Walking the River Dart: Totnes to Dartington and Beyond

Walking the River Dart from Totnes to Dartington is one of those routes that feels longer in memory than it is on the map. It is barely two and a half miles between the Totnes town bridge and the Dartington estate boundary, yet the path crosses three quite different landscapes: a working market-town quayside, ancient water meadows, and the planted parkland of one of the South West’s most significant twentieth-century estates. Most people do it in an afternoon and end the day in a pub.

Setting off from The Plains

The natural starting point is The Plains, the open river-facing space at the bottom of Fore Street, where the Dart turns from tidal estuary into freshwater further upstream. Park at the Steamer Quay car park on the east bank (pay and display, no overnight stay) and cross the medieval bridge into the centre. Pick up the riverside path heading north, past the rowing club and Totnes Weir, where on a still morning you may see seals fishing the slack water.

From the weir, the path climbs slightly and joins a quiet lane through Longmarsh, the broad floodplain that absorbs the river when it bursts its banks. There are gates rather than stiles on this stretch, so buggies and well-behaved dogs handle it without trouble. Tide-wise it does not matter here; you are above the head of navigation and the river runs fresh and steady year round.

Through the meadows to Dartington

The middle section is flat, grassy and unfenced from the river. Cattle sometimes graze the water meadows in summer, so keep dogs on a short lead and give them room. After about a mile you pass beneath the railway viaduct, where the mainline trains rumble overhead, and the path narrows through scrubby alder and willow before opening onto the southern edge of the Dartington Estate. There is no gate, no ticket booth; this is genuinely open access land, with the estate’s own waymarked walks taking over.

You have a choice here. Bear left and climb up to Dartington Hall itself, the medieval courtyard with its great hall, gardens, Tilt Yard and the well-regarded Roundhouse cafe. The 26-acre gardens are open year-round (assistance dogs only inside the garden boundary, regular dogs welcome on the wider estate on leads). Or keep right and stay with the river toward Hood Down.

Beyond Dartington toward Staverton

If you have the legs, the path beyond Dartington gets quieter and prettier. A stepped track runs parallel with the Dart, leading into a broader woodland route through North Wood. You eventually arrive at Staverton Bridge, a fifteenth-century stone bridge sometimes still called Hood Bridge, and a likely contender for kingfisher sightings on a calm day. The Sea Trout Inn in Staverton village is half a mile beyond, and entirely worth the diversion for lunch by the open fire.

Totnes to Staverton is roughly four and a half miles one way, or seven by the time you have looped through the estate. Allow three hours at a steady pace with stops. There are no shops or facilities on the route after you leave Totnes, so carry water in summer.

Terrain, tides and gates

The whole walk is gentle: a handful of short rises, no significant climbs, no exposure. You will encounter several kissing gates, one or two granite stiles further upstream, and occasional muddy patches after wet weather. Trail shoes are usually fine April through October; boots are wiser in winter.

One quirk worth knowing: the lower river path is below the level of the road and can flood briefly in heavy rain or on very high spring tides if the storm surge is significant. If the rivers are running brown and fast, take the upper path through Bridgetown instead, which rejoins the route at Longmarsh.

Heading back to Totnes

The easy way home is to retrace your steps. The more interesting way is to catch a bus, since the route is well served by the Number 165 between Totnes and Staverton on most weekdays, or to take the South Devon Railway steam service from Staverton platform back to Totnes Littlehempston. The latter is, frankly, the most enjoyable end to a walk in the valley.

Walking the River Dart from Totnes to Dartington and beyond is a manageable day out for almost anyone with an hour or two to spare, and a strong introduction to the rhythm of life along the river. If the parkland section caught your eye, our guide to the Dartington Estate itself goes deeper on the gardens, the Tilt Yard and the wider grounds.