The best walks and hikes in Devon

Wide ranging terrain

Your hikes in Devon could take you to 1,970-foot (600 m) hills topped by granite tors just as easily as they could to waterfalls cascading in a woodland valley or to a towering sandstone clifftop. In the west, Dartmoor National Park draws walkers from far and wide, to ramble its wild expanse and see its charming historic villages, tucked in the folds of its valleys. In the north, Exmoor National Park offers soaring views over Wales and the Bristol Channel. 

In the South, the Roman city of Exeter hordes history in every stone and the southern coastline hides innumerable coves with clear water and tiny fishing boats bobbing on moorings. East Devon is awash with undulating farmland and beautiful rivers where the eagle-eyed can spot beavers. Its coast is tough on the thighs, with steep ascents and descents between its charming towns. 

Culture embedded into the landscape

Some of the best hikes in Devon blend human and natural history. In Dartmouth, you can explore the riverside to spot the naval academy, historic boats on moorings, an active steam train and, a little further up the Dart, Agatha Christie’s former home, Greenaway. In Plymouth, explore the majestic, craggy perimeter of the Sound including the Mayflower Steps, where the English pioneers set off for America. 

In Lydford, on Dartmoor’s western edge, find a Norman castle near a breathtaking gorge. Above the River Teign in the north east of Dartmoor, find the country’s youngest castle: Castle Drogo along with the 17th-century stone Fingle Bridge downriver below. On the north coast, Clovelly is an exceptionally picturesque fishing village tucked into steep cliffs. 

A farming landscape with two, exceptional coastlines, your options for Devon walks are staggering. Footpaths, bridleways, traffic-free paved trails and quiet lanes allow you to hike hundreds of miles without ever seeing the same place twice. 

Peace and play

While Devon sees large crowds in summer, its abundance of space means there’s always somewhere peaceful. Its interior is always quieter, even in the busiest season while North and East Devon beaches are often less visited than those in South Devon during the summer.