East Devon Walks – Dumpdon Hill
Dumpdon Hill is one of the most rewarding East Devon walks near Honiton, a steep-sided, unmistakably shaped landmark that rises above the Otter Valley and can be clearly seen from Honiton and the A30 and A35. Located within the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, it feels surprisingly remote despite only being a 15-minute drive from the main road.
Managed by the National Trust, the hill climbs to around 265 metres and offers stunning views over the Blackdown Hills and East Devon, a peaceful beech woodland at the summit and the impressive earthworks of a large Iron Age hill-fort.
Quieter than many of East Devon’s walks and better-known high points, Dumpdon has a calm, atmospheric feel that makes it an excellent addition to any visit to Honiton or the wider East Devon countryside.
It is a welcoming spot for families, with a straightforward climb and plenty of space to explore, and dogs are very much at home here too, provided they remain on a lead around livestock and during the nesting season. Alongside the straightforward ascent to the trig point, the hill links easily into a longer figure-of-8 route through the nearby and aptly named village of Beacon (Hartidge Common and Beacon Walk, East Devon), turning a short outing into a relaxed half-day adventure.
This circular walk explores the ramparts of Dumpdon Fort, first climbing to the trig point at the centre of the hill-fort. The route shown on the map below begins and ends on Dumpdon Lane, where there is a small National Trust car park.
Practicalities
- Start: Dumpdon Lane, near Honiton
- Difficulty: Easy/Moderate – short but with a steep ascent
- Length: 2.4–3.2 km (1.5–2 miles), 45–75 minutes
- Parking: Small (free) National Trust Car Park on Dumpdon Lane (limited spaces) OS Grid Reference: ST 176 203, further parking along the lane, first left
- Public Transport: Honiton is the nearest town with rail and bus links; no direct service to Dumpdon Hill
- Nearest Town: Honiton, Devon
- Facilities: None on site – cafés, shops and toilets available in Honiton
- Dog Friendly Walk: Yes, but dogs must be on a lead around livestock and during the nesting season
- Maps: Ordnance Survey Explorer 115 or Landranger 192. The OS App is also useful for following paths and contours
- Best for: views, history lovers, dog walkers (livestock likely – keep dogs on leads), quiet nature
If you are planning a wider trip, you may also find our guides helpful:
• Things to Do in Honiton
• East Devon Travel Guide
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Map
Route Description
1. Start on Dumpdon Lane (Point A on the map)
Begin at the small parking area on Dumpdon Lane, an informal car park with space for a few vehicles and an information board outlining the site. From here, go through the gate, follow the path a short distance to the right, then turn left and begin the brief but steep climb uphill.
You will soon see the outer earthworks of Dumpdon Hill Fort, an Iron Age fortification that once defended this high ground.
2. Climb towards the ramparts and inner enclosure
Continue uphill to meet the ramparts. The inner and outer banks are visible here, especially on the northern side, where the fort builders constructed double ramparts and ditches to defend the most straightforward approach. You will most likely walk through a gap in the ditches, once the heavily defended entrance to the fort.
From here, you will see the Ordnance Survey trig point and can explore the small beech copse nearby, a favourite spot where children often build their own makeshift forts. Enjoy the views!
3. Loop around the Hill
From the summit, you will see several paths radiating away, and by this point, you will have a good sense of the hill’s layout. We suggest returning partway down towards your starting point before joining the clear, clockwise (and mostly level) loop that circles the hill-fort. This path leads through woodland and open pasture, offers plenty of viewpoints, and brings you back to the start after roughly a mile.
History and layout of Dumpdon Hill Fort
Dumpdon Camp crowns the summit of Dumpdon Hill and is a classic Iron Age hill-fort, probably dating from the first millennium BC. The fort encloses a large, roughly triangular area whose narrow tip points south, with the broad top of the enclosure running north east to south west. Its builders chose the hill for its steep natural slopes and then strengthened the weaker approaches with substantial earthworks.
The most impressive defences sit on the northern side, where access to the hill is easiest. Here a double bank and double ditch run across the hillside, with the inner rampart standing around two metres above the interior and dropping sharply to an outer ditch and bank. On the naturally precipitous eastern and western slopes the fort is reinforced by further banks and a single ditch, creating a continuous defensive circuit that still reads clearly on the ground once you know what to look for.
The main entrance lies on the north eastern side. At this point the inner and outer ramparts bend inward to form a narrow passage that would have forced attackers to move between high banks, exposed to defenders on either side. Below the entrance, terraced earthworks add another layer of control, restricting direct access up the slope. Inside the fort, a beech plantation now covers the southern third of the interior, while other parts show traces of historic ploughing and later disturbance.
Archaeological surveys suggest that Dumpdon may never have been fully completed or permanently occupied, and some specialists believe it could predate and have been superseded by larger regional forts such as Hembury. Even so, the scale of the earthworks, the strategic position above the Otter Valley and the atmospheric summit make Dumpdon one of the most striking hill-forts in East Devon.
Practical Information
• Parking is very limited – arrive early at weekends
• Lanes are narrow with few passing places
• No facilities on site
• Dogs welcome but must be kept on a lead around livestock
• Footpaths can be slippery after rain
• Mobile signal varies
Why Walk Here?
Dumpdon Hill offers one of East Devon’s best short walks. It feels remote yet is just minutes from Honiton. The combination of Iron Age archaeology, huge views and peaceful summit makes it a great (off the beaten track) place to visit, whether you are exploring nearby Honiton, planning a longer day out or simply looking for a quiet hour or two in the great outdoors.
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