The South West’s highest waterfall that’s 40 minutes from Exeter!
I can’t believe it took me six years of living in Devon to make it out to Cantonteign Falls!
These glorious waterfalls, home to the South West’s highest, are on the edge of Dartmoor and are a contrasting terrain to much of the scrubby moorland.
I recently visited on a spring Saturday morning; here’s everything you need to know about going there!
📍 Where Canonteign Falls is
Canonteign Falls is in a private estate on the edge of Dartmoor, near Lower Ashton, about 20–25 minutes west of Exeter. While it’s private, the falls area has payable entry.
The postcode you’ll want is EX6 7RH.
🚗 How to get there by car
Driving is by far the easiest option.
From Exeter
- Take the A38 towards Plymouth
- Exit at Chudleigh / B3193
- Follow signs for Lower Ashton / Christow
- You’ll see brown tourist signs for Canonteign Falls
There’s free on-site parking.
Sat nav tip: some routes try to send you down very narrow Devon lanes. Check your maps before driving and stick to main roads where possible!
🚌 Can you get there by public transport?
It’s possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it!
The closest rail station is Exeter St David’s. From there, you’ll need the 360 bus towards Christow, which takes 54 minutes. You can then change to the 361 that drops you off on the main road, or walk two miles from Christow.
🥾 What to expect
The scent of ferns and moss in the air, the crashing sound of waterfalls, tall trees and natural pathways…
Cantonteign Falls is a glorious space which, I’m pretty sure, qualifies as a temperate rainforest (more about them here).
Once you’ve paid for entry, you can take the main route which climbs up to Lady Exmouth Falls, the South West’s highest waterfall, with a lot of steep sections and steps! I didn’t quite realise just how much of a climb there would be – but the viewpoint is worth it, promise!
Along the way you’ll pass woodland paths, lakes, and the Victorian fern garden. It’ll take around an hour to do the whole walk, not including stops.
There’s also another loop walk to the lakes, which takes around 45 minutes.
🎟️ Tickets and entry
You need to pay to access the waterfalls and walks – I’d recommend checking the website to see up-to-date prices.
Booking online is recommended in busy periods (such as the summer holidays).
Opening times are typically 10am to 4pm, with last entry to walks around 3pm.
👍 Tips before you go
- Wear proper walking shoes as paths can be muddy and steep
- Go early or midweek to avoid crowds
- Allow time to climb to the top viewpoint, that’s where the best views are
- Combine it with nearby Dartmoor spots like Haldon Forest or the Teign Valley
