Walking trails and routes close to Dartmouth in South Devon

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The area around Dartmouth has some wonderful walks and trails. You can walk straight from the town centre on to the famous South West Coastal Path or venture inland on some of the countless green lanes, foot paths and bridle ways.

The South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) have put together a series of walks with downloadable information sheets. With featured some of the best here:

Dartmouth Town Trail

A 2 hour walk gentle walk around the town of Dartmouth taking in historic features of interest.

Start location: Duke Street

Distance: 1 mile. Approximately 1.5-2 hours walk

Grade: Gentle

Terrain: Level with a steep climb.

Dartmouth to Greenway: The Dart Valley Trail

One of the area's truly great walks, this day-long ramble follows the wooded banks of the broad and beautiful river Dart, on a route crammed with gems and jewels of human and natural history.

Start location: Mayor's Avenue Car Park, Dartmouth.

Distance: 9 miles

Grade: Moderate to Strenuous

Terrain: Footpaths, fairly even, occasionally muddy through fields in wet weather; surfaced roads.

There’s a ferry back from Greenway or Dittisham or if you fancy carrying on to Totnes then take a look at the next walk...

Dittisham to Totnes: The Dart Valley Trail

A perfect, gentle day's journey, this walk links village to nestled, unspoilt village as it follows the silver ribbon of the River Dart through Devon's rolling hills.

Start location: Dittisham Ham car park, Dittisham

Finish location: The Plains, Totnes

Distance: 8 miles

Grade: Moderate

Terrain: Footpaths, fairly even under foot, occasional mud in wet weather; surfaced roads.

Greenway Walk

Experience breathtaking views of the spectacular Tor Bay, discover ruins, follow in ancient footsteps along historic trackways, through rural villages and outstanding countryside to the beautiful River Dart estuary and visit the National Trust's Greenway.

Start & Finish location: Broadsands Beach

Distance: 6.5 miles

Grade: Moderate

Terrain: Coastal and inland footpath, pebble beach, short section on estuary foreshore.

Kingswear to Froward Point

Castles and cliffs, seals and skylarks, on a coastal circular walk rich in views, history and natural abundance.

Start location: Marina car park, Kingswear.

Distance: 5 miles

Grade: Moderate to strenuous

Terrain: Coast path with some uneven sections and long flights of steps; 2 steep descents; 1 steep ascent.

Little Dartmouth

Small but perfectly formed, this satisfying circuit is full of character and interest, offering glorious views from the cliffs, the tang of the sea close up on the rocky shore, the rich history of the castle and the beautiful River Dart.

Start & Finish location: National trust car park, Redlap, Little Dartmouth.

Distance: 3.5 miles

Grade: Moderate

Terrain: Coastal footpath with occasional uneven sections and mud in wet weather; surfaced road; bridleway.

Stoke Fleming to Strete Cultural Trail: Trade & Settlement

This walk will help you understand how successive waves of human settlement, trade and agriculture have influenced this part of the south Hams.

Start location: Church Road parking area, Stoke Fleming.

Distance: 4.5 miles

Grade: Difficult

Terrain: Country lanes, Coast Path, and green lanes. Mostly fairly even underfoot, occasional wet and slippery stretches in wet weather.

Slapton

Like a satisfying meal, this walk has the shingle sweep of the beach to start, a main course of all the wildlife you could wish for on a National Nature Reserve, and the sweet and characterful village of Slapton for dessert. Perfect!

Start location: Memorial Car Park, Slapton Sands

Distance: 2.75 miles (+0.5 miles for alternative return route)

Grade: Easy to Moderate

Terrain: Footpath by Slapton Ley, occasionally uneven, with wet sections along shore after heavy rain; boardwalk; green lane, muddy and soggy in wet weather; surfaced road.

Torcross

A gentle walk through a sumptuous landscape: the graceful form of Start Bay curling away to the north and south, freshwater lagoons, meadows, woodland, and peaceful Devon lanes meandering between blossoming banks.

Start location: Torcross Car Park

Distance: 2.5 miles

Grade: Moderate

Terrain: Route fairly even underfoot. Coastal footpath and field footpaths with occasional mud in wet weather; surfaced road.

Torcross & Stokenham Cultural Trail: Man and the Landscape

This walk will help you to understand how thousands of years of human influence have shaped the landscape you see before you.

Start location: Torcross Car Park.

Distance: 6 miles

Grade: Moderate

Terrain: Coast path, green lane, surfaces road. Mostly fairly even underfoot, with some slippery and muddy patches in wet weather.