Accessing Devon’s natural environment
With its diverse landscape and impressive natural environment, Devon is a fantastic place to explore the great outdoors and the place to be naturally active!
One of the best ways to find out how to explore the cycleways, footpaths and open spaces near you is through the Explore Devon webpage.
Devon has 3,200 miles of public rights of way and over 86,000 hectares of accessible natural green space including large areas of Open Access land on Dartmoor and Exmoor, as well as lots of wildlife reserves managed for public access. Find out more about Public Rights of Way and how they are available to you in Devon.
A number of walking, cycling and riding routes, of various lengths, have been developed (see links below). These include the East Devon Way, Exe Valley Way, Dartmoor Way, Two Moors Way and the Tarka Trail (to name just a few). The entire length of both Devon’s coasts is also part of the South West Coast Path – the longest national trail in England.
We also have a number of accessibility trails which are suitable for people with particular mobility requirements (see links below). For example, cycle trails such as the Exe Estuary Trail and the Tarka Trail are accessible to people with mobility problems, wheelchairs or pushchairs, toddlers, scooters, or people who simply prefer a more easy-going surface.
Useful resources:
- Devon Countryside Access Forum – a statutory body with a role of improving public access to land for the purposes of outdoor recreation and enjoyment, ensuring that opportunities for access and exploration are fully considered.
- Countryside Mobility Scheme
- Cycle Devon
- Devon County Council Country Parks and Nature Reserves
- Devon Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves
- Local Nature Reserves – search under relevant district council (e.g. East Devon District Council Local Nature Reserves)
- National Nature Reserves
- National Trust outdoor spaces
- Public Rights of Way
- RPSB reserves
- South West Coast Path
- Tarka Trail
- Woodland Trust woodlands