Welcome to Exeter and District Ramblers
Our Group aims to give a warm welcome to everyone who comes along to our walks. Although based in Exeter, our walks take us throughout the county to the moorlands of Dartmoor and Exmoor, the coast path, towns and villages, fields and meadows of Mid, East, South and West Devon as well as Somerset and Dorset.
Full details of our Walks can be accessed through the Walks > Walks Programme tabs, or Our Next Walks.
We run a full programme of walks through the year. Our longer walks of 8-12 miles take place on Sundays and shorter mid-week walks of 5-7 miles on Thursdays. Sometimes there are also walks on other days and some leisurely ambles of up to 3 miles.
If you would like to join any of these walks, please contact the walk leader first, so they can tell you of any late changes to arrangements, help organise car sharing or answer any other questions. Please also click on the Walks > Guidance for Walkers tabs, for further advice.
In the first instance, there is no need to become a member as we run a taster policy of 3 walks before asking you to join the Ramblers, citing the Exeter and District Group as your preferred group.
Walking with a group is a friendly and safe way to discover the area and beyond. In our group we like to walk at a steady pace allowing time for conversation, a photograph or two, comfort stops, or simply to admire the places and points of interest along the way. Many of our walk leaders are happy to share their knowledge of Devon history and landmarks.
Our Sunday walks normally finish with rehydration at a local pub for those who wish to join us. We also have an autumn walking holiday every year. In recent years we have stayed for 3 or 4 nights at the excellent HF houses in Cornwall, Exmoor, Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Cotswolds. These are particularly enjoyable and sociable occasions, where it is possible to meet up and spend time with old and new friends. This year we are also experimenting with a pop-up week end away to Salisbury. In addition to these walking away trips, our Christmas lunches are very convivial and our excellent and informative Newsletter is circulated to all members 3 times a year.
Some important dates for your diary have been added to our Newsletter page. Please click on the Newsletter tab to find out about upcoming events.
More Walks in and Around Exeter
We published a book of 16 local walks “Walking Around Exeter – a collection of Walks for All” and were very pleased with the comments we received – including from an unexpected source. The city’s ‘first citizen’ said: “…the book has been exceptionally clearly written with attractive illustrations that make the walks feel easy to follow and will engage even the most reluctant walkers.” Lord Mayor of Exeter, July 2021.
“More Walks in and Around Exeter – Another Collection of Walks for All” aims to build on that success with a further 10 walks devised by members of the group. The routes are varied and provide an excellent introduction to walking and to the beautiful countryside that surrounds the city. Two of them begin outside the front doors of Exeter Cathedral and take in points of interest in the city’s history. Most are circular routes, accessible by public transport and range in length from 3 miles to a little over 8 miles. The detailed walks descriptions are accompanied by simple sketch maps to assist readers to find their way around the routes with ease.
The A5 book is available, price £5.00 from a (growing) range of outlets:
• Royal Albert Memorial Museum Shop
• Exeter Cathedral Shop
• Hyde and Seek Gift Shop – Queen St/Paul St
• The Bookery – High Street, Crediton
• Ide Community Shop – Fore Street, Ide
• Broadway Stores – Broadway, Exeter
• Topsham Book Shop – Fore Street, Topsham
• Custom House Visitor Centre, Exeter Quay
• Shillingford Organics, Cowick Street
