Hope’s Nose is a coastal headland in Torquay, Devon, UK. It separates Torbay from Babbacombe Bay and is visible from much of the town and harbour.

• A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that stretches to nearby Wall’s Hill since 1986 and part of the The English Riviera Geopark.
• Hope’s Nose headland is an excellent example of a raised beach, around 8 metres above modern sea level. Indicating that around 120,000 years ago formed during the last ice age sea levels were much higher than now and species of mollusc can still be found preserved in the beach sediments.
• The word “beach” may be defined as an accumulation of sandy, shelly, and pebbly materials brought together, by the action of waves, upon the shore; while “raised beaches” are similar accumulations which since their formation have been lifted above the present level of the sea.
• Devonshire cup corals (latin name Caryophyllia smithii) can be found here. These are solitary animals and can be up to 3cm across. They’re the most widespread of Britain’s five corals and can be found along all the western coast of Britain. However, South Devon is its stronghold.
• Hope’s Nose is a fantastic location for studying the Devonian Limestone formations and the fossils contained within them.
• Gold was first discovered in the calcite veins of the limestone by Professor Gordon in 1922, although it had been reported previously from Daddyhole Plain in 1903.
• Hopes nose was the location for the untreated sewage outfall, but is now only used as the emergency overflow system. (last used in 2013 when the seawall was breached damaging sewer pipes).
• There is a gate near the top of the path that you must keep closed because of grazing sheep

Perhaps the most exciting discovery along these cliffs came in Victorian times, when gold was found. Collectors used heavy duty cutting equipment to remove samples of the gold veins which were worth large sums of money to mineral dealers. However, the gold in this area was very fragile and crammed into narrow fissures, so mining it was never a viable proposition. Which is why some of the gold remains in place.

• You can see samples of Hope’s Nose gold at the Natural History Museum in London.

• Fishing.
• Picnic.
• Spot the array of flora and birdlife.
• Take in the sea views.
• Walk along the South West Coast Path.

There are no facilities in the area, so you’ll want a picnic.

• Please take your rubbish back to the bins near the roadside

• Car, From Torquay Harbour go on past Living Coast, which will be on your right, and up Beacon Hill and bear left onto Parkhill Road. At the junction turn right onto Meadfoot Sea Road. Follow the road down the hill and alongside Meadfoot Beach where at the end of the level area, just by a public car park, the road bears to the left and begins to climb. Take the first right and follow the road up until you see the trees open up on the right hand side where you should get a glimpse of Thatcher Rock. There’s limited parking, so park near Thatcher Green or there are a few spaces on the seaward side at the top of the hill.
• Walk, The South West Coastal Path runs right past.