Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour/Road Trip, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour/Road Trip, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor is small so you can cover a lot of places in a day

Dartmoor's a relatively small place. You can walk north to south or east to west in a (long) day. If you want to tour Dartmoor National Park by car then you'll be able to explore its villages and beauty spots with relative ease. There are two caveats. First, stick to the speed limit as livestock, including the famous ponies of Dartmoor, often stand on or cross roads. Second, many of the moorland lanes are skinny. Some have grass growing up the middle! It's highly likely that you'll have to reverse into passing places or squeeze past other vehicles. Be patient.

 

Multiple versions of the Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour

We've created multiple versions of this 'Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour'. Choose which one best fits the time available, your location, the type of landscape or the type of road on which you want to drive. You can avoid skinny moorland lanes if those aren't your thing. We include pubs and beauty spots in case you want a break or need to stretch your legs.

Version 1 of this 'Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour' listing takes you to villages in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park. This version includes an extension. This includes some skinny moorland lanes.

Version 2 of this 'Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour' listing takes you to villages around Dartmoor's north moor. You'll be driving around the northern fringe of Dartmoor and through the heart of the National Park. This is mostly on roads with white lines down the middle.

Version 3 of this 'Villages of Dartmoor Driving Tour' listing takes you to villages in the western section of the National Park. This version includes an extension and is mostly on roads with white lines down the middle although there are a few skinny lanes.

 

Version 1. Villages in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park

Ashburton - Dartmeet - Two Bridges - Postbridge - Moretonhampstead - Lustleigh - Bovey Tracey - Haytor Vale - Widecombe-in-the-Moor - Buckland-in-the-Moor (and Buckland Beacon) - Ashburton

Start at Ashburton. Drive to Holne Bridge by River Dart Country Park. The road climbs and then forks. The right hand fork heads to the famous Dartmoor beauty spot Spitchwick by New Bridge. Take the left fork that climbs to Holne and then crosses moorland to the beautiful Venford Reservoir. If you like views and a short walk, wander over to Bench Tor for awesome views of the Dart Gorge.

From Venford Reservoir, continue past Combestone Tor to The Forest Inn at Hexworthy. The road drops to Hexworthy Bridge spanning the West Dart River. You come to the B3357. Turn right to visit Dartmeet with its ruined clapper bridge and sets of stepping stones. Having seen Dartmeet, head back in the direction from which you came and drive the B3357 to Two Bridges. Note that Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve is a short walk from Two Bridges.

Now follow the B3212 to Postbridge. Bellever Tor in nearby Bellever Forest is known was its immense views of Dartmoor. Continue on the B3212 past the Warren House Inn which is the highest pub in southern England. The views across the moor to Birch Tor and Headland Warren are amazing. You'll see the top of Hamel Down and Grimspound as well.

The B3212 drops down to Moretonhampstead where it connects with the A382 which is a major Dartmoor road. Drive the A382 to Lustleigh. Turn right off the B3212 to explore Lustleigh which is one of the prettiest villages on Dartmoor and in the Westcountry. Head back out onto the A382 and drive to Bovey Tracey. Now take the B3387 that climbs to Haytor Vale and the famous Haytor Rocks. Continue on the B3387 to Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

Drive skinny moorland roads to Buckland-in-the-Moor. If you have time and like walking, we'd recommend a detour from Buckland-in-the-Moor to Buckland Beacon and The Ten Commandments Stones. The views are remarkable. You can park in the Cold East Cross area.

From Buckland-in-the-Moor, follow more narrow lanes back down to where you started in Ashburton.

 

Version 1 extension

Ashburton - Dartmeet - Two Bridges - Postbridge - Moretonhampstead - Chagford - Caste Drogo (National Trust) - Drewsteignton - Dunsford - Teign Valley - Hennock - Lustleigh - Bovey Tracey - Haytor Vale - Widecombe-in-the-Moor - Buckland-in-the-Moor (and Buckland Beacon) - Ashburton

 

Version 2. Villages in the northern and central sections of Dartmoor National Park surrounding Dartmoor's north moor

Okehampton - Belstone - Sticklepath - South Zeal - Drewsteignton - Chagford - Moretonhampstead - Postbridge - Two Bridges - Princetown - Merrivale - Tavistock - Lydford - Okehampton

Start at Okehampton. Drive the B3260 east of town towards the A30. Cross the A30 and follow the road towards Belstone. Turn right and follow the skinny moorland road into this beautiful village. Head back out to the main road, turn right and drive to Sticklepath. If National Trust properties are of interest, stop at Finch Foundry. Sticklepath is located next to South Zeal. Take the road to South Zeal at the end of Sticklepath high street. Drive through the beautiful village South Zeal and you'll find yourself back by the main road. Turn left and drive to Whiddon Down. There are huge views of Dartmoor's north moor from this stretch of road.

Take the A382 from Whiddon Down in the direction of Chagford. The road narrows at a short, steep hill at Sandy Park. Be patient. Turn left and climb to the National Trust's Castle Drogo and then the wonderful village Drewsteignton near the Dartmoor beauty spot Fingle Bridge.

Drive back past Castle Drogo to Sandy Park. Turn left and follow the A382 to the Chagford turning. Divert to visit the town.

Head back out to the A382 and drive to Moretonhampstead. You come to a roundabout. Turn right past the school and outdoor swimming pool. Turn right at the mini roundabout and follow the B3212 as it climbs to Dartmoor's high moor. You pass the Warren House Inn on your way to Postbridge. Continue to Two Bridges and then Princetown. The famous Dartmoor Prison dominates the landscape here.

Now drive the B3357 to Merrivale. Note that some of Dartmoor's finest prehistoric sites sit to the left of the road above Merrrivale. You come a big car park at the top of Pork Hill. The views down to Tavistock and across Devon to Cornwall are amazing. There's usually an ice cream van in the car park. There should be ponies in the area as well.

Drop down to Tavistock and drive the A386 up to the Lydford turning. You're driving below the western flank of Dartmoor. Top views. Divert to explore Lydford with its English Heritage castle and National Trust gorge.

Drive back to the A386 and head up to Okehampton to complete your loop of Dartmoor's north moor.

 

Version 3. Villages in the western section of Dartmoor National Park

Tavistock - Merrivale - Two Bridges - Princetown - Meavy - Yelverton - Tavistock - Lydford - Brentor - Tavistock

Start at Tavistock. Drive the B3357 to Pork Hill and its big car park. The views down to Tavistock and across Devon to Cornwall are amazing. There's usually an ice cream van in the car park. There should be ponies in the area as well. Continue to Merrivale. If you're interested in prehistory, explore the stone rows, circle and standing stone south of the road.

Continue on the B3357 to Two Bridges. Stop at the hotel for a cream tea or walk to the famous Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve.

Now drive back on the B3357 in the direction you came but very shortly take the B3212 on your left to Princetown. There are great views of Dartmoor Prison to your right.

Follow the B3357 to Dousland. We'd recommend stopping at one of the car parking areas below Sharpitor. It's a very short walk to the top of Sharpitor for amazing views of Burrator Reservoir and Dartmoor's south moor.

At Dousland, turn right and follow the skinny road to Meavy. There's a great village pub by the green.

Head to Yelverton and then drive the A386 through Tavistock and Mary Tavy to the Lydford area. Turn left into Lydford. Visit the English Heritage castle and National Trust gorge.

Drive south west out of the village in the direction of North Brentor. Park below Brent Tor and wander to the church topping the outcrop for huge views of the western flank of Dartmoor, the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Cornwall. Return to Tavistock.

 

Version 3 extension

Tavistock - Merrivale - Two Bridges - Princetown - Meavy - Cadover Bridge - Shaugh Prior - Roborough - Yelverton - Tavistock - Lydford - Brentor - Tavistock