Local Stories - My favourite dog walks in Exeter

Celebrating local stories for English Tourism Week, Visit Exeter's Claire Toze shares her favourite dog walks in Exeter.

I love exploring the great outdoors with Sonny, my Labradoodle, and Exeter’s location on the River Exe, surrounded by countryside, means there are miles of traffic‑free trails. Devon is a very dog-friendly county, so there are also plenty of dog‑friendly pubs along the way!

 

Here are some of my personal favourite dog walks in and around the city...

The Exeter Green Circle

The Exeter Green Circle is one of the city’s best-loved walking routes, and it runs right past my house! My go to stretch is the Alphin Brook Walk. This section of the walk is a mixture of meadows, lanes, and wide, traffic-free paths, so there is plenty of space for Sonny to run off-lead, which is his favourite thing to do! It feels surprisingly rural, despite being so close to the city.

Exeter Riverside

Few Exeter dog walks are as iconic - or as rewarding - as the riverside route to Exeter Quayside. The wide, flat, traffic‑free paths follow the canal or river (there are several options going in the same direction), all the way to the beautiful Exeter Quayside, where there is a great choice of dog-friendly pubs!

I love doing this walk throughout the seasons; in spring and summer there are stunning views across the river, and loads of cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating to soak up the sun – plus Sonny can cool down in the river on the walk home!

In the autumn and winter, the walk is a bit wilder and there are less people around, plus it’s a great excuse to warm up inside the pub with a hot drink while Sonny has a snooze!

Haldon Forest

Just a short drive from Exeter, Haldon Forest Park is a paradise for dogs and their humans. There are miles of waymarked trails through the forest and stunning views – we always find a new route to try, depending on how long we have - there’s a huge variety of trails, from short strolls to long loops.

Parking is easy and right by the trails, and in winter, the café is a cosy lifesaver - perfect for warming up after a muddy adventure!

Visit our dog-friendly pages for more inspiration!