Top 10 dog walks - Dartmoor, Holsworthy & Bude
Top 10 dog walks around Dartmoor, Holsworthy & Bude
This our personal top ten favourite dogs walks in and around Bude, Holsworthy, Okehampton and Dartmoor . From rugged tors to ancient woodland, this area really is a paradise that most tourists never make the most of. Let us know which are your favourites or if you have some suggestions of your top 10.
Wander through the river valley at Puddleduck Valley and into the SSSI (site of special scientific interest) at Dunsland Park. View the site of Dunsland house and Cadiho’s holy well before looping through the larch plantation of Bramble woods and back to Puddleduck Valley.
This walk is not suitable for the less able as it includes uneven ground, gates and fences to navigate.
Please note that access to the section in Puddleduck Valley is only permitted for staying guests.
Surrounded by steep sided hills, Meldon reservoir is a deep water lake formed by the Meldon dam just to the south west of Okehampton. The walk across the dam and around the reservoir forms the start of many trekking routes up on to Dartmoor itself. The water from Meldon reservoir is used by South West Water to supply drinking water to Okehampton, Holsworthy and parts of Northern Cornwall. Just to the north of Meldon reservoir is the Meldon viaduct crossing the West Okemont river valley at an impressive height of 150 feet above the valley floor below. The viaduct was originally built in 1874 for the London & South Western railway but now is home to the Granite Way cycle path.
Car park with pay and display:
OS Map reference: SX561 918
The start point for this walk is a few miles south of Bude at a remote spot called Millhook Haven. The walk wanders by the stream in the wooded valley up onto the Dizzard headland and along the cost path back down into Milhook.
This is a fantastic walk from Okehampton up the wooded East Okemont river valley over the Cullever steps ford and up onto Dartmoor proper with views north over Devon and Cornwall. Secret tip: Lower Halstock farm is a stud farm for miniature horses. You’re likely to spot the tiny foals too!
From picturesque Appledore with it’s super pubs and cafes overlooking Bideford bay, this walk follows the coast path around Northam burrows nature reserve, along the world famous Westward Ho! beach and to Westward Ho! itself. (great for fish and chips, pubs and amusement arcades). This is a very flat walk with undulations over the dunes. Time it right when the tide is out and you can walk for miles along the beach and right out to the sand bar. (watch out for tides!)
A route for the fit and the brave!
This 9 mile route follows the coast path from Duckpool beach up to Morewenstow. Incredible views abound (but don’t look down!)
The path then turns inland
Reverse this route from the Puffing Billy pub and cafe up the Torridge river valley along the Tarka trail. An out and back route is just stunning in late May and early June with Bluebells and other wildflowers. extend your route north of the Puffing Billy to take in two other crossings over the Torridge river. There’s also a bicycle hire centre here if you’re without a dog and you can cycle as far as Ilfracombe if you’re feeling particularly fit! ps the cakes at the Puffing Billy are brilliant!
Another really varied walk with plenty of places for a visit to cafes and beaches. This walk heads south from Summerleaze beach in Bude along the coast path to Widemouth beaches. The views along this section are spectacular.
The route then heads inland over the fields to the head of Bude canal. It’s an easy flat walk into Bude to finish.
A favourite walk of ours and very local to Puddleduck Valley. This walk starts in Cookworthy woods (car park) and links up with the disused Okehampton to Bude railway line. A wander through the pretty village of Halwill and then back around through Cooworthy moor larch plantation back to the start. Note that some sections of this walk can get very muddy after rain.
Okehampton, Granite Way, Meldon viaduct & the West Devon way
The Granite way is a superb traffic free cycle and footway that follows the old rail line used for transporting granite and slate from the mines on Dartmoor. The route rises up from Okehampton alongside the existing railway, over Meldon viaduct and then back under the viaduct and to Okehampton using the Devon way.
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