Dartmoor National Park covers 368 square miles of upland in Devon, with open moor, deep river valleys, ancient woodland and granite tors, the rocky outcrops that rise above the heath. Prehistoric remains lie scattered across the ground, and wild Dartmoor ponies graze the moor and the roadsides. Walkers, riders and cyclists come for the tors and the river valleys. Begin at Haytor Rocks for a wide view, or follow a riverside path for a quieter walk.
How the moor was shaped
Dartmoor covers 368 square miles of upland in Devon. Its tors are outcrops of granite that rise from the moor. Rain falls often on soil that sits over hard rock, and sphagnum moss soaks up water and builds thick layers of peat over time.
People have lived on the moor for thousands of years. Stone circles, burial mounds, hill forts and the remains of Bronze Age settlements are spread across the open ground. Bellever Tor, near the centre of the park, has burial mounds, sheep pounds, Bronze Age settlements and 20th-century forestry. Together these show how the landscape has changed over about 5,000 years. The summit of Bellever Tor is more than 1,400 feet above sea level and gives a wide panorama.
The moor has also inspired writers. Arthur Conan Doyle drew on it when he wrote The Hound of the Baskervilles, and local stories speak of headless horsemen, ghostly beasts and pixies.
Tors and wide views
Haytor Rocks sits on the edge of the park, about a ten minute drive uphill from Bovey Tracey. From the top, the view runs across the moor and out to the south coast. Climbers come for the natural bouldering routes on its faces, so you may see people climbing as you walk up.
Brat Tor, near the River Lyd, is worth the climb. The route is steep and hard going unless you are fit. The riverside picnic spot below the tor is easy to reach, even with a pushchair.
Wistman's Woods is a remote oak forest at high altitude, covered in lichen. It has a long reputation for being haunted, and its twisted trees make it a quiet place to walk.
Walks, rides and water
The Haytor Walks link Haytor Tor, Hound Tor, Saddle Tor and Black Mountain, which makes a full day of tor-hopping. For a gentler outing, the Bovey Tracey and Parke Estate Circular Walk follows the River Bovey through woodland, then climbs to loop back across the fields and meadows of the Parke Estate.
The Two Moors Way links north and south Devon, with its start and end points in Plymouth and Lynmouth. The B3212 cuts through the centre of the park and passes Princetown, Widecombe, Moretonhampstead and Chagford. Moretonhampstead and Chagford are good places to stop for a drink and a bite to eat.
Mountain bikers come to Lustleigh Cleave for technical descents over boulders and granite slabs. Princetown has the Granite and Gears routes, which are surfaced and signposted, suited to beginners and families. The River Dart is good for canoeing, and the park's calm stretches suit paddleboarding, especially in summer. Sharrah Pool is a well-known wild swimming spot.
Villages, churches and the abbey
Princetown is the highest settlement on Dartmoor and one of the highest in the country. It has a few shops, a convenience store, a post office, an outdoor activity shop and The Prince of Wales pub.
Widdecombe-in-the-Moor has one of the finest 16th-century church houses, built for parish festivities or ales. Local groups still use it, including for a monthly village market. National Trust members can visit it when it is not in use. Collect the key from the staff at the shop next to the church house, and look around at your own pace.
Chagford has an old town square and a churchyard. Buckfast Abbey, on the fringes of the park, has free parking and is free to visit, though donations are welcome. It is part of an active Benedictine monastery. The abbey has a restaurant, a shop selling local beer and wine, and small gardens.
Ponies, cattle and sheep
Dartmoor ponies are semi-wild and roam the moor. You may find them grazing in car parks, including at Haytor. Cattle wander onto the roads, and sheep graze the moor in every direction.
Treat the animals with care so they keep their wild nature. Drive slowly on the straight stretches of road, where animals can be hard to see until you are close.
On screen
Steven Spielberg's War Horse (2011) was filmed in several places around the park, including Haytor, Combestone Tor, Venford Reservoir, Meavy, and Ditsworthy Warren House in Sheepstor, which stood in for the farmhouse. The film is based on the Michael Morpurgo novel. Morpurgo's story grew from conversations with a First World War veteran at the Duke of York Inn in Iddesleigh, the author's home village at the time.
Planning the visit
Staff at the visitor centre can advise on routes. The centre has a water fountain, so you can fill bottles before a walk. Public toilets, picnic tables and a wheelchair accessible entrance and parking are available.
Parking is a mix of free and paid spots. Some places take cash only, and others accept debit cards or mobile payments, so carry both cash and a card. Dogs are allowed, but keep them away from the animals on the moor.
Perguntas frequentes
Is Dartmoor National Park open to dogs?
Dogs are allowed in the park. Keep them away from the ponies, cattle and sheep, and respect the other animals that live on the moor.
How big is Dartmoor National Park?
It covers 368 square miles of upland in Devon.
Where is the best view on Dartmoor?
Haytor Rocks gives a wide view across the moor and out to the south coast. It is about a ten minute drive uphill from Bovey Tracey.
Can you swim in Dartmoor?
Sharrah Pool is a well-known wild swimming spot. It is busy at weekends and in summer, so visit on a weekday or out of season.
Where can you mountain bike on Dartmoor?
Lustleigh Cleave has technical descents over boulders and granite slabs. Princetown has the surfaced, signposted Granite and Gears routes for beginners and families.
