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Quick LinksLocal Knowledge – September 2026
Oakdown Holiday Park · Sidmouth · East Devon
Local Knowledge – September
A week of free guided walks, an illuminated carnival through Sidmouth — and Dorset’s end-of-harvest show.
September brings a proper mix near Oakdown — a full week of guided walking, one of Sidmouth’s biggest street events of the year and a trip further afield to Dorset’s harvest show if you fancy a longer day out. The weather is often kinder than August too, with quieter roads and pavements once the summer crowds thin out.
Below is our pick of what’s worth doing this month, gathered from the people who actually run these places.
On this page
Walking FestivalIlluminated CarnivalDorset County ShowDog Friendly & AccessibleGood to Know
East Devon
Sidmouth & East Devon Walking Festival
Five free guided walks run daily from 13 to 19 September, led by local experts and ranging from flat valley strolls to severe clifftop hikes, so there’s genuinely something for most fitness levels across the week. Routes take in coastal rambles, the East Devon Way and the Sid Valley Ring, so regular walkers can string together a different route most days.
Sidmouth TIC, EX10 8XR — the main meeting hub, about 3.2 miles west of the park. facebook.com/sidmouthwalkingfestival. Bookings via Sidmouth TIC on 01395 516441 or tic@sidmouth.gov.uk. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on short leads at all times. Accessibility varies by route: the Byes riverside walk and the Salcombe Hill accessible path (EX10 0NY) are wheelchair-friendly gravel tracks with clifftop benches, though the more severe clifftop routes are not suitable for limited mobility.
East Devon
Sidmouth Illuminated Carnival
Illuminated floats process through the town streets on 26 September, from 7pm to 10:30pm, one of Sidmouth’s biggest evening events of the year. It draws large crowds from across East Devon, so it’s worth arriving in good time to find a decent spot along the route.
Town Centre — about 2.2 to 3.2 miles west of the park, depending which part of town you’re aiming for. sidmouth.gov.uk/event/sidmouth-illuminated-carnival-2.
Worth knowing before you go. Pavements are technically open to dogs, but the extremely dense crowds and loud noise make it generally unsafe for them, so we’d suggest leaving dogs at the park for this one. Streets close to traffic and get highly congested, which makes wheelchair navigation very difficult, even though the pavements themselves are paved and flat.
West Dorset
Dorset County Show
Held on the first weekend of September near Dorchester, this is Dorset’s end-of-harvest celebration, with monster trucks, live music from The Wurzels, livestock, heavy horses and alpacas all part of the weekend. It’s a proper full-day show rather than a quick visit, with plenty to see across the showground.
Postcode DT2 7SD — about 30 miles east of the park, roughly a 45-minute drive. dorsetcountyshow.co.uk · 01305 264249. The show is held on grassy fields. The terrain can be uneven underfoot, though standard disabled parking and facilities are available on-site.
At a Glance
Dog Friendly & Accessible This Month
Best for Dog Owners
The Walking Festival is the clear choice, with dogs explicitly welcome on short leads throughout. We’d avoid bringing dogs to the Illuminated Carnival, given the crowds and noise, even though it isn’t formally restricted.
Best for Accessibility
The Byes riverside walk and Salcombe Hill path during the Walking Festival are wheelchair-friendly. The Illuminated Carnival is the most difficult this month, with congested streets making wheelchair navigation hard. Dorset County Show has standard facilities but uneven grass underfoot.
Good to Know
A Few Practical Questions
Do I need to book the Walking Festival walks in advance?
Bookings go through Sidmouth TIC on 01395 516441 or by emailing tic@sidmouth.gov.uk.
Is the Sidmouth Illuminated Carnival suitable for wheelchair users?
The pavements are paved and flat, but the streets close to traffic and get highly congested during the event, which makes navigation genuinely difficult.
Should I bring my dog to the Illuminated Carnival?
We wouldn’t recommend it. Dogs aren’t formally banned from the pavements, but the dense crowds and loud noise make it an unsafe environment for them.
How far is the Dorset County Show from Oakdown?
About 30 miles east, near Dorchester, roughly a 45-minute drive.
Which Walking Festival routes are accessible?
The Byes riverside walk and the Salcombe Hill accessible path are both wheelchair-friendly gravel tracks. The more severe clifftop routes in the programme are not suitable for limited mobility.
What’s on at the Dorset County Show?
Monster trucks, live music from The Wurzels, livestock, heavy horses and alpacas, held over the first weekend of September near Dorchester.
Want to see what’s on in other months? Our full Local Knowledge guide covers the whole year near Oakdown.
Explore East Devon this September
Book your stay and take your pick from a week of guided walks and the town’s biggest carnival of the year.
