Best Dartmoor Picnic Spots, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Best Dartmoor Picnic Spots, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Popular picnic spots with public toilet in the area

Spitchwick (Deeper Marsh/Spitchwick Common). Picnic on the bank of the River Dart. This is the most popular picnic spot on Dartmoor. Beautiful, great for wild swimming but gets packed on sunny days. There's a public toilet at the New Bridge/Newbridge car park. Click on the Spitchwick listing for directions.

Bellever Forest. Picnic on the banks of the East Dart River by the main car park. Superb picnic spot in the heart of Dartmoor near Postbridge. If you like walking, combine a picnic with a wander to the top of Bellever Tor. The tor provides huge panoramic views. There's a public toilet in the building in the centre of the car park. Click on the Bellever Forest listing for directions.

Fingle Bridge. Picnic on the bank of the River Teign across the river from Fingle Bridge Inn. Fingle Bridge is at the eastern of the sublime Teign Gorge (National Trust). If you like walking, the Teign Gorge Circular Walk (Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo) is a must. It's one of the most beautiful walks in Dartmoor National Park. There's a public toilet on the south side of the River Teign across the water from the pub. Click on the Fingle Bridge listing for directions.

Fernworthy Reservoir and Fernworthy Picnic Area. There's an official picnic area overlooking Fernworthy Reservoir by the main car park. Try the super Fernworthy Reservoir Circular Walk. There's a public toilet at the main car park. Click on the Fernworthy Reservoir listing for directions.

Postbridge Clapper Bridge. Picnic by the clapper bridge along the banks of the East Dart River in the heart of Dartmoor National Park at Postbridge. There's parking across the road at the Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre. There's a public toilet at the main car park by the visitor centre. Click on the Postbridge Clapper Bridge listing for directions.

Meldon Reservoir. There's a large car parking area and public toilets by Meldon Reservoir in the north western section of Dartmoor. The reservoir sits below the highest ground in southern England at Yes Tor and High Willhays. Cross the dam wall and walk along the eastern side of the water and you'll come to a super picnic spot. Click on the Meldon Reservoir listing for directions.

Avon Dam Reservoir. Park at Shipley Bridge which has a public toilet. Follow the tarmac road as it climbs towards the dam. Picnic on either side of the dam. Click on the Shipley Bridge listing for directions.

 

Popular picnic spots

Cadover Bridge. Picnic on the bank of the River Plym around Cadover Bridge near the south western border of Dartmoor National Park. For a walk, try the Dewerstone Valley Circular Walk. The Dewerstone area is amazing. Click on the Cadover Bridge listing for directions.

Cox Tor and Pork Hill area. Pork Hill is on the western border of Dartmoor. There's a big car park with massive views over the Plymouth and Tamar Valley area to Cornwall. There are lots of top tors in this section of the park. A wide grass track rises from the car park to Cox Tor. There's a big grassy area by the car park as well. Click on the Cox Tor listing for directions.

Burrator Reservoir is in the south western section of Dartmoor National Park. It's exceptionally pretty and super popular. Norsworthy Bridge is at the north eastern end of the reservoir and there's usually an ice cream van there as well. Try also Burrator Discovery CentreBurrator Arboretum and Nature Reserve and the area by the smaller, second dam on the western side of the water. Click on the Burrator Reservoir listing for directions.

 

Tors/rocks

Kestor Rock area at Batworthy Corner above Chagford. Kestor Rock is on the edge of Dartmoor's north moor. The setting is superb and there are big views of Dartmoor and Mid Devon. Exmoor National Park is on the horizon to the north. You can walk to Scorhill Stone Circle from Batworthy Corner. It's nice to picnic on the banks of the North River Teign at Teign-e-ver Clapper Bridge. Click on the Batworthy Corner listing for directions.

Rowtor and West Mill Tor area above Okehampton Camp. Rowtor is located on Dartmoor's north moor and is very easily accessible. There's a large car parking area below the tor and tracks climb to its rocky outcrops. Its a very short walk and the views are massive. Great picnic spot. West Mill Tor is a little higher and provides even bigger views. Click on the Okehampton Camp listing for directions.

Brat Tor (Bray Tor) is on the western side of Dartmoor. Many people picnic along the banks of the River Lyd below the tor. The Dartmoor Inn/River Lyd Stepping Stones is a popular area. The views from up top are awesome, however, so we'd recommend following the wide, grass track to Brat Tor (Bray Tor). If you fancy a longer walk and a picnic, continue to Great Links Tor. Click on the Brat Tor (Bray Tor) listing for directions. 

Bench Tor. Picnic overlooking the Dart Gorge.  It's one of our favourite spots in Dartmoor National Park. There's a large car parking area east of Venford Reservoir from which you walk to Bench Tor. Click on the Bench Tor listing for directions. 

Sharp Tor (Dartmeet/East Dartmoor). Again, picnic overlooking the Dart Gorge. Click on the Sharp Tor listing for directions. 

Hound Tor (East Dartmoor) in the eastern section of Dartmoor. Picnic below the huge granite stacks of Hound Tor. It's a famous Dartmoor tor and the area is super popular but you should be able to find a quiet picnic spot. Click on the Hound Tor listing for directions. 

Haytor Rocks in the eastern section of Dartmoor. Gets very busy but easily accessible with super views. Park in the upper car parking area and wander over to the rocky outcrops. Click on the Haytor Rocks listing for directions. 

Bonehill Rocks overlook Widecombe-in-the-Moor in the eastern section of the National Park. Click on the Bonehill Rocks listing for directions.

 

Gorges and valleys

Spitchwick (Deeper Marsh/Spitchwick Common). Picnic on the bank of the River Dart. This is the most popular picnic spot on Dartmoor. Beautiful, great for wild swimming but gets packed on sunny days. There's a public toilet at the New Bridge/Newbridge car park. Click on the Spitchwick listing for directions.

Fingle Bridge. Picnic on the bank of the River Teign across the river from Fingle Bridge Inn. Fingle Bridge is at the eastern of the sublime Teign Gorge (National Trust). If you like walking, the Teign Gorge Circular Walk (Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo) is a must. It's one of the most beautiful walks in Dartmoor National Park. There's a public toilet on the south side of the River Teign across the water from the pub. Click on the Fingle Bridge listing for directions.

 

Reservoirs

Fernworthy Reservoir and Fernworthy Picnic Area. There's an official picnic area overlooking Fernworthy Reservoir by the main car park. Try the super Fernworthy Reservoir Circular Walk. There's a public toilet at the main car park. Click on the Fernworthy Reservoir listing for directions.

Burrator Reservoir is in the south western section of Dartmoor National Park. It's exceptionally pretty and super popular. Norsworthy Bridge is at the north eastern end of the reservoir and there's usually an ice cream van there as well. Try also Burrator Discovery CentreBurrator Arboretum and Nature Reserve and the area by the smaller, second dam on the western side of the water. Click on the Burrator Reservoir listing for directions.

Meldon Reservoir. There's a large car parking area and public toilets by Meldon Reservoir. The reservoir sits below the highest ground in southern England at Yes Tor and High Willhays. Cross the dam wall and walk along the eastern side of the water and you'll come to a super picnic spot. Click on the Meldon Reservoir listing for directions.

Avon Dam Reservoir. Park at Shipley Bridge which has a public toilet. Follow the tarmac road as it climbs towards the dam. Picnic on either side of the dam. Click on the Shipley Bridge listing for directions.

Tottiford Reservoir. There's a picnic spot at the southern end of Tottiford Reservoir where it meets Trenchford Reservoir. Click on the Tottiford Reservoir listing for directions.