GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Dartmouth to Dittisham Walk

8.70 miles (14 km)

If you are visiting Dartmouth then this is a lovely walk to try. It takes you along a section of the Dart Valley Trail to the nearby village of Dittisham. It's a splendid area with wonderful views across the Dart River and some nice woodland trails through the woods just to the north of Dartmouth. It also passes the National Trust owned Greenway Estate where you can learn all about Agatha Christie's visits to the area. You can turn it into a longer circular walk using the ferries or just walk up and back along the same path on the western side of the river.
The walk starts at the tourist information centre near Dartmouth Harbour. You then follow the waymarked path north west through the town and across Old Mill Creek. You continue north through woodland and countryside to Dittisham where you catch the little Greenway Ferry across the river to Greenway Quay. Here you can visit the Greenway Estate, the former holiday home of Agatha Christie. The estate is owned by the National Trust so you can explore the fascinating house and the beautiful gardens for a fee. It's a real highlight on the route with walled gardens, a peach house, vinery, woodland trails and views over the Dart Estuary. You can also explore the 1950s style house and learn all about Christie's holidays to the area. See the video below for more details.
After leaving Greenway the route climbs to Oakham Hill before descending to the woodland trails in Long Wood. The final section takes you along Dartmouth Harbour to Kingswear where you can catch the ferry back to Dartmouth.
You can extend the walk by heading to the lovely Coleton Fishacre from Kingswear. You can also visit Dartmouth Castle and the coast on the Dartmouth and the Dart Estuary Walk.

Dartmouth to Dittisham OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Dartmouth to Dittisham Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Continue west along the Dart Valley Trail and you will soon come to the delightful little hamlet of Tuckenhay. The settlement is very pretty with a picturesque old mill and waterside trails along the Bow Creek, one of the River Dart tributaries. There's also a splendid 18th century waterside pub which featured in The Times ‘Best 50 Places to Eat Al Fresco’. Very near to the village there's also the Sharpham Estate, a Grade I listed Palladian villa with parkland, gardens and woodland. The estate is now run as a mindfulness retreat but is open to the public on certain days.
If you head in the other direction on the coast path you will soon come to a major highlight of the area at Slapton Ley and Slapton Sands. This National Nature Reserve includes a stunning lagoon, a beautiful beach and a large variety of wildlife.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Devon Walks page.

Photos

Dartmouth - geograph.org.uk - 474020

Dartmouth View upstream towards the harbour and town centre.

River Dart at Dittisham - geograph.org.uk - 1479694

River Dart at Dittisham. Dittisham is situated on the banks of the tidal River Dart, some 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream of Dartmouth. A most attractive and unspoilt village, it has become a popular destination for yachtsmen, tourists and a sought after place to live, which is reflected its relatively high property prices. The village is believed to be named after 'Deedas', a Saxon chief, who probably settled here soon after the Saxon invasion of Devon in about 660 A.D. The village hosts an interesting and pleasing variety of building styles (and colours); this view is towards the ferry that crosses the River Dart.

Lower Dittisham - geograph.org.uk - 3199754

Lower Dittisham

Dittisham, towards Lower Dittisham - geograph.org.uk - 3140761

Dittisham, towards Lower Dittisham

Dartmouth, boatyard, Old Mill Creek - geograph.org.uk - 1223474

Dartmouth, boatyard, Old Mill Creek

Smuggler's Cottage, Dittisham - geograph.org.uk - 269200

Smuggler's Cottage, Dittisham. The archetypal Devon thatched cottage, probably once a row of cottages. Rather too conspicuously neat to be associated with smugglers, perhaps. It faces Greenway across the tidal River Dart; a few yards beyond is the old boathouse.

Boats on Greenway Quay below Ferry Cottage - geograph.org.uk - 369410

Boats on Greenway Quay below Ferry Cottage Boats ready for the summer. The thatched roof of the ferry Cottage oversees the small Quay and its activity

Greenway House - geograph.org.uk - 1223910

Greenway House

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Dartmouth to Dittisham.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Dartmouth to Dittisham.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)