Totnes River Walk
A circular walk taking you along the River Dart before heading into the countryside surrounding the town of Totnes in Devon. The walk follows the Franklin Totnes Trail and the Dart Valley Trail footpaths before heading along Riverside Walk to visit the Longmarsh Nature Area on the eastern side of the water.
The walk starts on the river in Totnes, near to the tourist information centre. Follow the riverside trail north before heading west into the countryside on Copland Lane. The path takes you towards Follaton House where there is an arboretum with a series of trails to try.
After exploring Follaton Arboretum the walk heads along Jackman's Lane to Tristford Cross. This section climbs to nearly 500 feet with nice views across the attractive countryside.
You then turn north east along Harper's Hill before heading south and east to rejoin the river. The trail returns to the start point before crossing the bridge for a delightful stroll along Riverside Walk. The path leads you to Longmarsh Nature Area where there's lots of wildlife to look out for on the water.
It's easy to continue your waterside exercise in the Totnes area. You can pick up the Dart Valley Trail and follow it south all the way to Dartmouth.
Just to the north you will find the wonderful Dartington Estate.
Here you'll find miles of trails taking you along the river and through attractive woodland.
Totnes River Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Totnes River Walk Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Totnes River Walk OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Totnes River Walk Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Totnes
- Dart Valley Trail - This beautiful trail takes you along the River Dart from Totnes to Dartmouth.
The trail passes through the villages of Ashprington, Cornworthy and Dittisham before finishing at Dartmouth Harbour.
Highlights near the route include the splendid National Trust owned Greenway Estate - Dartington - A splendid circular walk around the Dartington Hall Estate near Totnes in Devon
- Stoke Gabriel - This picturesque village in Devon is a popular spot for tourists with its attractive mill pond, weir, old church, pretty cottages and views of the River Dart
- River Dart Country Park - The River Dart Country Park is set in 90 acres, with lakes, parkland, woodland trails and a lovely waterside path along the River Dart
- Berry Pomeroy Castle - This walk visits Berry Pomeroy Castle near Totnes in Devon
- John Musgrave Heritage Trail - This long distance walk through South Devon follows the John Musgrave Heritage Trail from Maidencombe to Brixham.
- Sharpham Estate - This walk explores the Sharpham House Estate in Devon near Totnes.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The delighful village of Stoke Gabriel is located just a few miles south east of the town. You can follow country lanes to the village where you'll find a pretty mill pond, a noteworthy old church and a splendid quay. It's a popular spot for tourists and well worth seeing if you are visiting the area.
Just a few miles to the east there's Berry Pomeroy Castle to visit. Here you'll find the ruins of a 15th century castle surrounded by pleasant woodland trails. The site is run by English Heritage so there's good facilities with a car park, gift shop and cafe. The John Musgrave Heritage Trail can be picked up in this area too. The waymarked trail runs from Maidencombe to Brixham, visiting several of South Devon's interesting historical sites on the way.
Continue south along the Dart Valley Trail and you will soon come to the delightful little hamlet of Tuckenhay. The settlement is very pretty with a picturesque old mill and waterside trails along the Bow Creek, one of the River Dart tributaries. There's also a splendid 18th century waterside pub which featured in The Times ‘Best 50 Places to Eat Al Fresco’. On the way you will pass the Sharpham Estate, a Grade I listed Palladian villa with parkland, gardens and woodland. The estate is now run as a mindfulness retreat but is open to the public on certain days.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Devon Walks page.
Photos
Rivers Hems and Dart. The confluence of the river Dart and its small tributary, the Hems, at low tide.
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River Dart view in the summer of 2016.
St Marys Church Totnes
Shows the River Dart at Totnes looking upstream to the bridges
Dart valley below Totnes. A view from Sharpham Drive of the fields and valleys on the left bank of the river. The green area beside the treelined riverside path is Longmarsh.
The Dart at Totnes. Looking downstream in Ferbuary 2008. Boats laid up for the winter.
Disused Riflerange. Used in the second world war as a rifle and machine gun firing range,looking down towards where the targets would have been,now a popular walk by the river Dart.
The riverside at Totnes. Totnes now supports a lot of water based small industrial units beside the river Dart. It was near here that the ill fated catamaran of Team Phillips was built and launched in 2000. The picture is looking up river towards Totnes.