The SMALL-FOLK Totnes Guide: Time in Nature

We have no doubts about the positive effects getting out into nature can have. For a breath of fresh air, we feel extremely lucky to be living in such a beautiful part of the world where there are so many walking routes, nature trails, areas of outstanding natural beauty and of course areas of Dartmoor’s vast National Park to choose from. When thinking about where we would like to head for the day or for a few hours, we start by thinking about whether we fancy exploring the coast, moorland or somewhere in between.

What makes the Totnes and South Devon area so special is that even within the towns and residential areas, you are never too far from a riverside walk or secluded path, so there isn’t always a need to drive to find tranquillity. In the spring and summer, our kids enjoy heading to the beach and through the autumn and winter we don the raincoats and wellies for woodland explorations that provide some shelter.

With so many trails to choose from it wasn’t an easy task to choose our favourites but we have managed to narrow our go-to routes down to three, with two within the Totnes area and one heading out towards Plymouth. Wherever you choose to go, we hope you enjoy a good old stomp and the freshness time in nature brings.

Starting at The Dart Valley Trail, Hannah’s much-loved walk takes you along the River Dart with the option to extend the route all the way to strawberry picking fields in Ashprington, or head to Bow Bridge. En-route is also Sharpham Vineyard, a name worth remembering if you are after locally produced wine and cheese. The great thing about this walk is that you can get to the starting point from Totnes town just past The Curator on The Plains, so you can tie this into your afternoon schedule after the morning spent browsing the town or enjoying brunch. Be prepared for different terrains such as paths, fields, woodland and several steep hills but there are some really fantastic viewpoints on the way. If you choose the complete route as suggested by Coast and Country, the total distance is around 6 miles.

Suggested by Izzy is the Staverton river walk, a beautiful circular trail along the river side which is easy going for anyone walking with kids or those less able to walk long distances. Approximately a 10-minute drive from Totnes and a 3-mile walk in total, there aren’t any hard-going inclines on this path, so if you are in the mood for an easy Sunday morning stroll we would say this is a great one to go for. If you want to tie in a pub lunch, make a note to stop at the Sea Trout Inn in Staverton which marks a good place to start and end.

One of Anna’s favourite things to do with her two kids is to visit Saltram National Trust, home to the famous Saltram House Estate, a grade I listed George II era mansion house. About half an hour from Totnes, the beautiful house, garden and parkland can all be explored but be sure to check opening times for each of the areas before you visit as the house and tearoom are not always open. Dogs are welcome and there are signs for where they need to be kept on leads. The large outside open space is perfect for letting children run around and play and Saltram often has fun nature trails to follow - check out more information here.

We hope you enjoy reading our suggestions. Let us know if you stop by any of our recommendations, you can tag us at @small.folk or #smallfolktotnes.