Chagford, Teign Gorge and Fingle Bridge Circular Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park

Chagford, Teign Gorge and Fingle Bridge Circular Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park

Start in the centre of Chagford. There's a large car park near the church. Buses run from Exeter if you are coming by train on a holiday or weekend break.

Follow the main road (B3206) out of town. Pass the school on your left and you'll come to a fork in the road. Take the left fork, drop down to Rushford Bridge and continue to Chagford Swimming Pool (Outdoor) and Rushford Mill Farm. You are now on the Two Moors Way.

Walk through the farmyard and wander up the west bank of the River Teign to a wooded section. Enter the wood and you'll see Peter Randall-Page's Granite Song Sculpture, River Teign to you right on an island in the river. Continue on the Two Moors Way by the River Teign and through the wood until you come to Dogmarsh Bridge by Mill End Hotel and Restaurant.

Cross the busy A382 (usually, you'll see plenty of cars parked along the side of the road by Dogmarsh Bridge) and enter the National Trust's Castle Drogo Estate. Follow the Two Moors Way by the River Teign until you come to the mouth of the Teign Gorge. Hunter's Tor and the National Trust's Castle Drogo are above you to the north. Whiddon Deer Park is to the south. The impressive Iron Bridge spans the river here providing top views of the popular wild swimming spot Salmon Leaps, Castle Drogo Weir and Drewe's Pool.

Note that there are many routes you can now take in the Teign Gorge. The route below is the most popular.

From Iron Bridge, walk along the north bank of the River Teign into the gorge. You pass Salmon Leaps on your right. Follow the very well-worn path by the river for about 2 kilometres. It's stunning. You pass under Sharp Tor. There's one short section of steep steps to navigate. At the far end of the gorge, the walls become less steep and you pass a pretty weir near Fingle Bridge. The latter is a beauty spot. There's plenty of parking, public toilets, a picnic area and the popular Fingle Bridge Inn. This is the furthest east you can go in this walk.

Note that a path continues into Fingle Woods. You can walk all the way to Steps Bridge and Dunsford.

From Fingle Bridge, start your return to Chagford by walking north along the road. Very shortly, you'll see a sign to your left pointing up a reasonably steep path that climbs to the northern lip of the gorge. This is the only demanding stretch of walking on this route.

Once at the top of the gorge, the path flattens out and is named the Hunter's Path. You are now walking west into glorious views of the Teign Gorge, Castle Drogo and Dartmoor's north moor. About half way along the northern lip of the gorge, you reconnect with the Two Moors Way. The section between Sharp Tor and Castle Drogo is known for its remarkable views.

The path now arcs below Castle Drogo and then switches back on itself before dropping down to a tarmac road. When you reach the road, turn left and walk on the tarmac until you come to a path that takes you back to Iron Bridge. From there, retrace your steps to Chagford.

 

How far and how long?

The walk is roughly 8 miles. We normally cover 30 mins a mile on Dartmoor. The Ordnance Survey mapping app suggests you can do it in 3 hrs. Given that many think this is one of the most beautiful walks in the UK, we'd recommend the leisurely pace.