Best Dartmoor Autumn Things To Do, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Best Dartmoor Autumn Things To Do, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

For many, the period between September and December* is the best time to holiday in Dartmoor. Clean light, cooler conditions and remarkable autumnal colours make it an ideal time to explore the National Park. We've listed some of the best things to do in autumn below.

 

Gorges and valley walks

Rivers rise on the National Park's high moors and cut deep valleys that are lined with trees. These valleys are a riot of colour in late autumn. We find November the best time to experience Dartmoor's gorges and valleys. Book a hotel and walk in:

Lustleigh Cleave near the Dartmoor gateway town Bovey Tracey in the east of the National Park.

Teign Gorge (National Trust) downriver of Chagford in the north east section of Dartmoor.

Dart Gorge near Ashburton in the east of the National Park.

Dewerstone Valley down by the south west border of Dartmoor.

 

Waterfalls

If you want to combine autumnal colours with waterfalls in popular Dartmoor attractions, try:

Lydford Gorge White Lady Waterfall on the outskirts of Lydford by the west border of the National Park.

Lady Exmouth Falls highest waterfall in England near the Dartmoor gateway town Bovey Tracey in the east of the National Park.

Becky Falls Waterfalls again, near the Dartmoor gateway town Bovey Tracey in the east of the National Park. We'd recommend visiting both Canonteign Falls and Becky Falls in a day.

 

National Nature Reserves and woods

We'd also recommend exploring some of Dartmoor's National Nature Reserves:

Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve is a short walk from the popular Two Bridges Hotel in the heart of Dartmoor.

Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve located in the amazing Upper West Okement Valley beyond Meldon Reservoir in the north west section of the National Park. Note that this copse is below both High Willhays and Yes Tor which are Dartmoor's highest points. Great circular walk.

East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve England's first National Nature Reserve situated in the east of the National Park up the road from Bovey Tracey.

Piles Copse remote, high altitude oak woodland in the south of Dartmoor near Harford and Ivybridge.

Hembury Woods (National Trust) extremely popular woodland rising from the River Dart in the east of the National Park near Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh and Ashburton..

 

Gardens

There are plenty of gardens in, and around, Dartmoor to enjoy. Try:

Stone Lane Gardens and Mythic Garden Sculpture Exhibition. As impressive as any public garden in the Westcountry. Essential Dartmoor visiting. Located by Chagford in the north east section of the National Park.

The Garden House is another wonderful garden close to the south west border of Dartmoor near Yelverton.

Castle Drogo Gardens in the north east section of Dartmoor near Chagford.

Buckland Abbey (National Trust) by the south west border of Dartmoor near Yelverton. We'd recommend visiting both The Garden House and Buckland Abbey in a day.

 

*The UK-based Met Office provided the following info on Autumn 2016: 'When is the first day of autumn? It depends on whether you are referring to the astronomical or meteorological autumn ... The meteorological autumn begins on 01 September 2016 and ends on 30 November 2016 ... This astronomical autumn begins on 22 September 2016 and ends on 20 December 2016.'