Seven of the rabbits from Sandleford Warren set out in search of the 'High Lonely Hills' that Fiver has seen in a vision as being a place of safety. Along the way they encounter many dangers such as the river and a dog.

The rabbits begin to settle into their new home on the down, however problems become apparent. The burrows need digging, but there's only one doe and bucks don't dig!! There's also a weasel that arrives at the down. Meanwhile, a mysterious visitor is looking for Bigwig.

In search of Pimpernel, the rabbits travel to a nearby warren believed to be a place of safety. This warren, led by Cowslip, seems a little too good to be true...and it is!

Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig decide to take a visit to Efrafa after hearing reports that Efrafa want to kill all outsiders. Hazel encounters General Woundwort and asks him a few questions, unaware Woundwort is set out to kill him. While there, Hazel falls for a rabbit called Primrose. After Fiver has a vision about Woundwort's past they escape, making a new enemy in the process.

Hazel travels to Nuthanger farm with Pipkin and Fiver to get some new hutch-rabbits to come and join them, in fear that if they don't have enough rabbits living with them they will be wiped out by Efrafa. Hazel heads for trouble involving a man and a gun. They bring back a new rabbit, called Clover.

Hazel, Bigwig, Fiver, Hawkbit and Blackberry all set off to help rescue Primrose and Blackavar from Efrafa. However, they get trapped under a stone bridge. Bigwig and Hazel have yet another argument and Bigwig storms off, forming a plan to rescue Blackavar and Primrose.

Bigwig joins Efrafa and plans to help Primrose escape. Meanwhile, Hazel and the others are still stuck under the stone bridge with the Efrafan guards on top of it. They hatch a plan with Kehaar and flee towards the grounds of Efrafa. They meet Bigwig there and he tells them of his plan to free Primrose and Blackavar. After some time, they finally elude the Efrafans and make their escape on a boat, leaving Woundwort raging.

Certain that the Efrafans are getting closer to the warren, Hazel and his friends decide to leave false trails leading them astray. However trouble lies for Captain Campion as he has an encounter with a Hawk. Hazel helps Campion but puts his own life in danger when they both meet an enemy the two of them have never encountered before.

The rabbits find out the Efrafans have captured Pipkin. Woundwort begins to treat Pipkin well, in order to find out the location of his warren. Meanwhile, Hazel hatches a plan to free Pipkin with help from Campion. They manage to grab as many animals as they can in order to make his plan work, and in the end it works better than they expected.

Hawkbit, Fiver, Pipkin and Dandelion raid the farm and to Hazel's surprise, they bring two other rabbits back to the down instead of food. Bluesky and Raincloud both say they are messengers from Prince Rainbow. Hazel catches on straight away that it's a scam, but he keeps quiet. The two demanding rabbits tell Pipkin they can fly, which leads into a lot of trouble.

Bigwig sets up an early morning Owsla patrol, but Hannah doesn't show up for her training. Later, she turns up with Hickory, excited that Hickory and Marigold have baby rabbits. Bigwig is annoyed with her and after an argument, Hannah leaves the down. Kehaar manages to convince Hannah to come to Redstone and she agrees. On her way to Redstone, she ends up stranded up a tree, and meets a Squirrel called Tassle.

Free from Cowslip's warren, Strawberry begins to settle in at the down. Meanwhile, Bigwig hears of a vicious warren called Efrafa and investigates further.

Primrose feels a little homesick for Redstone. Hazel agrees to take her back despite Fiver's warning that Redstone is empty. On the down, Fiver has another vision that one of their past enemies will return. Meanwhile, Hazel and Primrose are shocked to find that Fiver was right about Redstone being empty. The only one left there is Captain Broom.

Hazel, having had new babies, decides to take a trip to the farm with Bigwig, Fiver, and Hawkbit in order to find food for the baby rabbits. Everything seems to be going well until they encounter a dog and a cat. Hannah gets herself into trouble too.

Wondering the burrow, Hawkbit discovers a strange chamber and believes he saw The Black Rabbit of Inlé. Concerned, Hawkbit goes to check it out again with Hazel and Fiver, but they encounter a cave-in. Bigwig believes Hazel, Fiver and Hawkbit have been kidnapped by Efrafa.

Bigwig and Hazel worry about Watership Down being wiped out and that they have no idea of Woundwort's plans. Deciding that they will try to get Campion on their side they find him out on patrol and ask him to join up with them. Things seem to be going well, until Pipkin is taken away by the river after attempting to swim.

Hickory and Marigold decide it's time to leave Cowslip's warren and set off to find Hazel. Hazel agrees to help them escape, and Hawkbit and Dandelion give them lessons on how to live outside in freedom. Hickory and Marigold decide to start a new warren. Concerned, Primrose suggests that they move into Redstone. Trouble is ahead of them though, when Hickory gets trapped on a roundabout.

Kehaar becomes homesick of the Big Water and decides he must go and visit it, with the rabbits tagging along too. Smelling the glorious smell of carrots and lettuce, the rabbits wander inside a big farm van to nibble at the food. Suddenly the van drives off, and the rabbits find themselves at a market where they make friends with a pig.

Finally making it to the Big Water the rabbits lose contact with Kehaar. The rabbits are amazed by their new surroundings, including the salty sea water. The rabbits soon realize the sea is getting closer to them. Meanwhile, Kehaar meets up with his old friend, Katerina, but soon realizes that she isn't as friendly as he thought she once was. The rabbits are helped by the Puffins after almost being taken away by the sea.

Hickory and Marigold finally make their escape from Cowslip's warren, bringing along some friends with them. Bigwig and his friends help Hickory set up a warren at Redstone. Unawares to anyone, Cowslip has been watching them and meets up with Woundwort. Campion warns Hazel that Woundwort will attack at dawn. Woundwort is disappointed to find Redstone empty and heads off to Cowslip's warren where he is almost caught by the shining wire. Campion, however, is caught by Vervain and arrested.

Since the apples of the orchard are red and delicious Hazel and Bigwig go down to have a munch but retreat back to the warren when they find out a badger lives there. Knowing that the orchard is off-limits, Pipkin and Fiver go down to have a bite of the apples anyway. The badger comes back, and Pipkin flees. Fiver soon finds out the badger is harmless, and has a name: Bark.

Knowing Campion is still under arrest and Vervain is starving him to death, Hazel decides he must do something to help. The rabbits make a cunning plan to turn Vervain into a mad bunny! Afterwards Campion is soon up and running again.

It's snowing and the grass has turned white. The rabbits plan on having a big feast. But with no food Hazel, Bigwig, Hawkbit, Dandelion, Fiver and Kehaar set off to find some. They become lost, and encounter danger with a fox and ice. A rabbit named Buttercup comes along and allows the rabbits to say at her warren, right near a man.

Unconvinced that Buttercup's warren is safe, Hazel and his friends decide to flee during night. However they soon find out that Buttercup's warren is harmless, and the men that live nearby are harmless as well. Buttercup lets them take as much food as they want and Kehaar leads them back home safely to Watership Down.

Vervain, now a slave, escapes and manages to find Hazel's warren. Vervain tells Woundwort and Campion is horrified. Campion sets off to warn Hazel, and is then amazed by the beauty of Watership Down when he sees it for himself. Hazel and his friends set traps for Woundwort's arrival. It is love at first sight for Blackberry and Campion. Now begins the final battle, and Fiver's scary vision becomes reality.