Top 10 Autumn Countryside Walks in South Devon

As the nights draw in and the days turn cooler, you may be tempted to stay inside but here in Devon we’ve got plenty of amazing autumn walks in the countryside for you to enjoy. Whether it’s blowing away the cobwebs on Dartmoor National Park, discovering wildlife at a nature reserve or exploring an enchanted forest, there’s something for everyone. Discover some of the best countryside walks to be enjoyed this autumn in South Devon below.

Stover Country Park & Nature Reserve

Stover Country Park and Nature Reserve is located in Newton Abbot and is amass with plenty of tracks and wooded areas for you to explore. Take a relaxing walk through the trees and find the scenic 4 hectare lake nestled amongst the dense woodland.  Surrounded by autumnal colours and vivid scenery, you can enjoy spotting the local wildlife that the park and lake have to offer. 

Hembury, Blackdown Hills AONB

Hembury is an Iron Age hill Fort in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is home to impressive ramparts and encased with magical beech trees, offering an educational and thrilling walk. The ridge upon where Hembury Fort sits is worth the climb to view the great fort and the surrounding area is fantastic to experience the vast views of the Blackdown Hills AONB. You can access the Fort from the public footpath off the A373.

Bowling Green Marsh, Exe Estuary

Situated in Topsham and bordering the east bank of the Exe Estuary, Bowling Green Marsh is a beautiful spot for bird watching in South Devon especially during the autumn and winter months. Park up in nearby Topsham and enjoy a lovely rural walk to the wetlands through country lanes and be greeted with a stunning panoramic view of marshland and the Exe Estuary. 

Totnes to Sharpham

Starting in the quirky town of Totnes, this moderate walk takes you along part of the Dart Valley Trail. Enjoy charming views of the River Dart and surrounding South Devon countryside as you amble along to Sharpham. At Sharpham you can discover a stunning house as well as a popular vineyard offering more vineyard walks and of course, wine and cheese!

Cann Woods (Plym Forest)

Cann Woods (known locally as Plym Forest) is based on the east side of Plymouth and is an immense area of woodland perfect for those autumn walks with family or friends. The paths are spacious and blanketing around 230 hectares there is boundless opportunities to explore. You can enter the woods from the main car park and is also a good place to bring your mountain bikes if some of your party would prefer to ride rather than walk.

Wistman’s Wood, Dartmoor National Park

Wistman’s Wood is a beguiling and ancient oak forest in the heart of Dartmoor. To get there, you can park in the old quarry opposite Two Bridges Hotel and take the man-made track signalled by the footpath signpost. Once along the short track you will come out onto the staggering moorland and can follow the path to the left down towards the woods. Drenched in moss, the gnarled archaic oak trees provide an eerie setting where you can also find a druid stone. 

Church Green & Farway, East Devon Way

Beginning in the hamlet of Church Green, head to the car park outside the church and take a leisurely, short walk in the Coly Valley. Embrace the natural, Devonshire farmland and enjoy the curious village of Farway with its thatched cottages.  

The Templer Way

The Templer way is a historic 18 mile walking route which begins on Dartmoor and wends it’s way down to the coast at Teignmouth. It traces the journey that granite once took from the moors to the docks. If you’re feeling energetic, you could hike the whole way marked 18 miles but if not, why not enjoy a shorter stretch as it’s easily divided into 6 stages. A multitude of different scenery can be enjoyed in each section including moorland and River Teign views.

Haldon Forest

With so many marvellous walks and trails at Haldon Forest, Exeter, it’s difficult to pinpoint one in particular. Haldon is the perfect destination for either a brisk walk through the forest or choose one of the longer trails and make an afternoon of wandering through the altitudinous trees and head for one of the many clearings to soak up some splendid views.

Seaton Wetlands

Nestled in East Devon not far from the coast is Seaton Wetlands, an area made up of three local nature reserves with a mixture of habitats including marshland and reed beds resting alongside the River Axe. Nearly 4km of trails span the area meaning it’s perfect for those wishing to enjoy a lovely walk coupled with some wildlife spotting.

If you take any photos out on your walks, we’d love to see them! Just tag us on Instagram using @visitsouthdevon, #visitsouthdevon or #southdevon. We might even feature them on our feed and don’t forget to follow us here for regular South Devon inspiration.