A new 100-mile circular walking trail has officially opened in south Devon, offering hikers the chance to explore some of England's most picturesque countryside. The South Hams Way spans diverse landscapes including the River Dart, Dartmoor, the coastline, five estuaries and numerous woodlands.
A Trail Created By Walkers, For Walkers
What makes this trail particularly special is its origins. The entire route was devised by the South Hams Ramblers group, who volunteered their time to create the guides, build the website and install approximately 850 waymarkers along the path. The official opening ceremony took place in Totnes' Borough Park on 11 October, after being delayed by a month due to amber weather warnings.
Emma Henderson joined the Ramblers group for the inaugural walk of the first section from Totnes to Buckfastleigh, a moderate 7.1-mile stretch that provides a perfect introduction to the trail's varied scenery. Around 120 enthusiastic walkers gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including a Canadian couple who had discovered the event online during their two-month UK trip.
Experiencing the First Section
The initial leg from Totnes to Buckfastleigh offers a taste of what makes the South Hams Way unique. Walkers pass through woodlands featuring both imported coastal redwoods and native oak, lime and beech trees, with the distant sound of steam trains from the South Devon Railway occasionally breaking the peaceful atmosphere.
The route covers footpaths, country lanes, fields and woodlands, taking in landmarks including the Dartington Estate with its 14th-century medieval house and 800 acres of grounds. Walkers cross the steam train tracks at Staverton and catch glimpses of the historic railway station frozen in 1950s nostalgia.
Debbie Board, the group's Walks Co-ordinator who was instrumental in creating the trail, explained their motivation: "We wanted to make another trail that people want to walk for a holiday. We know it will attract a lot of retired people, people on holiday and younger people who will want to do it quickly."
Planning Your South Hams Way Adventure
The circular trail is cleverly divided into 10 manageable sections, beginning and ending in Totnes and travelling anti-clockwise up to Dartmoor before heading southwards along 50 miles of the south Devon coast path around Salcombe and Dartmouth. The longest section stretches 13.4 miles from Dartmouth to Totnes, while the most challenging is section three to Ugborough Beacon on Dartmoor, known for its steep climbs.
John Lloyd, another South Hams Rambler who created the trail's website, emphasised how walking the route reveals hidden aspects of the landscape. "I thought I knew this place like the back of my hand," said Lloyd, who has lived in the area for 30 years. "But really I didn't. It's not until you start walking it, do you realise there's so much more to see."
The completion of the South Hams Way hasn't slowed the Ramblers' ambitions. The group already plans their next project: a route between Salcombe and South Brent via the Avon Valley, to be named the North South Link. For now though, walkers can enjoy this new addition to Britain's growing network of long-distance paths, created by people who simply love exploring England's green and pleasant land on foot.
