Devon with a dog: lanes, livestock and where you can actually go

Most Devon footpaths cross fields with sheep or cattle in them at some point in the year. A dog that will not recall reliably around livestock cannot be off the lead here, and the consequences of getting it wrong are severe for everyone.

Cattle with calves are the genuine danger to you, not just the dog. If a herd takes an interest, let the dog off and walk away separately.

No pavements, high hedges, blind bends. Keep dogs on a short lead on any lane, and take a torch after dark — you need drivers to see you well before they can stop.

Woodland and river walks where a dog can be properly off the lead. Pubs that are genuinely dog-friendly rather than tolerantly so. And ground soft enough that older dogs manage further than they would on pavement.

Real, and worth taking seriously from spring to autumn. Check after every walk through long grass, and carry a tick remover rather than improvising.