Visit Mid Devon The Devonshire Heartland Way is an inland route for walkers, which is approximately 45 miles in length. It mainly uses ancient footpaths and bridleways and, in some places, minor country roads. This walk can be made shorter and joined at any point along route. For the benefit of readability, we have broken the route down into three sections: Okehampton to North Tawton, North Tawton to Crediton, and Crediton to Stoke Canon. Waymarkers displaying the Spindle Berry Flower are found along the route.
Walkers can make the most of connections to the Tarka Trail long distance footpath at North Tawton, the Two Moors Way long distance footpath at Colebrooke, or the Tarka Railway Line at Yeoford, Newton St Cyres or Crediton.
Accommodation, attractions and eateries can be found at points all along the route including the simple and quite unique church of St Mary’s at Honeychurch, The Waie Inn, Down St Mary Vineyard, Shobrooke Park, The Duck at Yeoford and Crediton Parish Church as well as the many shops and eateries in the market towns of North Tawton and Crediton.
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
The Way’s starting point at its western end is the railway station at Okehampton situated on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park. The route starts to cross through the heart of the Devonshire countryside passing through hamlets and villages with thatched cottages and ancient churches. By using winding and rising deep forgotten leafy country lanes and by crossing open pasture fields, the walk reaches its eastern end in the village of Stoke Canon in the valley of the Exe.
Photo: David Smith https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4484603
Walking the Devonshire Heartland Way using Public Transport
Okehampton
...is situated on the northern edge of Dartmoor in West Devon. Okehampton is an ancient town and was initially settled in the Bronze Age. It lies at the confluence of the East and West Okement Rivers from which is takes its name. Okehampton has been described as the walking centre of Dartmoor. It is also popular with cyclists and walkers taking the Granite Way, a beautiful trail from Okehampton to Lydford.
The town has many attractions including the spectacular ruins of Okehampton Castle which date back to Norman times and the beautiful expansive parkland at Simmons Park with leisurely river side walks, ornamental gardens and a Swiss style chalet, multi sports facilities and playing areas for all ages as well as the Parklands Leisure Centre. The impressive tower of St James Chapel (15C) dominates the main street which in times gone by was the Old London Road lined with coaching inns which can still be seen today. The Town Hall, a handsome building with granite facade built in 1685 adds a touch of elegance to the town centre which also boasts a number of vibrant shopping arcades as well as the acclaimed Museum of Dartmoor Life. https://www.okehampton.gov.uk/
Okehampton Railway Station
... re-opened in December 2021. The station first opened in 1871 but closed to regular traffic in 1972. Heritage and occasional mainline services ran from 1997 to 2019. Trains run on the GWR Dartmoor Line with services to Exeter St Davids via Crediton.
Okehampton
The 6 Exeter - Bude and 6A Exeter - Launceston bus services are the quickest bus routes from Exeter to Okehampton.
Okehampton West Street (Stop B) – bustimes.org to Exeter
Okehampton West Street (Stop A) – bustimes.org from Exeter
The 5A Exeter - Okehampton bus service terminates in Okehampton.
Okehampton Fore Street Arcade (Stop C) – bustimes.org
Okehampton to Sampford Courtenay 7.8 miles (12.5 km)
On leaving Okehampton Railway Station, descend a flight of steps opposite the main building to the bridleway below. Go along this stoned track through the trees and cross the fields until you reach a stile at Fatherford...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
Click on above image for 2000x2000 pixel .jpg
Map designed by Grant Sherman from https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/50.7572/-3.9420
Sampford Courtenay
You can take 5A Exeter - Okehampton bus service to Sampford Courtenay to start this walk to Okehampton or North Tawton
Sampford Courtenay, opposite New Inn – bustimes.org
Sampford Courtenay to North Tawton 6 miles (9.5 km)
From the New Inn, take the road into the village until you come to a road junction and take the road on your left leading past the village hall to Bullands Cross...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
North Tawton
You can get the bus to North Tawton on the 5A, 5B services from Exeter to start this walk to Bow or Sampford Courtenay
North Tawton Clock Tower (SE-bound) – bustimes.org to Exeter
North Tawton The Square (NW-bound) – bustimes.org to Okehampton
North Tawton to Clannaborough Cross 8 miles (13 km)
From North Tawton, take the road out of the town to Bondleigh. On going up Bouchers Hill, at a road junction, take the road on your right which will bring you to a bridleway leading to Ashridge Moor Cross...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
Click on above image for 2000x2000 pixel .jpg
Map designed by Grant Sherman from https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/50.8415/-3.8909
Bow
You can get the bus to Bow on the 5A, 5B services from Exeter to start this walk to Yeoford or North Tawton
Bow The Square (SE-bound) – bustimes.org to Exeter
Bow The Square (NW-bound) – bustimes.org to Okehampton
From Bow you can walk to Zeal Monachorum where you can join the Devonshire Heartland Way.
Clannaborough Cross to Yeoford Railway Station 5 miles (8.2 km)
From Clannaborough Cross, take the bridleway to Appledore Cottages. On leaving these cottages, walk a short distance on the road to a sign marked as the Two Moors Way...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
Yeoford
Yeoford Railway Station is on the Tarka Line.
Yeoford to Crediton Railway Station 5.2 miles (8.4 km)
... and a further 1 mile (1.6 km) to central Crediton.
From Yeoford Railway Station, walk the road passing The Duck at Yeoford pub (formerly The Mare and Foal) and take right hand fork at the road junction until you come to a footpath sign post on your right. Walk this footpath to Neopardy...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
Crediton
Crediton Railway Station is on the Tarka Line and will be a stop on the Dartmoor Line.
You can get the bus to Crediton on the 5, 5A, 5B or 5C services from Exeter to start this walk to Yeoford or Newton St Cyres
Crediton opp Tesco Metro (E-bound) – bustimes.org to Exeter
Crediton Lloyds Bank (W-bound) – bustimes.org to Okehampton
Crediton to Newton St Cyres Railway Station 5.7 miles (9.2 km)
... and a further 0.6 miles (1 km) to Newton St Cyres village.
Walk down through the town to the red stoned Crediton Parish Church. Just before you reach the church, turn left and walk down Church Street to its end and turn right...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
Newton St Cyres
You can get the bus to Newton St Cyres on the 5, 5A, 5B or 5C services from Exeter to start this walk to Crediton or Stoke Canon
Newton St Cyres Crown and Sceptre (E-bound) – bustimes.org to Exeter
Newton St Cyres, opposite Crown and Sceptre – bustimes.org to Okehampton
Newton Cyres Railway Station is on the Tarka Line. There are a few early morning and evening trains that stop at Newton St Cyres.
Newton St Cyres Railway Station to Stoke Canon 5 miles (8.1 km) to Stoke Canon.
Head south from the railway and use the footpath beside the river across the fields to Langford. At Langford, use the signed footpath which is a green lane called Bidwell Lane, to a footpath on the right which leads across fields to the village of Upton Pyne...
https://www.visitmiddevon.co.uk/visit-mid-devon-walking-routes/devonshire-heartland-way/
Stoke Canon
You can get the bus to Stoke Canon on the 55 or 155 Exeter to Tiverton services to start this walk from the east.
Stoke Canon Post Office (NE-bound) – bustimes.org from Exeter
Stoke Canon, opposite Post Office opp – bustimes.org to Exeter
Trail Wanderer The 43-mile-long Devonshire Heartland Way encompasses areas of the Devonshire countryside rarely visited by most owing to the remoteness of the area. This trail, therefore, offers a great route for those wishing for a more peaceful way to see hidden parts of Devon.
The Devonshire Heartland Way is a recognised trail, waymarked by the Spindle Berry flower. A fitting marker as you are likely to encounter many of the flowers growing in the hedgerows along the route.
You will initially begin in the town of Okehampton, located at Dartmoor’s northern edge and home to an impressive back drop – the rising hills that make up Dartmoor’s northern plateau. The start point can be found before the entrance of the train station. From here, the route heads west to east crisscrossing through the countryside as it winds through numerous, beautiful, picture-postcard hamlets and villages until you arrive at the historic market-town of Crediton.
Leading on from Crediton, for the final stretch of this trail, walkers initially proceeds up and through the Victorian pleasure ground of Shobrooke park before leading onwards through the villages of Newton St Cyres and Brampford Speke before finally arriving at the small settlement of Stoke Canon, located in the Exe Valley.
https://trailwanderer.co.uk/product/devonshire-heartland-way-pocket-guide-book/
Travel Wessex The Devon Heartland Way 43 miles of pastoral countryside with the profile of Dartmoor in the background and fairly easy walking, but a couple of steady climbs. This waymarked route links Okehampton with the Exe Valley.
The Devon Heartland Way starts at Okehampton Station which is handy. Here we are on the edge of mysterious Dartmoor. The trail follows the valley of the East Okement river and crosses peaceful countryside.
http://www.travelwessex.com/Devon-Heartland-Way.html
Long Distance Walkers Association The Devonshire Heartland Way runs between Okehampton and the village of Stoke Canon, just north of Exeter. A west-to-east route across pastoral Devon, starting with Dartmoor backdrops, it uses ancient footpaths, bridleways and some minor roads the route takes in Sampford Courtenay, North Tawton, where it links with the Tarka Trail, Down St Mary, where it links with the Two Moors Way; Colebrooke, Yeoford and Crediton before finishing at Stoke Canon. The logo for the trail has a Spindle Berry Flower on it. You should be able to see many growing in the hedgerows en-route.
https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Devonshire+Heartland+Way
Walks From Exeter
Keep healthy in Exeter by using walking and cycling. Get buses to find new walks when it is safe to do so. Exeter is full of relaxing or energetic walks.
- Stroll by the River Exe and the Exeter Ship Canal
- Train for a marathon by walking or running the Exeter Cosy Routes
- Visit the green lungs of Exeter by walking Exeter's Green Circle
- Look for wildlife on the River Exe Wild Walk
- Go farther by cycling the Exe Estuary Trail or walking the Exe Valley Way and the Devonshire Heartland Way
One Bus From Exeter
How far can you travel on One Bus From Exeter? In about an hour you can get to Honiton, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Moretenhampstead, Chagford, Okehampton, North Tawton, Chulmleigh, Witheridge, Tiverton, or Willand. You won't need to find a parking space - and you won't have to return to your car. You can walk along the East Devon Way, or the South West Coast Path, or the Exe Valley Way and return by another bus. Find the quiet places. Avoid the traffic congestion of last year. Step more lightly on the Earth.
Back in the early 2000s, I walked the Tarka Trail and the North Devon part of the South West Coast Path in sections. I would get a bus to a town or village on the Tarka Trail, walk 5 to 10 miles and then return on another bus. One Bus from Exeter is a return to that idea.