Plymouth Hoe Walking Tour (Self Guided), Plymouth

Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south-facing open public space in Plymouth with commanding views of Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island, and further afield into Cornwall. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon word hoh, which means a sloping ridge shaped like an inverted foot and heel.

This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly to meet friends and generally enjoy themselves. Notable buildings and statues of various sorts have been on the Hoe for so long that to some they may appear as part of the furniture that the people often walk past without thinking how really special or unusual they are.

A prominent landmark on the Hoe is Smeaton's Tower, the lighthouse, moved here, stone by stone, from the Eddystone Rocks, in 1877.

But Plymouth Hoe is probably best known as the place where Sir Francis Drake famously played the game of bowls before sailing out from Plymouth Sound to engage with the invading Spanish Armada in 1558. The Armada Memorial was placed here in 1888 to celebrate the tercentenary of the event; four years before that, a statue of Drake was opened nearby to commemorate the captain himself, famed as the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world.

There are also several war memorials along the northern side of the Hoe, the largest of which pays tribute to the Royal Navy personnel lost at sea during two world wars. Another one, close by, commemorates the RAF & Allied Air Forces servicemen and -women of the same period.

No trip to Plymouth is complete without a visit to Plymouth Hoe. With the unbeatable views across Plymouth Sound, this is a perfect location to spend a sunny day and explore the multiple historical sites just crying out to be learned about. Luckily, you can do so comfortably, in your good time and at your own pace, with the help of our self-guided walking tour!