Exeter Dog Walks
There's lots of good options for dog walking in the Exeter area. Killerton Park is a great choice with a dog friendly trail, areas where you can let your dog off the lead and plenty of dog bins. For some nice woodland trails head to Ashclyst Forest or Eggesford Forest which are both dog friendly. The 3500 acre Haldon Forest Park is also very popular, with miles of good trails to try.
For more dog walking ideas in nearby Plymouth see our Plymouth Dog Walks page.
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Ashclyst Forest | 1.9 miles (3 km) | Enjoy miles of woodland cycling and walking trails in this large forest near Killerton. There are a number of waymarked trails to try starting from the National Trust Car Park. The forest is excellent for wildlife spotting with various birds and deer to look out for. It is also well known for its butterflies with white admiral, small pearl-bordered fritillary, dark green fritillary, purple emperor and silver-washed fritillary amongst the species. You can extend your exercise by heading to the nearby Killerton Park where there are more cycling and walking tracks to try. View Full Details>> | |
| Canonteign Falls | 1.6 miles (2.5 km) | This country park in Dartmoor consists of woodland trails, beautiful lakes and the stunning Canonteign Falls. View Full Details>> | |
| Eggesford Forest | 3.1 miles (5 km) | These woods near Lapford are a popular place for dog walkers. The walk starts off at the car park, just off the A377. You could also start from nearby Eggesford train station on the Exeter to Barnstaple railway line. In the woods you'll find miles of nice trails, some fine Douglas Fir trees, pretty streams and lots of interesting flora and fauna. There's also a motte and bailey castle, which is the remains of a once-imposing Norman fort. The Ridge and Valley Walk passes through the forest so you can follow this waymarked trail for part of the route. You could extend the walk by following the trail north east to the village of Chawleigh or north toward Chumleigh. The popular Tarka Trail passes to the west of the forest and is another good option for exploring the area surrounding the woods. View Full Details>> | |
| Exeter Canal | 5 miles (8 km) | Follow the Exeter Ship Canal from the centre of Exeter to the River Exe Estuary. It's a nice easy cycle or walk following the canal towpath for about 5 miles. The route starts near the cathedral in the city centre and heads south towards Topsham, passing River Exe Country Park and the Exe Reedbeds nature reserve. There's nice views of the River Exe and lots of water loving wildlife to look out for. View Full Details>> | |
| Haldon Forest Park | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) | Enjoy miles of cycling and walking trails in this 3500 acre forest near Exeter. The cycling trails are well laid out and colour coded according to difficulty. There is a nice easy trail named the 'Discovery Trail' which is well surfaced and great for families looking for a safe ride or for walkers looking for a pleasant stroll. It has fun features for children and takes in some stunning views over Exeter and Dartmoor. The blue Challenge trail is a moderate mountain bike trail with a combination of surfaces, some narrow sections and gentle gradients for intermediate cyclists. More experienced riders can try the red graded 'Ridge Ride Trail' which is a technical, fast and flowing trail with tight corners and lively descents to test your reflexes. Bike hire is available from Forest Cycle Hire. Walkers can enjoy a number of waymarked trails of varying lengths and difficulty. The Butterfly Trail is a three mile circular walk with views across the forest and over the Teign valley. There's also the Mamhead Sensory Trail, an easy 1.5 miles trail with breathtaking views over the Exe estuary to the Jurassic Coast. View Full Details>> | |
| Killerton Park | 3.1 miles (5 km) | The Killerton Estate is 6,400 acres of parkland and countryside containing over 60 miles of footpaths and cycle tracks. It is located near Broadclyst in the Exeter region of Devon. The estate also contains a beautiful landscaped garden with rhododendrons, magnolias and rare trees surrounded by rolling Devon countryside. The walk also passes Killerton House - an 18th-century house with a marvellous collection of 18th- to 20th-century costumes. The route below is devised for walkers but there is also cycle track at Killerton. It is great for families and follows a safe circular route around the beautiful parkland at Killerton, starting and finishing at Killerton's stable-block. Please click here to download the gpx file for the Kilerton Park cycle route (it follows a similar path to the walk). If you'd like to continue your exercise then you could head a couple of miles east to Ashclyst Forest where there are more cycling and walking tracks to try. View Full Details>> |
