Sports, dance and activity clubs around Exeter that welcome newcomers, with their regular sessions. Outdoor clubs further afield are included when they need the landscape.
Sports, dance and activity clubs around Exeter that welcome newcomers, with their regular sessions. Outdoor clubs further afield are included when they need the landscape.
Tap a chip again to remove it.
Sunday rides (book by Saturday 12pm) and an easy-paced Thursday Bike Bus
Exeter (Quay, West Hill, other start points) · Cycling · Cycling UK membership after three rides
Cycling UK's Exeter group runs Sunday day rides (A, about 35-60 miles; B, about 25-40) and a gentle Thursday Bike Bus with a coffee stop. Booking is required.
New here? New riders are always very welcome; asked to join Cycling UK after three rides.
Pinhoe, Exeter · Cycling · Free
Sunday road rides of 40-60 miles at 16-18mph with a coffee stop and a no-drop policy, starting from Pinhoe. Joining is by Strava club.
New here? Request to join via Strava; no-drop policy.
Next:Sun 15 Nov 12pm
Exeter and around · Walking & hiking
Sociable group walks around Exeter and Devon, often finishing with food together.
New here? Join the group on Meetup and RSVP for a walk.
Walks are announced one by one on the events page, at different places around South East Devon, usually…
South East Devon · Walking & hiking · Free
Free guided social walks for dog owners across South East Devon, led by rangers, with time to let dogs run and meet others. Run by Devon Loves Dogs, a free membership scheme that promotes responsible dog walking in the countryside.
New here? Free; book each walk on the events page. Usually one dog per person, on a lead at the meeting point.
Walks are listed individually on the Ramblers site
Exeter and Devon · Walking & hiking · Free to try three walks, then…
Ramblers group with longer Sunday walks, shorter mid-week walks and leisurely ambles of up to 3 miles from points around Exeter.
New here? New walkers can try three walks before being asked to join the Ramblers.
Open daily 9am–5pm
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · Watersports
An RYA-accredited centre on Exmouth seafront teaching paddleboarding, kitesurfing and wingsurfing, with paddleboard hire. Suits people wanting to learn a board sport with an instructor.
New here? Lessons and courses in paddleboarding, kitesurfing and wingsurfing, booked online.
Weekly racing in season
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · Watersports · See membership fees page; RYA Level 2…
Exmouth dinghy club with weekly racing, RYA courses and a Get Racing scheme for new racers. It runs taster sails and open days and has a Sailability programme for disabled people.
New here? Taster sails (20 minutes, free at past open days) and RYA courses; Get Racing programme for new racers; join via the website.
Exeter (Quay) · Watersports · Free taster session
Dragon boat club paddling on the Exeter Canal at the quay. Equipment and coaching are provided and newcomers can book a free taster.
Flying depends on wind and weather, at sites from about 8 to 25 miles from Exeter
East Devon and Somerset coast and hills · 15 miles from the centre · Air sports · £25 a year (plus BHPA membership)
A hang gliding and paragliding club for qualified BHPA pilots with 17 sites from West Bay to Exmouth and inland, including Bickleigh and Beer Head. Learners train at a BHPA school first, then join the club.
New here? For pilots with the BHPA Club Pilot rating. Learners can join while training at a BHPA school, but fly with the club once qualified.
Club flies on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting
Honiton (North Hill, Sheldon) · 19 miles from the centre · Air sports
Gliding club on North Hill Airfield in the Blackdown Hills. Trial lessons give a 15-30 minute flight with an instructor, and the club trains new pilots.
New here? Trial lessons on flying days: 15 to 30 minutes in a two-seat glider with an instructor. Junior gliding too.
St Thomas, Exeter · Dance classes · £15 or £12 booked in advance; two £10…
A weekly 5Rhythms movement class on Sunday evenings in St Thomas: free, unchoreographed dancing to music, guided by a teacher. No steps to learn, so it suits complete beginners as well as experienced dancers.
New here? ‘A welcoming class for both beginners and experienced dancers’; no dance steps needed. Arrive by 6pm; no entry after 6:20pm.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £8 a class (cash or card)
Adult ballet class at Exeter Phoenix taught by Anne Jobson, for people who have always wanted to try ballet as well as those with some experience. Men and women equally welcome.
New here? For those who have always wanted to try ballet and those with some experience; men and women equally welcome.
Exeter · Cycling · Membership: seniors £20 a year…
Exeter's long-running road cycling club, founded in 1924, with no-drop social rides through the week as well as faster club runs and race training. Suits road riders who want company on Devon lanes.
New here? The club says new riders would be very welcome and invites them to get in touch; the Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday rides are social and no-drop, paced to the slowest rider.
Haldon Forest Park, Kennford · 7 miles from the centre · Walking & hiking · £10 a week, reduced if paid up front…
Instructor-led Nordic fitness walking at Haldon Forest Park in six-week blocks; newcomers start with an induction session.
New here? Complete a Nordic walking induction first (monthly, on a Monday, £10 including poles)
Exeter (Quay) · Walking & hiking, Yoga & pilates · Free
Free groups for adults run by the Step One charity from the X Centre: an easy-paced walk of about 3 miles along the Exe from the Quay, and an eight-week Yoga4Wellbeing course for any ability or health condition.
New here? Walk-ins welcome on the walk (registering helps). The yoga course is open to all abilities and health conditions; sign up through BeWell (course 222)
Exeter (various) · Walking & hiking · Free (donations welcome); coffee stop…
Free guided health walks led by trained volunteers from the charity Westbank, at ten places around Exeter. Walks are graded from short and flat to about 90 minutes, and most end with an optional coffee.
New here? Anyone can turn up and join in; no need to book. Wear suitable clothing and supportive shoes and bring water.
New here? Free taster session; get in touch before turning up so they can accommodate you.
Exeter (Haven Road and Riverside Leisure Centre) · Watersports · Try dive £30 adults, £20 juniors…
BSAC diving club based at the Haven Road water sports site, training new divers in the pool at Riverside and diving off the Devon coast all year. It suits complete beginners, lapsed divers and qualified divers from any agency.
New here? ‘If you can swim, then come and talk to us.’ Complete beginners and people who haven't dived for years are welcome at the Friday social; try dives run on Tuesday evenings (book in advance)
Learn-to-row courses run in blocks of four weeks, with two sessions a week (Wednesday evenings and weekend…
Exeter (Haven Road) · Watersports · Four-week taster course £40, then…
Rowing club on the Exeter Ship Canal and River Exe. Adults new to the sport start with a four-week Introduction to Rowing course, with coaching in small boats.
New here? No previous experience needed: start with the four-week adult taster course (£40). Juniors aged 12 to 16 get two free trial sessions. A British Rowing membership number is needed to join.
Trains on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with volunteer patrols on summer Sundays
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · Watersports
A volunteer surf life saving club on Exmouth beach training lifeguards and running summer beach patrols. New adult members are welcome with no previous experience; juniors join via a waiting list.
New here? New senior members welcome, no previous experience needed; adults can visit the beach to see the club or get in touch. Juniors (Nippers 7 to 12, Graduate Lifeguards 13+) via a waiting list form.
Regular rows at weekends and in evenings (light permitting)
Exmouth · 11 miles from the centre · Watersports
Cornish pilot gig rowing off Exmouth beach, open to all ages with no experience needed. New rowers do about three intro sessions before deciding to join.
New here? Intro sessions for complete beginners, open to all ages; first session includes launching the boat, a briefing and a 45-minute row; up to two further sessions before joining. Run on safe, slack tides only.
Exmouth · 10 miles from the centre · Watersports · Two free trial rows; then a pro rata…
Friendly community rowing club on Exmouth seafront, rowing stable coastal boats on the estuary and at sea, recreationally or in regattas. It suits adults of any age with no experience.
New here? Two free trial rows during Sunday club sessions before joining; new starter inductions roughly once a month, with an indoor rowing machine lesson then a trial row in a quad with a ‘buddy’
Lessons and courses run on dates in the online booking system
Exmouth · 10 miles from the centre · Watersports · RYA Start Windsurfing (2 days) £249…
An RYA-registered watersports centre on the Exe estuary at Exmouth, teaching windsurfing from first lessons, plus paddleboard lessons and sit-on-top kayak tours on shallow, flat water.
New here? RYA Start Windsurfing is a two-day beginners' course; paddleboard lessons are for beginners and include all equipment.
Sailing and racing programme April to September, tide dependent (roughly two hours either side of high water)
Lympstone · 9 miles from the centre · Watersports · Adult £70 a year, joint adult £95…
Family-friendly sailing club on the Exe estuary at Lympstone with dinghy, day boat and cruiser racing from April to September, RYA training for members and a busy social calendar.
New here? Describes itself as ‘family friendly and great for meeting new people’; members help with training, race and safety boat duties, which ‘makes it easy for new members to meet people’. RYA training courses are for members.
Racing on Sundays and other programmed days, tide dependent
Starcross · 9 miles from the centre · Watersports · Subscriptions on the club's price…
A dinghy, catamaran and yacht club on the west bank of the Exe estuary with year-round racing, training for members and a junior section. Membership has no waiting list.
New here? No waiting list for membership; visitors are invited to come along on a race day.
Topsham · Watersports · Membership fees on the club's…
A friendly sailing club on the Exe estuary running dinghy, yawl and cruiser racing plus a social calendar. It welcomes new members who simply want to sail.
New here? Welcomes new members; ‘all that is needed is enthusiasm for sailing’. Prospective members can visit on race nights or events to meet the Membership Secretary.
Woodbury Common (East Devon) · 9 miles from the centre · Air sports
A radio control model flying club (aircraft, helicopters, boats) flying from Woodbury Common, with a beginner training scheme leading to the BMFA A certificate.
New here? Training scheme starts with ground school, then flying tuition to the BMFA A certificate; temporary membership available; guests can fly with permission via the contact form.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £8.50 a class (acro £15)
City-centre dance studio running weekly adult classes in ballet, tap, contemporary and commercial street dance, many of them drop-in with no monthly membership. Suits beginners and returners as well as experienced dancers.
New here? Many adult sessions are drop-in, booked online; the timetable includes Absolute Beginners Ballet and Adults Beginners Tap. No monthly memberships.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £8 a class; discounted monthly pass…
Adult ballet for beginners and an open-level contemporary class on Tuesday evenings at DanSci Dance Studio in central Exeter.
New here? Beginner ballet class; contemporary is open level.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes
Flamenco classes with Karina Gracia at Exeter Phoenix, accompanied by live guitar: footwork, technique and full choreographies, with beginners' classes needing no experience.
New here? Beginners' classes need no experience; check with Karina before your first class in case of date changes.
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £45 for a four-week Tuesday block…
Commercial and hip hop dance at Exeter Phoenix: learn a routine to pop music over a month-long block, then perform and film it. Open to anyone, whatever your experience.
New here? For everyone whatever their dancing experience; monthly Confidence Workshops for beginners (up to five people)
Exeter (city centre) · Dance classes · £6–£7 a session (sources differ)
Weekly adult jazz dance classes in Exeter, including a beginners and improvers class for those new or rusty, plus a low-impact fitness class. Join at any time and pay weekly.
New here? Adult classes are ongoing so you can join at any time; the Thursday class is for beginners, improvers or those feeling rusty.