Top Hidden Gems Day Trips from Exeter
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Hidden Gems Day Trips from Exeter include Fluxton Weir, Fingle Bridge, Salmon Leaps, Castle Drogo's Secret Gorge Walk, The Byes, Sidmouth, Bowerman's Nose, Haytor Quarry and Hound Tor.
Exeter sits perfectly placed between the wild heights of Dartmoor and the gentle rivers and shore of East Devon, and a short drive in either direction turns up plenty of quiet surprises. Head west toward the moor and you can wander the wooded Teign Gorge below Castle Drogo, crossing at Fingle Bridge, cooling off at the Salmon Leaps or following its out-of-the-way gorge walk.
Further onto Dartmoor lie the teetering column of Bowerman's Nose, the flooded workings of Haytor Quarry and the tumbled stacks of Hound Tor above a lost medieval village. Turn instead toward the east and the countryside softens: Fluxton Weir offers a wild swim on the River Otter, while The Byes threads riverside parkland through Sidmouth toward the coast.
None of these lies far away, each an easy drive out for the day, and together they show off the sheer variety on Exeter's doorstep. Here are eight hidden gems for a day trip from Exeter.
Fluxton Weir
Photo: David Smith via Geograph.org.uk
Fluxton Weir A short drive east into the Otter valley brings you to Fluxton Weir, a well-loved wild-swimming spot on the River Otter near the hamlet of Fluxton, just downstream of Ottery St Mary. A calmer, deeper stretch of river gathers above the weir, while below the water churns past, and a rope swing hangs over the pool for the brave.
Access comes via a riverside field that fills with picnickers on warm summer days. There are no facilities here, so it stays refreshingly informal, but for a dip in the Devon countryside a manageable distance from Exeter it takes some beating.
Fingle Bridge
Photo: David Gearing via Geograph.org.uk
Fingle Bridge Out toward Dartmoor, near Drewsteignton, Fingle Bridge is a narrow granite arch spanning the River Teign at the foot of the Teign Gorge. Dating from the 17th century and long trodden by packhorses, it sits deep in a wooded gorge with the Fingle Bridge Inn waiting on the riverbank beside it.
This is a much-loved launch point for riverside and gorge walks, including the paths climbing to the hillforts above and the circuits that loop around toward Castle Drogo. It makes an easy and charming day-trip from Exeter, whether you come for a full walk or simply a riverside pint by the old bridge.
Salmon Leaps
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Salmon Leaps Tucked into the wooded Teign gorge below Castle Drogo, between Chagford and Fingle Bridge, the Salmon Leaps is a weir with a stepped fish pass on the River Teign. You reach it on foot along the riverside path through National Trust woodland, and it has become a well-liked wild swimming spot, with a long river pool above the weir and old stone plunge pools built beside the cascade.
The steps of the fish pass help salmon and sea trout climb upriver to spawn. The gorge around it is steep, wooded and gloriously quiet, a fine reward for the drive out from Exeter onto the edge of Dartmoor.
Castle Drogo's Secret Gorge Walk
Photo: Oscar Taylor via Geograph.org.uk
Castle Drogo's Secret Gorge Walk Also below Castle Drogo, near Drewsteignton, this walk threads the Teign Gorge where the river runs through a steep, wooded valley. The usual circuit joins the high Hunter's Path, with open views across to Sharp Tor, and the low riverside Fisherman's Path, looping around by way of Fingle Bridge.
The enclosed riverside stretch is an informal, little-known route rather than a waymarked trail of its own, which is part of its charm. Above it all stands Castle Drogo, the National Trust house built in the early 20th century by Edwin Lutyens, and the walk sets off from its car park.
A lovely half-day out from Exeter.
The Byes, Sidmouth
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
The Byes, Sidmouth Down on the East Devon coast, The Byes is a ribbon of riverside parkland following the River Sid through Sidmouth, running between the seafront and the village of Sidford. Meadows, an orchard, wooded banks and specimen trees line the way, crossed by little bridges and threaded with surfaced, mostly level paths shared by walkers and cyclists.
It serves as the main off-road link between Sidmouth and Sidford, and kingfishers, dippers and trout all make their home along the Sid. The district council and the Sid Vale Association look after it.
Combine it with the beach for a gentle day-trip from Exeter.
Bowerman's Nose
Photo: Alex McGregor via Geograph.org.uk
Bowerman's Nose On the open slopes of Hayne Down, near Manaton on the edge of Dartmoor, stands the strange, teetering column of Bowerman's Nose. Around six and a half metres tall, it is a stack of weathered granite blocks piled one atop another, the hard core of a tor left behind after the softer rock wore away, and from below its shape looks oddly like a great stone head and face.
It rises straight out of the heather and bracken, reached by a walk up the open hillside with wide moorland views. Legend says it was a hunter named Bowerman, turned to stone by witches, his hounds scattered as the rocks of nearby Hound Tor.
Haytor Quarry
Photo: Gareth James via Geograph.org.uk
Haytor Quarry Near Haytor on Dartmoor lies Haytor Quarry, a disused granite working whose main pit has flooded into a pool below the old worked rock faces. Around the water rest the remains of an ancient crane, its stone bases and iron parts left just where they stood, and the pool now draws dragonflies and other wildlife.
Granite was cut here until the mid-1800s and hauled away on a striking tramway whose rails were themselves fashioned from granite. Set in open moorland below the tor, it is a quietly atmospheric spot and an easy addition to a Dartmoor day-trip from Exeter, well worth the short walk in.
Hound Tor
Photo: David Smith via Geograph.org.uk
Hound Tor Rounding off on the eastern edge of Dartmoor near Manaton, Hound Tor sends its stacks of weathered granite rising in dramatic piles above the moor. A short walk from a nearby car park leads up among the rocks, drawing walkers and climbers alike.
Just below sit the low stone foundations of a deserted medieval village, its ruined longhouses left behind when the settlement was abandoned in the 1300s. The open moor all around opens up wide views across Devon.
It is one of the most rewarding of Dartmoor's tors and, given the drive out from Exeter, a fitting finish to a day of exploring.
FAQs
Where can I go wild swimming near Exeter?
The Salmon Leaps in the Teign gorge and Fluxton Weir on the River Otter are both popular wild-swimming spots within a short drive of Exeter, each with deeper pools above the weir.
Which of these are good for a Dartmoor walk?
Bowerman's Nose, Hound Tor and the Teign Gorge routes around Fingle Bridge and Castle Drogo all offer excellent walking on the edge of Dartmoor, an easy drive west from Exeter.
Are these places suitable in winter?
Many are, though Dartmoor sites like Hound Tor can be exposed and muddy. The surfaced paths of The Byes in Sidmouth make a reliable all-weather option a short drive from Exeter.
Conclusion
Whether you are drawn to the granite drama of Dartmoor or the softer charms of the East Devon rivers, Exeter puts an astonishing range of scenery within easy reach. String together the Teign Gorge trio of Fingle Bridge, the Salmon Leaps and the Castle Drogo walk for a proper moorland day, or point east toward Fluxton Weir and The Byes when a gentle riverside amble is more the mood.
Bowerman's Nose, Haytor Quarry and Hound Tor reward anyone happy to stride out onto the open moor. Pack walking boots, maybe swimming things in summer, and check the weather before you set off for higher ground: these are the hidden gems for a day trip from Exeter.
