photographed Kynance Cove and finishing at the idyllic fishing village of Cadgwith, Julia takes a bracing coastal hike along 7.5 miles of the Lizard’s epic and scenic coastline. Along the way she learns about Serpentine rock, visits a hut that changed the course of modern technology, and gets a pasty-making masterclass.
Episode 7 – The Dart Valley Trail Walk
The Dart Valley Trail links two of the West Country’s most celebrated towns, Totnes and Dartmouth, following the beautiful River Dart through picturesque villages, finishing where river turns to sea.
Episode 8 – Helford & Frenchman’s Creek, The Smugglers Trail
The Smugglers Trail is named after the French ‘free traders’ (read – illegal traders) who used to operate in the area. The Helford River, which this walk follows for a time, is full of secret coves and tiny villages which seem lost in time. Exploring the area by foot is definitely the best way to see it all.
“The best way to see the true landscape of Cornwall and Devon is on foot. I’ll be going to the places only your walking boots can take you, from the rugged rocks of Dartmoor to the drama of the North Atlantic coast. And en route, I’ll be seeking out the counties’ most unforgettable views, sampling some of the region’s most famous fare, and meeting the people that make Cornwall and Devon so unique. So walk with me, it’s going to be an adventure you never forget.”
– Julia Bradbury
From beautiful beaches to ancient woodlands and winding estuaries, this uplifting new series harnesses the country’s love of the outdoors and the best walks the south west has to offer.
Cornwall and Devon are home to thousands of miles of the country’s most varied terrain and walking routes, and along the way Julia meets the people who live and work in these two counties as well as sampling some of its legendary fare.
This is a Twofour production for ITV
