Dartmoor National Park
A high granite moor in Devon, with tors, wild ponies and boggy valleys. Go for long walks and wide views.
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Dartmoor is a high granite moor in Devon, southwest England. Granite tors, the rock piles that rise above the hilltops, mark the skyline, and boggy valleys and streams cut through the open ground. Wild ponies roam the moor, and small stone villages sit at its edges. Much of the land is common land, and the area has been a national park since 1951.
Go for long walks and wide views over open country, within reach of Exeter and Plymouth. The moor is large, and the weather can change within an hour, so carry a map or GPS and check the forecast before you set out. Parts of the moor are military firing ranges, and access is closed on certain days, so check the notices before you go. Spring and early autumn are the easiest seasons for walking. Plan two or three days to cover several tors and villages, or one day for a single main walk.
Dartmoor National Park in five
- Check the camping map before you pitchBackpack camping is allowed on Dartmoor commons only where the park's interactive map shows it, with no landowner approval needed there. Check the map before you plan the trip.Dartmoor camping page
- Check the firing range notices before northern walksParts of north Dartmoor are military firing ranges. Look up the published firing times before you walk there, follow the red flags and never pick up metal objects.
- Treat ponies and livestock as wild animalsPonies, sheep and cattle graze across the moor. Keep your distance, keep dogs under control, and do not feed the ponies.
- Carry a map and plan for fogMist can drop in minutes and mobile signal fades in valleys. Carry a paper map or an offline map, plus waterproofs, and turn back if you lose the path.
- Use a car, or plan buses carefullyTrains stop at Exeter, Newton Abbot and Plymouth, from where buses and taxis reach the moor. A car makes most walks easier, and parking areas fill up on sunny weekends.Devon travel guide
Things to do in Dartmoor National Park
See all attractions in Dartmoor National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- No gate or fee for the open moor
- Permits
- None for walking; camp only where the official map allows
- Season
- Open all year; fog, wind and cold at any time
- Nearest town
- Moretonhampstead, Ashburton, Tavistock or Okehampton
- Getting there
- Train to Exeter, Newton Abbot or Plymouth, then bus or car
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Cold, fogJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, fog
- FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, wetFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 181 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, wet
- MarchRain18 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low4°Cool, windyMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 171 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, windy
- AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Mild, lambsAprilRain
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, lambs
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low8°Spring greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring green
- JuneRain17 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain17 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 144 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 191 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain18 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°Wet, short daysNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 192 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, short days
- DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Cold, frostDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 226 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, frost
Average daily high and low in Dartmoor National Park, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Dartmoor National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 18 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Dartmoor National Park
11:24 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°5°0%Monday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue7°4°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed5°3°12%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Thu5°2°33%Thursday: Drizzle. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Fri5°-1°29%Friday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Sat6°2°22%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sun5°-4°21%Sunday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 21%.
Updated 08:40 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.7469 GBP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Exmoorby carMoor and sea cliffs on the Devon and Somerset border.Read the guide
- The Devon coastby car or trainSouth Devon beaches and harbors within reach of the moor.Read the guide
- Plymouthby car or busA naval port on the moor's southern edge, good for a rainy-day swap.
Before you go to Dartmoor National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Dartmoor National Park, checked
- Backpack camping on Dartmoor commons is allowed only in areas shown on the park's interactive map, with no landowner approval needed there.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Dartmoor National Park
Exeter, the coast and the moor in one county
Read the guideExmoorMoor and coast to the north, over the Somerset border
Read the guideDevon & CornwallPlan the west country as one trip
Read the guideAll of EnglandNational parks and cities across England
Read the guideInsurance for walking tripsCover for injuries and rescue
Read the guideCars and trains in BritainRental versus rail for the moor
Read the guideDartmoor National Park FAQ
Is Dartmoor free to visit?
Yes, the open moor has no gate or entry fee. You may pay for car parks, guided walks or attractions, and the national park's own site lists current charges.
Can you wild camp on Dartmoor?
Backpack camping is permitted only in the areas the Dartmoor National Park Authority marks on its interactive map, and nowhere else without permission. Read the park's camping guidance before you go.
How many days do you need on Dartmoor?
One full day covers two or three tors and a village. Two to three days suit walkers who want a long moorland route, or a stay in an inn plus a day on the coast.
Do you need a car for Dartmoor?
It helps a lot. Trains reach the edges of the moor, and buses serve some villages, but a car lets you reach trailheads and change plans when the weather turns.
Are the Dartmoor ponies safe to approach?
Treat them as wild animals. Keep a distance, do not feed them and do not let children or dogs chase them; they can kick or bite if they feel crowded.