Totnes-Dartington Access for All Path
About the path
This attractive and popular foot and cycle path links Borough Park in the historic town of Totnes with The Cider Press Centre at Dartington Trust. It runs for two miles alongside the River Dart and by Queen’s Marsh and Bidwell Brook on the Dartington Hall estate. The path is carefully designed to be accessible to everyone, including wheelchair users, elderly people and those with sight loss. Gradients are very gentle.
There are 10 benches along the way to rest and take in the view, and car parking and wheelchair accessible WCs at Totnes Pavilion in Borough Park and at The Cider Press Centre. The path passes close by Totnes rail station. Refreshments are available in Totnes or at The Cider Press Centre. An audio-guide, recorded in 2006 by local storyteller Clive Fairweather, describes the route and weaves tales of the area’s landscape, history and folklore.
There is a QR code that leads to this webpage in the bottom right hand corner of information boards at either end of the path.
Map of the route
There is a large format version of this map on information boards at either end of the path.
Audio guide to the path
The audio-guide has been arranged as a playlist, found below, following 10 numbered benches along the route – click or tap the orange ‘play’ icon in the top left corner to start playing the list. Tracks 1 and 2 provide an introduction and description of the path. The commentary begins at Bench 1 in Borough Park, on track 3, and continues to Bench 10 at The Cider Press Centre, on track 12. Tracks 13 to 22 describe the same journey in reverse – with a whole new commentary – so if you are setting out from The Cider Press Centre you will need to skip ahead to Track 13.
Each track starts automatically once the previous one has finished, so if you are listening to the audio-guide while walking the path you will need to press ‘pause’ from time to time as you make your way along. On mobile devices, you may need to choose ‘listen in browser’, although the playlist will work better on the Soundcloud app. Click here to open the playlist in SoundCloud.
If you subscribe to SoundCloud Go, you can also download the playlist to your device. This is useful if you are unable to access mobile internet when visiting the path. A free trial period is often available for this service. Click here for more information about SoundCloud Go.
The audio-guide is currently being revised to take account of recent improvements along the path. A transcript of the audio-guide is also in production.
Getting to the path
Travel by car
At the Totnes end of the path, there is parking at the Totnes Pavilion Car Park TQ9 5XW, a short distance off the A385 along Borough Park Road. The Access for All path starts at the entrance to Borough Park.
At the Dartington end of the path, there is parking at The Cider Press Centre TQ9 6TQ, on the A384 at Dartington village. There are disabled parking bays in the first parking area on the right. The Access for All path starts at the far end of the shopping area, beyond the toy shop and just before the ReSTORE shop.
Travel by bus
The following buses stop at Totnes rail station and The Cider Press Centre (Dartington Shinners Bridge):
Gold bus, Torquay to Plymouth via Totnes (click for details)
88 Totnes to Newton Abbot via Ashburton and Buckfastleigh (click for details)
At the Totnes end, join the Access for All path at Totnes rail station. The path is at the bottom of the main station car park, beyond the ticket office on the Plymouth-bound side of the station. If you enter the station on the London-bound side you will need to cross over the bridge.
At the Dartington end of the path, the bus stops are at the busy road junction at Shinners Bridge. Take extra care crossing the road. Enter the Cider Press Centre by the light-controlled crossing adjacent to this junction. Turn right after the toy shop. The Access for All path starts at the far end of the shopping area, just before the ReSTORE shop.
Travel by train
Totnes rail station is on the route of the Access for All path, next to Borough Park. Turn left on leaving the platform on the Plymouth-bound side of the station. The path is at the end of the station car park. If you have arrived on the London-bound platform you will need to cross over the bridge to the Plymouth-bound side.
If you have a visual impairment you may prefer to use the zebra crossing that crosses the car park on the London-bound side. Leave the London-bound platform at the exit next to the station café. The zebra crossing here leads to a footpath which joins the Access for All path just before Totnes weir.
Other places you might like to visit
The following places are all located in the close vicinity to the path, and can be seen on the map above.
The Cider Press Centre
At the Dartington end, the Access for All path leads to The Cider Press Centre. The shops here focus on arts and crafts, with a large range of gifts alongside a selection of locally-sourced food and drink. You will also find cafes for refreshments at the start or finish of your walk.
More about The Cider Press Centre >
Dartington Hall gardens
A mile from The Cider Press Centre, you can experience a sense of tranquillity in the Grade II* listed gardens on the Dartington Hall Estate with their sculptures, ancient trees and wide range of plant species. You can also eat and drink at the White Hart Restaurant or The Green Table café.
More about Dartington Gardens >
Totnes
At the end of the Access for All path in Borough Park, cross Borough Park Road and continue along the footpath at the edge of the car park. In half a mile, after crossing two more roads, you will reach the centre of Totnes. This historic town has a wide range of small independent retailers as well as cafes, restaurants, pubs and wine bars to suit every taste.
More about Totnes & South Devon >
South Devon Railway
A few minutes’ walk from Totnes station, the Access for All path passes under a bridge that carries the main line railway over the river Dart. Near this point, a pedestrian suspension bridge also crosses the river, giving access to Littlehempston Riverside station and steam trains to Buckfastleigh, run by the South Devon Railway. This former Great Western Railway branch line runs for seven miles along the beautiful valley of the river Dart.
More about South Devon Railway >
Totnes Rare Breeds Farm
The Rare Breeds Farm is just over the railway track from Littlehempston Riverside station. This small family-run attraction offers a highly interactive experience that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The garden café serves a range of refreshments including paninis, cream teas and homemade cakes.
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