10 Best Walks in Devon you must experience

Known as one of the most picturesque and diverse regions in the UK, the array of walks in Devon is not to be missed!

With two national parks and a coastline that is designated by UNESCO, the area is overflowing with options. Whether you are looking for rugged coastlines, wildlife-rich reserves, waterfalls, river valleys or moorland, walking is the best way to enjoy the beauty of Devon.

Keep reading to discover 10 of the best walks in Devon below…

1. Branscombe to Beer

Between Branscombe and Beer lies one of the best Devon walks. It is a section of the South West Coast Path and provides breath-taking views of Devon’s Jurassic Coast, offering a lovely stretch of shoreline for relaxing strolls.

The walk begins in the centre of Branscombe town, taking you around some of the greatest British beaches before ending at the heart of the hamlet.

The trail concludes at Beer, a coastal community with a small selection of classic watering holes where you can celebrate with a pint. If you take a short detour along the Hooken Undercliff trail, you’ll discover spectacular views of the seaward side’s chalk pinnacles.

Distance: 4.8km/2 hours  
Difficulty: Moderate
Car Park: Yes

2. Burrator Reservoir

Burrator Reservoir is one of the numerous reservoirs created in Devon during the 19th century, and it is possibly the most scenic, with simple level trails to follow and spectacular vistas – notably Sheepstor, which looms enormous above it.

The reservoir walk takes around two hours and takes you through historic bridges and granite walls, rural lanes, moorlands, and forests, as well as the reservoir’s spectacular dam wall. Families and dog walkers frequent the path as it truly is one of the most scenic walks in Devon.

Distance: 7.1km/2-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Car Park: Yes, various

3. Bystock Nature Reserve

Next on our list of walks in Devon is the Bystock Nature Reserve, a patchwork of lily ponds, heaths, and open meadows within easy reach of the Jurassic Coast. It is still the most popular of the fifty sites that Devon Wildlife Trust looks after and promises a wonderful day out.

Explore the reserve’s rivers, wildlife, and plants, then stroll through the picturesque village of East Budleigh before concluding the day with a visit to the birthplace of explorer and novelist Sir Walter Raleigh. Once you’ve enjoyed a ramble here, why not take a well-deserved dip and relax at one of the many beaches in Devon?

Distance: 9.6km/3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Car Park: Yes

4. Coleton Fishacre

After an energetic trek along South Devon‘s coastal path, take a step back and discover Coleton Fishacre‘s tiered gardens. This colourful mix of rare, exotic, and fragile plants descend from the historic house to Pudcombe Cove.

The South West Coast route and the forest at the top of Coleton Fishacre garden are the perfect backdrops for a leisurely stroll. Once you’ve enjoyed the scenery, return to Coleton Fishacre through Coleton Camp, but please keep in mind that this route is only accessible while Coleton Fishacre is open.

Distance: 11km/4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Car Park: Yes

5. East Lyn River

This stroll along the beautiful East Lyn River was a favourite of the poet Percy Shelley and is widely regarded as the most picturesque in the area. This lovely six-mile walk begins in Exmoor National Park in Lynmouth and follows the river upstream to Rockford before returning to the shore.

Start at Lyndale Cross car park and head towards the Watersmeet tearooms and follow the river. A difficult hike up Myrtleberry Cleave after crossing a wooden bridge leads to wild and spectacular views of the East Lyn canyon and the towering cliffs that encircle Lynton.

Distance: 11km/3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Car Park: Yes

6. Great Staple and White Tor

Next on our list of Devon walks takes you through iconic Devon landmarks. Walking to Great Staple Tor and White Tor is a great way to see some of Dartmoor National Park‘s best vistas and learn about the area’s rich history.

Hikers will pass through a plethora of Bronze and Iron Age ruins just off the track as they make their way across numerous steep tors and take in the moor’s natural splendour. If you like history or the outdoors, then this is the path for you.

On the vast peak, among boulders and clutter, are stone constructions thought to be an Iron Age hill fort but are more likely a Neolithic enclosure — the ambiguity adds to the mystery. Dartmoor’s history is layered, like a palimpsest.

Distance: 10.3km/3-5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Car Park: Yes

7. Gutter Tor and Higher Hartor Tor

Explore the Dartmoor National Park scenery that inspired Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse on this four-mile trek from Gutter Tor to Higher Hartor Tor.

The trail begins at the National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown and winds its way into the hills, passing Ditsworthy Warren House, a Bronze Age burial site, the ruins of a 19th-century warrening area, and magnificent 360-degree vistas.

When Steven Spielberg came here to film, he claimed he’d never seen such much natural beauty. Now, you can see it too!

Distance: 6.4km/2-3 hours
Difficulty: Easy/moderate
Car Park: Yes

8. Hound Tor

This five-mile hike to Hound Tor epitomises Dartmoor’s eerie reputation as the home of ghosts, witches, and dragons.

The hauntingly beautiful, barren landscape is claimed to have been the inspiration for the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. This hike travels from the Haytor Vale visitor centre to Haytor Rocks and then down a granite tramway to Holwell Tor.

Keep your eyes peeled for the remains of a forgotten mediaeval settlement. Drop down from the summit of Hound Tor to Smallacombe Rocks and traverse Haytor Down to reach the parking lot.

Distance: 8.5km/3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Car Park: Yes

9. Lydford Gorge

Next on our list of Devon walks is known as one of the best family days out in Devon. Follow a Dartmoor stream through a lush ravine to spectacular waterfalls and whirlpools.

Lydford Gorge, a canyon in the hills with steep sides, is 112 kilometres long. At one end lies the whirlpool known as the Devil’s Cauldron, while at the other is the White Lady Waterfall.

‘River capture,’ in which one river joins another after the continuous erosion of rocks between them, developed the gorge naturally over thousands of years amid the steep highlands. Right now, the swift stream is gushing through a large canyon surrounded by woods.

Distance: 4.2km/1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Car Park: Yes

10. Wistman’s Wood

Last on our list of walks in Devon is an enchanting delight for nature lovers. Located in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, Wistman’s Wood is easily accessible through a well-marked trail. A lichen-covered forest canopy invites you to slink beneath its branches in this untouched forest.

Over a hundred different kinds of lichen cover the twisted, gnarled, and stunted oak trees, entangled with one other. As you scramble over the moss-covered stones the trees grow within, it’s tempting to let your imagination run wild.

According to legend, the trees were planted by druids!

Distance: 4.5km/1-2 hours
Difficulty: Easy/moderate 
Car Park: Yes

Image Credits: Roger Cornfoot – (CC BY-SA 2.0), Martin Dawes – (CC BY-SA 2.0)