Plymouth Dog Walks
There's lots of good options for dog walking in the Plymouth area. For some nice woodland paths head to the lovely Plymbridge Woods where there's miles of good trails to take your pooch. At Mount Edgcumbe Country Park there's hundreds of acres of open parkland to let your dog run around in. Dogs should be kept under control here, but they can still be off the lead.
Saltram Park is another great option where dogs can go for a swim in the estuary as well! There's more great coastal dog walking to be found at Slapton Ley which is dog-friendly year round and includes dog-friendly eateries too..
For more dog walking ideas in nearby Exeter see our Exeter Dog Walks page.
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Burrator Reservoir | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This circular walk explores the area surrounding this attractive reservoir in Dartmoor. It's a place well worth exploring on foot or by bike. As well as waterside paths along the reservoir there are miles of lovely woodland trails, brooks, streams and waterfalls in the surrounding area. You'll also pass a number of rugged Dartmoor Tors and the River Meavy at the western end of the reservoir. This route starts at the Nosworthy Bridge car park at the eastern end of the reservoir and heads to the dam along the trail at the southern side of the water. You'll pass mixed woodland and Sheeps Tor - one of Dartmoor's most imposing tors. The route then passes through the mixed woodland on the northern side of the reservoir, passing Peek Hill, Leather Tor and Sharpitor. The final section takes you into Norsworthy Woods to Leather Tor Bridge and then back to Nosworthy Bridge. Look out for Dartmoor ponies on your way through this lovely area. The Devonport Leat runs into the reservoir and makes for a nice extension to the route. The leat was constructed in the 1790s to carry fresh drinking water from the high ground of Dartmoor to the expanding dockyards at Plymouth Dock. Footpaths will take you through woodland north of the reservoir to the aqueduct of the River Meavy on Walkhampton Common. If you enjoy this route then you could head to the nearby Plymbridge Woods for a great trail running along a disused railtrack. You can also enjoy great views back down to the water on the climb to Sheepstor. The walk to the summit starts from the same car park, taking you up to Yellowmead Down on the eastern side of the reservoir. Burrator Reservoir is located near to Yelverton and Tavistock. View Full Details>> | |
| Cann Woods | 3.1 miles (5 km) | These woods on the outskirts of Plymouth have miles of good cycling and walking trails. For mountain bikers there's some good downhill trails and nice wide tracks for leisure riding. Features include twists, turns, jumps and some berms built up by local riders. See the video below for an idea of the sort of tracks you will find on the site. There's also a myriad of footpaths on which walkers can explore the 230 hectare (568 acre) site. Look out for pretty bluebells in the spring and a variety of wildlife including deer and various woodland birds. To extend your exercise head to the western end of the site and pick up the Plymbridge Woods Family Cycle Trail. The shared cycling and walking trail runs alongs the trackbed of a disused railway line with views of the River Plym. The West Devon Way long distance trail also runs past the woods. Pick up the trail and head north to visit the Bickleigh Vale and the village of Yelverton. Here you can enjoy a stroll around Yelverton Garden House or pick up the cycle trails around Burrator Reservoir. View Full Details>> | |
| Mount Edgcumbe Country Park | 3.4 miles (5.5 km) | With 865 acres of parkland, beautiful landscaped Cornish gardens and stunning coastline, Mount Edgcumbe Country Park is a fantastic place to visit. This circular walk begins at the parking lot, near the Cremyll Ferry which you can catch from Plymouth to the park. The path then joins the coastal path to Raveness Point, passing the beautiful Barn Pool (see video) and the Raven's Cliffs. You continue to Picklecombe Point before returning to the start point through the delightful deer park, passing the magnificent Mount Edgcumbe House on the way. View Full Details>> | |
| Plym Valley Trail | 7.5 miles (12 km) | This shared cycling and walking trail follows the old Plym Valley railway from Clearbrook to Saltram Park. The trail runs for a distance of about 7 miles along a fairly flat, traffic free path. Along the way there's nice views of the River Plym and the countryside of Bickleigh Vale. This route starts at the northern end of the trail at Clearbrook where parking is available. You then head south towards Bickleigh and Plymbridge Woods. The attractive woods have a nice family cycle trail with a series of viaducts, a disused railway station and pretty bridges over the river. The area also includes Cann Woods where there's some good mountain bike trails and miles of woodland trails. In this area there's also the Cann Viaduct where you can look out for the Peregrine Falcons from the elevated spot. The route continues past Leigham and Marsh Mills station to the finish point at the National Trust's Saltram Park. In the park National Cycle Route 27 runs along a splendid traffic free trail through Saltram Wood and along the River Plym. There's also lots of walking trails to explore 500 acres of woodland, farmland, beaches, saltmarshes, meadows and river estuary. You can extend the route by continuing south and then west to visit the city of Plymouth. View Full Details>> | |
| Plymbridge Woods | 3.7 miles (6 km) | This is the delightful Plymbridge Woods family cycle trail. It runs alongs the trackbed of a disused railway line through oak woodland, with the River Plym by your side for part of the ride. It's largely flat and uses a well surfaced track so it's a nice safe ride for children or for anyone looking for an easy introduction to cycling. You'll pass a series of viaducts, a disused railway station and pretty bridges over the river. There's also an abundance of wildlife to look out for including butterflies, foxes and deer. Birdlife includes dipper, grey wagtail, little grebe, grebe, heron and kingfisher. From the Cann Viaduct you may also see peregrine falcons breeding in the summer months. The route starts at the National Trust car park at Plymbridge Woods and follows the Great Western Railway track north passing Cann Wood and Bickleigh Vale before finishing at Dewerstone Woods. It's a lovely trail which is suitable for cyclists and walkers. To continue your exercise you can head east from the river and explore Cann Woods. There's some good mountain bike trails and miles of footpaths to be found here. Another good option is to head to the nearby Burrator Reservoir which has miles of footpaths and cycleways to enjoy. Also nearby is the Cadover Bridge to Dewerstone Rocks walk which also runs along the River Plym. If you head south you can visit Saltram Park where there is a great cycle trail along the River Plym estuary. The Plym Valley Trail will take you there if you head south or to Clearbrook if you head north. View Full Details>> | |
| Plymouth's Waterfront Walkway | 9.9 miles (16 km) | A nice easy walk along a section of the south west coast path which highlights the city's history and heritage. The walk links the Cremyll Ferry landing stage on the shores of the Tamar with Jennycliff on the eastern side of Plymouth Sound. Known as Plymouth's Waterfront Walkway the walk is suitable for families with good paths and lots to see on the way. Highlights include Plymouth Hoe, Smeatons Lighthouse, the pretty Marina at the Barbican, Hooe Lake and Fort Bovisand at the end of the walk. View Full Details>> | |
| Saltram Park | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) | Enjoy a circular cycle or walk around Saltram Park and the River Plym estuary on this easy route in Plymouth. National Cycle Route 27 runs along a splendid traffic free trail through Saltram Wood and along the River Plym. There's also lots of walking trails to explore 500 acres of woodland, farmland, beaches, saltmarshes, meadows and river estuary. The West Devon Way runs past the estate so you could pick this up to extend your outing. If you follow it north you will come to Plymbridge Woods where there is a great family cycle trail along a disused railway line. The Plym Valley Trail starts at the park too. The shared cycling and walking trail will take you north to Clearbrook on a 7 mile traffic free trail. View Full Details>> | |
| Slapton Ley | 6.2 miles (10 km) | This walk takes you along Slapton Sands and the Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve in Devon. The lagoon at Slapton Ley is the largest natural freshwater lake in South West England. It's a beautiful area with the lovely shingle beach and the ocean on one side and the stunning lake on the other. There are a number of walking trails taking you through the reserve, including a family trail which takes about 45 minutes. You can also easily continue to the nearby village of Slapton. The reserve is fantastic for wildlife with a number of bird hides around the lake. Look out for Cetti's warbler, Swallows, Badgers and Otters as you make your way through the reserve. For cyclists there is a super coastal road taking you past the lake and Slapton sands. The South West Coast Path runs past the site so there is scope for continuing your walk along the coast towards Dartmouth or Salcombe. If you head west you can visit Start Point where you can look out for seals and basking sharks before enjoying an interesting tour of the lighthouse. View Full Details>> | |
| Wembury Point | 3.1 miles (5 km) | This delightful area near Plymouth has recently been restored by the National Trust. It's a lovely stretch of coast and countryside with a good footpath and wonderful views of the Yealm Estuary, the Mewstone, Plymouth Breakwater and onto Rame Head in Cornwall. View Full Details>> |
