South Devon AONB
Walks & Trails
![Coastal Path Sign [© Clare Pawley Countryside Agency]](images/sub/_aonb_31_large.jpg)
![Couple Sitting on Cliff [© Clare Pawley Countryside Agency]](images/sub/CoupleSittingOnCliff_03-5432_r.jpg)
Dittisham to Totnes - The Dart Valley Trail
![Down the Dart from Cornworthy [© South Devon AONB Unit]](uploads/Down the Dart from near Cornworthy.JPG)
![The Dart Valley beyond Sharpham [© South Devon AONB Unit]](uploads/Dart Valley beyond Sharpham 2.JPG)
A perfect, gentle day's journey, this walk links village to nestled, unspoilt village as it follows the silver ribbon of the River Dart through Devon's rolling hills.
- Start: Dittisham Ham car park, Dittisham
- Finish: The Plains, Totnes
- Distance: 8 miles
- Circular walk: No
- Grade: Moderate
- Terrain: Footpaths, fairly even under foot, occasional mud in wet weather; surfaced roads.
- Obstacles and steep gradients: 9 stiles; 6 flights of stpes; 2 steep ascents.
- Accessibility: This route is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
- Public transport: Ferry from Dartmouth to Dittisham runs March - end October 07818 001108. Ferry from Totnes back to Dartmouth (times vary according to tide) 01803 834488 www.riverlink.co.uk For information on public transport in South Hams please call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 www.traveline.org.uk.
- Refreshment stops: Cornworthy: Hunters Lodge Inn 01803 732204. Tuckenhay: Maltsters Arms 01803 732350; Waterman's Arms 01803 732214. Ashprington : Rose Cottage Tea Room 01803 732382.
- Toilets: Public toilets at Dittisham Ham car park
- Parking: Dittisham Ham car park. Pay and display.
- Accommodation: Please contact Dartmouth Information Centre on 01803 834224 or www.discoverdartmouth.com
- Other facilities: Village stores in Dittisham and Ashprington. Public payphones on route in Cornworthy, Ashprington. Public payphones on route in Cornworthy, Ashprington, and The Plains, Totnes. Tourist Information near Morrisons, Totnes.
- OS map: Explorer OL20
- Grid ref: SX866551
Directions
Walk back up road to the village. At t-junction just past church turn right. (If coming to Dittisham by ferry, walk up through the village. Turn right at the t-junction and join the route by the church). Follow road down to Dittisham Mill Creek.
Turn right just before Old Mill over wooden footbridges onto public footpath leading along field edges and old green lane.
Turn left at the road. Climb hill after the bridge and take first right signed 'Coombe'.
Go straight on at Barberry Cross then turn right down green lane signed 'Broadgates Lane'. Follow lane and then road, and go straight over at Longland Cross. Turn right at junction and walk down through the village of Cornworthy.
Just past Court Prior Farm turn right along footpath in front of cottages. Turn right into Charleycombe Wood and take the path ahead dropping down through the valley. Cross the footbridge and turn downhill through kissing gate onto public footpath.
When you reach the fingerpost, turn left signed 'Tuckenhay 1 /2 mile'. Follow steps to left.
Bear left through next kissing gate along woodland path. At road turn right, and then right again over the bridge to follow road through Tuckenhay and along Bow Creek.
After 500m turn sharp right down steps and over stepping stones, then bear left up track and turn right at road. (At high tide continue along road, turn right over bridge by Waterman's Arms, and right again signed for Ashprington and Totnes).
Follow road up through Ashprington, past church on left and along Sharpham Drive. At the 'Sharpham' pillars, bear left along path.
As you emerge from the woods, turn right over stile and down path through field. Turn left along track at the bottom.
As the path rises and curves left, branch off right at the 'public footpath' fingerpost down and across field
Path follows river through woods and fields to emerge at the wharf in Totnes. Turn left and walk through to wharf entrance. Go straight ahead here along road. Just after Steam Packet Inn turn right along riverside path.
Where path rejoins road, bear right and continue to The Plains.
Turn right just before Old Mill over wooden footbridges onto public footpath leading along field edges and old green lane.
Turn left at the road. Climb hill after the bridge and take first right signed 'Coombe'.
Go straight on at Barberry Cross then turn right down green lane signed 'Broadgates Lane'. Follow lane and then road, and go straight over at Longland Cross. Turn right at junction and walk down through the village of Cornworthy.
Just past Court Prior Farm turn right along footpath in front of cottages. Turn right into Charleycombe Wood and take the path ahead dropping down through the valley. Cross the footbridge and turn downhill through kissing gate onto public footpath.
When you reach the fingerpost, turn left signed 'Tuckenhay 1 /2 mile'. Follow steps to left.
Bear left through next kissing gate along woodland path. At road turn right, and then right again over the bridge to follow road through Tuckenhay and along Bow Creek.
After 500m turn sharp right down steps and over stepping stones, then bear left up track and turn right at road. (At high tide continue along road, turn right over bridge by Waterman's Arms, and right again signed for Ashprington and Totnes).
Follow road up through Ashprington, past church on left and along Sharpham Drive. At the 'Sharpham' pillars, bear left along path.
As you emerge from the woods, turn right over stile and down path through field. Turn left along track at the bottom.
As the path rises and curves left, branch off right at the 'public footpath' fingerpost down and across field
Path follows river through woods and fields to emerge at the wharf in Totnes. Turn left and walk through to wharf entrance. Go straight ahead here along road. Just after Steam Packet Inn turn right along riverside path.
Where path rejoins road, bear right and continue to The Plains.
