You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dog walks in Devon.
In this article, we’ll highlight our pick of the top exciting dog walk categories. Of course, different people find different things exciting so, with that in mind, we’ll cover a broad list of categories.
Exciting Facts About Devon
The UK’s 4th largest county is Devon, it’s a dog-walking haven for just about every type of dog walker.
Within Devon, you’ll find
- 2 National Parks (Dartmoor and Exmoor)
- 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Jurassic Coast and The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape cultural Site)
- 5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Blackdown Hills, East Devon, North Devon, South Devon, Tamar Valley)
- 41 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (list here)
Exciting Coastal Dog Walks in Devon
Devon is privileged to have its North and South Coast contained within the incredible South West Coast Path. This 630-mile route takes in some of the most awe-inspiring scenery the country has to offer. We’ve rounded up our top exciting dog walks for each coastline (North and South) to inspire your next adventure.
Exciting Dog Walks on the North Devon Coast
The rugged landscape of the North Devon Coast takes in views of the Atlantic Ocean to the West and the Bristol Channel to the East. If you plan to walk your Dog on this stretch of coast, we’d advise a sturdy pair of walking boots.
- Speke’s Mill Circular 3.9 miles (stunning views of Hartland Quay and St. Catherine’s Tor along the way)
- Baggy Point ‘there and back again’ 6 miles (incredible WW2 site – a must for the history buff)
- Morte Point Circular 2.2 miles (lovely national trust circular walk close to Woolacombe)
- Croyde to Saunton Sands Circular 3.9 miles (experience a gorgeous segment of the famous Tarka Trail)
- Valley of the Rocks Circular 3.7 miles (some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world)
Exciting Dog Walks on the South Devon Coast
The South Coast of Devon has some beautiful, sweeping views that almost seem to have come straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. Here are 3 hand-picked favourite circular walks on the south Devon Coast to get you in the mood.
- Berry Head Circular (pictured) – You can customise this one quite a bit but we like starting in Brixham and making it a 5-mile round trip
- Coleton Fishacre Circular – A lovely National Trust route taking in sublime coastal views
- Burgh Island views Circular – A longer walk (7 ish miles) with famous landmarks like Burgh Island along the route
Exciting Dartmoor Dog Walks
Dartmoor National Park is vast. From babbling brooks to wide open expanses through to ancient woodlands, Dartmoor is a magical place. There’s nothing quite like an adventure with your four-legged friend on Dartmoor.
Exciting Shorter Dartmoor Walks
- Haytor & Haytor Quarry – Easy to get to with parking nearby. The famous sites of Haytor are complemented by the seclusion of the less well-known quarry
- Merrivale Stone Row – Ancient, photogenic and atmospheric place with incredible vistas a short walk from the car park
- Brentor Church – A church built on top of a Tor! Divine views without having to walk for miles
Exciting Longer Dartmoor Walks
- Exploring Dartmeet – This 3.5-mile walk involves crossing the river like an ancient and taking in incredible tor views
- Fernworthy Reservoir – The perfect blend of amazing nature and Dartmoor’s human story, this one is a must see
- Wray Valley Trail – an old railway connecting Moretonhapstead and Bovey Tracey, this 7-mile route is idyllic
Exciting Inland Dog Walks in Devon
There’s so much more to Devon than its coasts and moors. Devon is home to an incredible array of countryside towns, villages and hamlets that make a great basecamp for an exciting walk.
Our favourite spots include:
- Killerton – Devon’s flagship National Trust property with miles and miles of rural landscape to explore with your pooch
- The Exe estuary takes in locations from the coastal town of Exmouth through to the Roman walled city of Exeter
- East Lyn river loop – perhaps the most spectacular woodland walk in Devon can be found just south of Lynmouth
- The Grand Western Canal Way – peaceful and beautiful, this route is exciting if you’re a fan of Britain’s iconic waterways
- Cockington Country Park – lakes, woodland walks and plenty of exciting opportunities to snap the perfect pic of your pooch this one’s a hidden gem
Get out there and Explore…
We hope this article has whet your appetite to explore Devon with your dog. If you’ve got an idea for an exciting location to walk your dog that you’d love to see covered here, why not drop us a line?