East Devon is a beautiful part of the world. It is well-known for its beautiful scenery, both coastal and inland. The dramatic red cliffs of the Jurassic Coast form part of the East Devon Coast World Heritage Site.
In this part of Devon there are cliffs, beaches, meadows, farmland, woodland, rivers and streams to walk beside. It is a great place to explore for people and their pets. There are many great places to bring your dog, so here is my guide to the best places to walk a dog in East Devon.
Exmouth Beach
For dogs that love the feel of sand between their toes, Exmouth Beach is perfect. It is a large expanse of fine sand, open for dogs between October and May, with some parts dog-friendly all year around. The beach looks onto the Exe Estuary with some beautiful views. In some parts, it is backed by some lovely sand dunes. The whole seafront is pleasant, with plenty of dog-friendly cafes to enjoy.
Seaton to Lyme Regis
Seaton Beach is a good shingle walk for dogs, but for a longer trek, head East on the footpath up the cliffs and you will eventually arrive at Lyme Regis. This is quite a challenging walk but worth it for amazing views over Lyme Bay. The walk takes you through a beautiful and varied landscape of high cliffs and woodland. The walk takes around 4 hours so remember to pack water for both you and your dog.
Ashclyst Forest
East Devon is not known for large forests, but there are some lovely small patches of woodland. Ashclyst Forest is a good example. A forest walk can make a nice change from beaches, farmland and moorland. Ashclyst is one of the largest woods in East Devon, and has plenty of interest all year round. It also has a lot of well-maintained paths, and it’s easy to find a short or long walk depending on your mood.
Brampford Speke
An enjoyable, stream walk can be found at Brampford Speke. This small village to the north of Exeter overlooks the River Exe, and is surrounded by plenty of countryside for a good walk.
Beer to Branscombe
The pretty coastal village of Beer, with its flotilla of small fishing boats pulled up on the shingle always reminds me of Brittany. From Beer, you can walk to Branscombe passing some remarkable scenery along this part of the Jurassic coast. There are tall white cliffs and lots of wildflowers on route. A great walk for dogs and their owners.
The Byes Riverside Walk
A nice river-side walk can be found just outside of Sidmouth. There is an area of parkland which is dog friendly at The Byes. If you follow the paths through to Margaret’s Meadow you can let doggy off the lead. From Margaret’s Meadow there is a gate on the right-hand side down to the riverside. You can enjoy a long relaxing walk here alongside the Rider Sid.
View more of our dog friendly holiday cottages in Devon.
