Walkies

1.      Best Western Hotel dog path – less than a mile
This is a short, signposted walk that starts at the bottom of the hotel driveway in the car park. Follow the drive steeply up to the entrance gates. Here the path turns left and follows the edge of the golf course around to a small, mowed, paddock where you can let your dog off the lead.

2.      Old Mill Creek – 2 miles
Drive out of the entrance to the hotel and turn left. Follow the A3122 to the turning to Dittisham next to the Sportsman’s Arms. Follow the Dittisham road for about half a mile to the first turning on the right signposted Old Mill Creek. Follow this very narrow potholed road down to the river and park in the layby just passed the hump-back bridge.

Walk up the lane with the creek on your right and where the lane turns right into the boatyard bear left onto the footpath. Follow the footpath steeply up to where it divides. Bear right through the gate and follow the footpath through the trees with the creek and then the River Dart to your right. After about a mile the path goes up some steep steps and there is a pond to the left. For a short walk we turn around here and return to the car, washing all pond water off Annie in the stream next to the car! (PS – a golden retriever lives just here too)

3.      Dart Valley Trail - click HERE for more details

a.      Dartmouth/ Greenway/ Dittisham round trip – 9.7 miles
Beautiful circular walk with some very steep bits, although the path is a fairly good surface. Walk down one side of the River Dart and then cross the river to return on the other bank. Dogs can be off the lead for most of the route.
Start either in Dittisham parking at The Ham car park (charge) or in Dartmouth (various car parks). Includes two ferry crossings; one between Dittisham and Greenway, the other in Dartmouth (there are three ferries to choose from for foot passengers and dogs). The footpath is very well signposted.

b.      Dittisham to Dartmouth one way – c5 miles
There is a regular daily ferry between Dartmouth and Dittisham if you wish to just do one side of the river.

c.      Totnes to Dartmouth – 17 miles
Walk in one direction and get the ferry back (check the tide times). Beautiful walk.

4.      Dartington Hall, Dartington – 3 miles - click HERE for more details
Park in the car park in the centre of Dartington Hall (charge) and follow the signs to the dog walking field (Aller Park Field) where your dog can be off the lead. Follow the path to the left down the hill to the River Dart and turn left. There may be cows in the field so please keep an eye out to see if you need to put your dog back on a lead. Follow the path next to the River Dart (river on your right) for about 2 miles. There are plenty of excellent beaches for dog swimming and a kayak and paddle board centre for the more adventurous! The path eventually passes a deer park and rises back up again to Dartington Hall and the car park. There is an excellent café here, The Green Table, with outside seating and water bowls for dogs.

There are other walks around the Dartington Hall Estate and a further café/restaurant in the Hall where dogs aren’t allowed.