Dartington Hall 8

This is an 8km loop around the Dartington Hall estate, which you can start at any point. The surface is a solid mix of paved driveways, compacted trails, and grassy tracks. For footwear, a road-to-trail shoe is a safe bet, or a standard road shoe if it’s been dry for a while. If there’s been any recent rain, the grass sections will get slick and potentially boggy underfoot, making trail shoes the better option.

The 99m of total ascent is spread throughout the run, so it feels gently rolling rather than properly hilly. You’ll find short, gradual gradients on the estate tracks and some flatter, faster sections, particularly where the path runs alongside the river. It’s the kind of route that keeps your effort fairly constant without any punishing climbs, and could work for a tempo run if you’re comfortable with the changing footing.

Following the route anticlockwise is straightforward. It takes you through woodland, past fields, and gives you a good stretch right beside the water. One practical point is that pathways across the estate can occasionally have access changes or temporary restrictions. Before you go, it's worth checking the Dartington Hall website for any current notices on path availability to avoid any detours.