Outdoors & Nature in Dartmoor National Park
Ducks' Pool, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor has a north and south plateau separated by a central bowl. Both high plateaus have iconic and remote pools and letterboxes that attract high numbers of Dartmoor enthusiasts. The north's most famous pool is Cranmere Pool with its letterbox. The south's most famous is Duck...
Goldsmith's Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Goldsmith's Cross is one of a high number of crosses marking the route of the ancient Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route as shown on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. Goldsmith's Cross is located just south of the infamous Foxtor Mires that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used as in...
Down Ridge, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park
Down Ridge provides great access to the crosses on the Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route up at Ter Hill and Mount Misery. From there, you can also drop down to Foxtor Farm and Childe's Tomb. We've positioned Down Ridge on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its locati...
Black Lane Peat Pass, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
The name Black Lane Peat Pass suggests a tidy, sunken road with high, black peat walls offering easy passage through difficult terrain. Whilst this might once have been the case, and there are still such peat passes on the north moor, if you walk Black Lane Peat Pass today you'll expe...
Swincombe Reservoir, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park
Most Dartmoor reservoirs are large, impressive and reasonably easily accessible. Swincombe Reservoir is small and fenced off from the public. The moorland around the reservoir is flat, boggy and tussocky. Whilst there's a metal bridge at the eastern end of the reservoir, it's closed to the public so...
Sunshine Valley, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
There are lots of old mining works around Foxtor Mires. Whiteworks is to the north west. The wonderfully named Sunshine Valley and nearby Mount Misery are to the south east and east. Marked on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map, Sunshine Valley is at the head of the River Swinc...
Swincombe Headweir Ford, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
The River Swincombe and Strane River (having been fed by Nun's Cross Brook) meet at the eastern end of Foxtor Mires near the beginning of the old Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel). Just before they meet, there are two fords spanning each waterway. After a spell of dry weather, the ford across th...
Shilley Pool, Throwleigh, Dartmoor National Park
In recent years, wild swimming has become an exceptionally popular outdoor activity on Dartmoor. Whilst well known Dartmoor rivers such as the Dart and Teign attract large numbers of swimmers, people are increasingly enjoying the pools and channels on lesser known rivers, brooks and streams. Shilley...
Devon Cycle Hire, Sourton, Dartmoor National Park
There are a number of mountain biking routes and a very popular family-friendly multiuse trail on the north west and western side of Dartmoor National Park. You can slog up the flank of the north moor on the Rattlebrook Peatworks Railway (Disused) to the high ground or complete the stunnin...
Tamar Trails Cycle Hire, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park
If you fancy cycling some of the Tamar Trails Cycling routes whilst on holiday in Dartmoor or the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but don't have a bike then you can hire them at the Tamar Trails Centre. Call beforehand to check availability. Bikes are collected across the way from th...
Granite Way Cycles Hire, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
The Granite Way is a popular multiuse trail on the north western fringe of Dartmoor National Park. You can horse ride, walk, run or cycle the route. If you fancy the latter but don't have a bike then you can hire one at either Devon Cycle Hire or Granite Way Cycles Hire. The latter is situated...
Forest Cycle Hire/Haldon Forest Park Cycle Hire, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
Haldon Forest Park is an exceptionally popular activity hub situated between the eastern border of Dartmoor National Park and the South Devon coast. There are lots of bike trails for all abilities. If you're on holiday in Dartmoor or South Devon but have left your bikes behind then you can hire them...
North-South (Track) Ancient Travel Route, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
This is one of the most difficult long distance routes we’ve walked in Dartmoor National Park. It’s marked on the Harvey British Mountain Map ‘Dartmoor’ map as an ancient travel route across Dartmoor. We’ve split it into two sections running north to south. Section 1. North...
Princetown Cycle Hire/Fox Tor Cafe Cycle Hire, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Princetown is at the start, and end, of two Granite and Gears mountain biking routes. The Granite and Gears Princetown Railway Cycling Route is family friendly. The Granite and Gears Princetown and Burrator Cycling Route is a little more demanding. You can hire mountain bikes from Fox...
Haldon Forest Park Cycling, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
This is one of the best places to mountain bike in Devon. Located by the A38 beyond the north eastern border of Dartmoor between the National Park and Exeter, there are a number of trails built into a stunning landscape. The trails cover all age groups and abilities. We've been taking kids h...