Best Walks From Totnes

I spent a month living in Totnes, as a base for walking all around South Devon and North Cornwall. Apart from being a truly quirky, unique and wonderful place to live, it has excellent train and bus connections, which made exploring South Devon so easy. But that’s not what this post is about. At the end I will link to other places you can walk in Devon nearby, but here I am going to tell you about the walks you can do starting from Totnes itself. 

Totnes is located right on the River Dart, and all these walks follow the river. You have the Dart Valley Trail, country park, hills, and wonderful views. 2 of these walks are circular, one isn’t, but you have the option of returning to Totnes by boat (a little planning is needed here).

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If you fancy exploring the river a bit more, you could join this half day guided canoe trip. Starting in Totnes, it takes you along the prettiest parts of the river, and you might get a chance to spot some seals. Group sizes are kept small, and you go at a leisurely pace, learning about the area along the way.

Getting to Totnes

If you aren’t staying in Totnes, but instead want to come for day trips:

Totnes Railway – It is on the great Western Railway line, with a direct link to Exeter, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Ivybridge and Plymouth. You can even get here direct from London in 2h 40min (although, I wouldn’t recommend that as a day trip). You can also get the train there from Paignton and Torquay (it involves a change, but is a short journey).

Bus – There are direct bus links to Paignton, Torquay, Dartmouth and Salcombe to name a few. 

Boat – There is a boat that runs between Dartmouth and Totnes. However, it’s not daily, and only runs a couple of times a day. Check their website for more info.

Important tip

Before starting any of these walks from Totnes, fuel up at the Curator coffee shop. It’s at the bottom of the high street, opposite the bridge. Apart from food and cakes, they have the best coffee I have had in all of the South West. Artisan London level coffee…yes I’m from London and I’m a bit of a coffee snob. I recommend the cappuccino. Ask for chocolate sprinkles, and you get the most divine dark chocolate shavings. 

Best Walks From Totnes

For each of these walks from Totnes, I have provided a link to the full guide with a map, detailed description and lots of photos. Have fun!

1) Totnes to Sharpham – The nice easy one with River Dart views

Start/Finish: Totnes Bridge  Distance: 5 miles  Time: 2h  Difficulty: Easy

This is the first of these walks I did from Totnes. I actually did it the first day I arrived at my new place. After being stuck in London for so long, I was itching to get out and explore immediately. 

This walk takes you along the River Dart, and after a short uphill, you will get a wonderful view back to Totnes, and ahead through the Dart Valley….it gets much better though. You will then make your way back down and through the woodland, where you will remain for a bit. 

Once fully out of the woods, it’s a gradual uphill, which is where you start to get the most wonderful view back along the river, as you make your way to Sharpham. 

Now, there is a cheese and wine farm here. It’s actually the reason I chose this walk. I had read that you can go and sample the wine and cheese. However, I discovered that they have moved their visitor facility elsewhere. It was a bit of a bummer, however, the walk is still great and worth it regardless.

To get back to Totnes, you have the option of two walks. You can go back the way you came, or you can mix it up and follow a trail on top of the hill which will give you a slightly different vantage point.

For more detailed information, including a map and photos, you can read about the walk to Sharpham.

2) Totnes to Dittisham – The tough one along the Dart Valley Trail

Start: Totnes  Finish: Dittisham  Distance: 8.8 miles  Time: 3h  Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

This walk starts off following the trail to reach Sharpham, but instead of walking back to Totnes, you keep going along the River Dart. The trail will take you through a few quiet, pretty villages. Across stepping stones, up and down some hills, with lovely views along the river.

You then finish off in one the the prettiest, cutest little villages in South Devon. Dittisham with its colourful buildings, small harbour and one riverside pub. From there, if you ring the big bell, a little boat will come and get you to take you across the river to Greenway, where you can explore Agatha Christies home. 

For more detailed information, including a map and photos, you can read about the walk to Dittisham.

3) Totnes to Dartington – The one to a country estate

Start/Finish: Totnes Bridge  Distance: 8 miles  Time: 3h  Difficulty: Easy

This walk takes you along the River Dart in the opposite direction, and it’s the one with that famous view of the Totnes Bridge. If you google Totnes, you will see. For the first chunk of the walk, it’s very easy, along a woodland trail to reach the Dartington Country Park. From there, it’s a short walk along the roadside, and then a dirt trail to reach the green. Following the river, you will walk through a few smaller fields, to reach the big park like one. 

Next, it’s into the woods, where it becomes a bit hillier, to take you to the cider press centre. I have mixed feelings about this bit of the walk. Whilst I did enjoy the cider press centre, it’s also right next to a busy road, which taints the nice peaceful walk a little. However, you do then finish off up a hill, with a wonderful view into the valley, before walking back to Totnes. 

For more detailed information, including a map and photos, you can read about the walk to Dartington.

Final thoughts on these walks from Totnes

If you are coming in for a day trip, then I would recommend walking from Totnes to Sharpham. It’s not too challenging and leaves you will plenty of time and energy to have a wander through the village. 

If you want to walk the Dart Valley Trail, or just fancy a challenge, then you should do the walk from Totnes to Dittisham. This one is a little trickier logistically once you reach Dittisham, however, if you have time to spare, you can catch a boat from there to Dartmouth which is worth a visit in itself. Or if you have the energy, you could walk it. From Dartmouth, you can get a boat back to Totnes, otherwise there is a direct bus link.

For something a bit more family friendly, you should do the walk to Dartington. To keep things easier, you could skip the woodland, and just wander around the green before walking back to Totnes. 

Other walks near Totnes

Whilst staying in Totnes, I made some trips to Dartmouth. It’s super easy as there is a direct bus link between the two (or there is the boat). Located on the mouth of the River Dart, you have the choice between river walks and coast path walks. One of the toughest walks I have ever done is found here.

Torquay has a bunch of walks you can try, and you can get between Totnes and Torquay by bus or train. There are a few walks I recommended here, including one to an adorable chocolate box style village.

Totnes is very close to Dartmoor National Park. If you don’t have a car, you could get a train. I must point out though, the train only goes to one bit of Dartmoor. If you do have a car, or don’t mind doing a few bus and train switches then I have a large range of walks here you could try.

Salcombe is a place to be seen, with its crystal clear and turquoise water and an abundance of sandy beaches. Here I tell you about 4 walks you can do starting from Salcombe. Ranging from challenging to easy. I did all of these walks whilst I was staying in Totnes. There is a direct bus link between the two.

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