The best … dog walks around Dartmouth
Dog Walks
Dartmouth is nestled in some of the most beautiful countryside in England: woods, beaches and the moors are all within a short distance of the town.
For many of us, dogs are such a huge part of our lives that we take them with us everywhere, but, when you are somewhere new, it's a challenge to find interesting and safe walks you can enjoy close to where you are staying.
So here we will outline a few of the best walks around Dartmouth that will allow you to have a great walk, see some beautiful countryside and exercise your furry friend!
We’ve separated them into short, medium and long walks so you can make the choice based on the dog you walk, the time you have and the sights you want to see!
Dartmouth walks
Short walks
If you have a small, or older dog, then taking them for long walks is out of the question – luckily there are some perfect places to take your more sedate pooch.
The Orchard: The Community Orchard is perfect for a relaxed amble – it can be reached by two entrances: one off Ridge Hill above Coronation Park and one off College Way, opposite the escape lane.
The great thing about the Orchard is it is completely enclosed and it has three different areas – a bottom meadow next to College Way which has a short walk through small trees and grass, a flat area just off Ridge Hill which is protected from the worst of the elements by large trees and is flat for happy running around (by your dog) and a steeper area with trees that is open and allows the dogs more space to roam.
Norton Fields: Another fun short walk is behind the Dartmouth Leisure Centre and Park And Ride, which goes around the playing fields. This lovely, mostly flat, walk has a number of different areas where your canine can snuffle and sniff to their heart’s content. It can be a brisk ten minute walk around or a thirty minute amble, and if you really like it you can do laps until your furry friend is tired.
Crosby Meadow: This one is tricky, as you have to get up Crowthers Hill to get there, which is no mean feat in itself! But if you can, or can find parking nearby, go past the turning to Jawbones going up Crowthers Hill and on the right about 25 yards past that junction is Crosby Meadow, a covered walk through trees which is enclosed and safe and has lots of places for dogs to scent and smell and is a fun little walk. Very old dogs will find it a struggle due to the tough gradients getting there.
Medium Walks
Sandquay Woods: This requires a little driving, or a walk (!) At the top of College Way turn into Rock Park. Follow this to the T Junction at the end, turn right then take the first left down Old Mill Lane. About three hundred yards down on the right is a car park that leads into Sandquay Woods. This is a large and safe area where dogs simply have the BEST time. There are numerous paths, and a recent thinning out and careful management plan by its owners mean this is a perfect dog walk - there are streams and flat areas and animal trails and the scents of all the other dogs who have been there – it's a dog’s dream!
Little Dartmouth: Little Dartmouth can be both a medium and a long walk, depending on the mood you are in. If you drive out of Dartmouth past Warfleet and up Weeke Hill, at the crest of that hill you reach a crossroads. Take the left hand turn and follow this to the end where you will find a car park (in summer there is a donation box to help the National Trust, who maintain the car park). At the far corner of the Car Park there is a path that leads towards the sea. This comes out into some large and open spaces and you can follow it around until you can see the Mewstone. You then turn back on yourself and walk up a hill, past a stream and keep following the path. You can keep following the coastline, or turn away from it at one clear point and walk back up to the crest of the hill, where you can then turn left and follow it back to the car park. If you continue onwards, you can walk all the way round to Dartmouth Castle. This walk has so much to recommend it: great large areas where dogs can run around, space to throw balls and frisbees, lots of nooks and crannies to explore and snuffle in and beautiful views for you to enjoy.
Longer Walks
Apart from Little Dartmouth (see above) there are a number of great long walks around the area:
Long Wood, Kingswear: Cross the Dart towards Kingswear on the Higher Ferry. Walk up the road from the ferry to the permissive footpath on the right-hand side. Turn right here and follow the path steeply up on to the Dart Valley Trail. Follow the signs towards Greenway Ferry and Maypool, and carry on through the woods above the river. The path turns to a lane above Lower Noss Point – you then come to a road, which you cross, then another smaller one beyond, and head inland above the creek at Cart Wood. Turn sharply left with the path as it doubles back towards the River Dart. You can follow this all the way to Greenway. Once there you can cross the river by ferry to Dittisham and catch the ferry back to Dartmouth, or walk through Dittisham and back to Dartmouth through that is a VERY long walk indeed.
The bonus of this walk is it is long, varied, with lots of interesting places for your dog to explore. It can take a few hours if you amble, and if you were to follow the path through Dittisham it could take you all day!
Froward Point: If you pop across to Kingswear and walk under the archway next to the Lower Ferry, walk up the steps you see and then turn right, you can follow the path all the way to the National Coastwatch Institution station at Froward Point and then onto the South West Coast Path. At the station you can turn back towards Kingswear, and the walk takes in a number of charming and beautiful coves and some of the most stunning views you will see in South Devon. This is a challenging walk but perfect if you want to see more of the countryside around the harbour and beyond. See also