Dart Valley Trail

The Dart Valley Trail is 18.8 km long with 632 m of climbing, and it is commonly treated as a two-stage route. A strong walker could cover it in a long day, but the multi-day format suits the steady climbs and the number of riverside villages and ferry links along the River Dart.

The Dart Valley Trail links Totnes and the lower River Dart, with the route running through places including Ashprington, Cornworthy, and Dittisham before reaching the Dartmouth area. One commonly used split is a 10.2 km stage from Kingswear to Cornworthy and an 8.6 km stage from Cornworthy to Totnes.

The Dart Valley Trail is generally walked as a point-to-point route rather than a true loop. The trail follows the Dart valley between Totnes and the Dartmouth or Kingswear end of the estuary, and the lower section has route options on both sides of the river with ferry crossings at Dittisham and between Dartmouth and Kingswear.

The Dart Valley Trail follows the River Dart through South Hams countryside and passes villages and landmarks such as Ashprington, Cornworthy, Dittisham, Tuckenhay, and Sharpham. On the lower estuary section, the eastern option goes by Greenway, while the western side heads toward Dartmouth.

The Dart Valley Trail is graded Medium, with 632 m of elevation gain over 18.8 km. That usually means a manageable but not flat walk, with repeated climbs and descents above the wooded banks of the River Dart rather than one single sustained ascent.

Dogs can usually accompany walkers on public rights of way in Devon, but they need to be kept under close control, and leads are especially important near livestock. On Dartmoor and surrounding Devon rights of way, official guidance also calls for dogs to be on a lead around grazing animals and during the main ground-nesting bird and livestock season from March 1 to July 31.

Yes. Totnes is the most practical public transport gateway for the Dart Valley Trail because it has a mainline rail station and regular bus connections in South Devon. That makes it straightforward to start or finish the walk in Totnes and use local transport or ferry links for the Dartmouth, Kingswear, Dittisham, or Greenway end.