Top Dog Walks in Devon
A woodland circuit or a clifftop climb: dog walks in Devon offer very different days out, even within the same county.
- October 9, 2026
Our seven routes take you from Branscombe and Beer on the Jurassic Coast to Fingle Bridge’s Teign Gorge, Haldon Forest and Heddon’s Mouth on Exmoor. There’s also a level Tarka Trail section for dogs who prefer a shorter outing. We’ve checked published route information to explain distances, parking, terrain and dog access, including where leads are needed. You’ll know which walks involve steep steps, exposed cliffs or shared cycle paths before choosing one that suits you and your dog.
Visiting Devon with Dogs?
For a walking break based around your favourite part of the county, compare the most popular places to stay in Devon with dogs.
Top Dog Walking Routes in Devon
01 — Branscombe to Beer
This adventurous coastal walk links Branscombe with Beer, taking in steep climbs, chalk cliffs and views along Devon’s Jurassic Coast. The National Trust’s six-mile circular route starts at the Margells Bridge car park beside the Forge and returns through Hooken Undercliff.
Allow around three hours, plus stops. The coastal paths are uneven, with a steep climb up East Cliff, so this suits dogs comfortable with longer, hillier walks. Keep your dog on a lead along the coast path, particularly around grazing cattle and cliff edges. Public toilets are available at Branscombe Mouth and Beer’s seafront.
02 — Fingle Bridge and the Teign Gorge, Dartmoor
Fingle Bridge crosses the River Teign near Drewsteignton, surrounded by woodland on Dartmoor’s north-eastern edge. For a defined route, the National Trust’s Teign Gorge classic circuit starts at Castle Drogo’s main car park, follows Hunters Path above the river and descends towards the stone packhorse bridge.
This 4.1-mile circular walk takes approximately two and a half hours. Expect muddy patches, steep descents and climbs; the Fishermans Path return includes particularly steep steps around Sharp Tor. Dogs need a lead throughout the estate countryside. Riverside picnic spots and public toilets near Fingle Bridge provide useful stopping points.
03 — The Tarka Trail at Fremington Quay, near Barnstaple
The Tarka Trail is one of North Devon’s best-known walking and cycling routes, but you don’t need to tackle a long section to enjoy it. From Fremington Quay, a 1.4-mile return walk follows the old railway line east towards Barnstaple, passing a wooded cutting before opening onto views across the Taw Estuary.
The flat, tarmac path makes this a useful option for a shorter dog walk or a family outing with a pushchair. Parking, a café and a heritage centre are at the quay, with benches along the route. Cyclists share the path, so keep your dog close when bikes approach.
04 — Hope Cove, Bolt Tail and Bolberry Down
This coastal trail takes in Hope Cove, the headland at Bolt Tail and the open grassland of Bolberry Down. The 4.8-mile circular route starts at Outer Hope car park and combines the South West Coast Path with field footpaths, quiet lanes and coastal views.
Outer Hope has pubs, cafés and public toilets, making it a useful place to finish. Although graded moderate, the walk includes uneven ground, muddy stretches and climbs. A short lead is sensible beside exposed cliffs and around grazing animals; the sea views are the attraction here, but this isn’t a flat beach stroll.
05— Haldon Forest Park, Exeter
Haldon Forest Park isn’t just popular with dog walkers, but with cyclists, too. For a woodland circuit, follow the purple waymarkers on the Raptor Trail from the visitor hub at Bullers Hill, near Kennford. Forestry England lists this as a three-mile route that passes tall conifers and a turn-off to a bird-of-prey viewpoint.
The paths are wide and surfaced, but steep climbs and descents make it more demanding than a gentle woodland wander. Resting places line the trail, with parking, toilets, and a café at the hub. Keep your dog under control around wildlife, other visitors and the road crossings.
06— Plymbridge and the Plym Valley Woodland Walk
The Plym Valley offers a short riverside walk through ancient oak woodland, with canal-side paths and reminders of the area’s industrial past. Starting at Plymbridge Woods car park near Plympton, the National Trust’s woodland wander follows a one-mile circular route and takes around 30–40 minutes.
This is an easy stroll, not the strenuous outing the valley’s wooded slopes might suggest. Much of the terrain is flat, although muddy sections and a flight of uneven steps need care. Look out for kingfishers and dippers beside the River Plym, and keep your dog close around wildlife and the water’s edge.
07— Heddon’s Mouth Circular, Exmoor
Heddon’s Mouth’s circular trail is a lovely two-mile walk through the North Devon side of Exmoor. Starting beside the National Trust shop near the Hunter’s Inn, it follows the River Heddon through woodland to a rocky beach, where a lime kiln stands beneath the surrounding cliffs.
Allow approximately an hour. The route is graded easy, but loose surfaces, short inclines and steps on the return mean it isn’t entirely level. Keep your dog on a lead because livestock graze nearby. Parking and public toilets are available at the start, and the dog-friendly Hunter’s Inn offers a convenient post-walk stop.
Devon gives dog owners plenty of choice beyond the walking trails, with beaches, pubs and days out to build a break around. For a different way to spend tomorrow, browse our guide to dog-friendly beaches in Devon and check which stretches of coast suit the season and your dog best.