Lustleigh, Dartmoor National Park

Lustleigh, Dartmoor National Park
  • Beautiful Dartmoor village in a wooded valley in eastern section of the National Park. The Dartmoor gateway town Bovey Tracey is nearby
  • Super place to enjoy local food and drink in The Cleave village pub or Primrose Tea Rooms overlooking the village square and St John the Baptist Church
  • Walk the stunning Lustleigh Cleave. A cleave is a steep-sided valley. Rivers flow from Dartmoor's high moor to cut lots of spectacular cleaves, valleys and gorges. Lustleigh Cleave is one of the best. It's particularly impressive in autumn
  • Cycle the Wray Valley Trail through Parke Estate (National Trust) to Bovey Tracey
  • Visit the nearby East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve which was England's first National Nature Reserve and then climb some of Dartmoor's finest tors. Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor are in the local area
  • Enjoy some of the Devon visitor attractions near Lustleigh. Try the House of Marbles and Becky Falls. The brilliant Miniature Pony Centre is situated on the outskirts of Moretonhampstead
  • Main photo: walking to the centre of Lustleigh on Lustleigh May Day Fair

 

Where is Lustleigh in Dartmoor National Park?

Lustleigh village is located in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park. It's situated just off the A382 below the stunning Lustleigh Cleave at the south east end of the Wray Valley.

The Dartmoor gateway town Bovey Tracey is to the south east. The National Park's most popular area around Haytor Rocks is to the south.

 

Directions to Lustleigh

The village is easily accessible from South Devon. Follow the A38 to the Bovey Tracey area and then take the A382 into Dartmoor National Park. Lustleigh is on your left.

If you're coming from the heart of Dartmoor, we'd recommend taking the B3212 to Moretonhampstead and then following the A382 south east in the direction of Bovey Tracey. Lustleigh is on your right near the border of Dartmoor National Park.

We've positioned Lustleigh on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.

 

Parking in Lustleigh

There's limited parking in the centre of the village by the church and pub.

 

Why holiday or weekend break around Lustleigh?

To help you choose Lustleigh, we've listed some of the local attractions below.

 

The Cleave Pub in Lustleigh

Enjoy local food and drink in the village pub. The Cleave Pub is in the centre of the village opposite the church. Great spot from which to start, or end, a walk or bike ride.

 

Wreyland in Lustleigh

Lustleigh spreads out across pretty countryside. The centre of the village around church and pub is gorgeous but we'd also recommend wandering across to Wreyland which is on the east side of Wrey Brook. The houses here are exceptionally pretty and much photographed.

[Note that Ordnance Survey mapping refers to Wreyland and Wrayland. The Wrey Brook is also marked Wray Brook.]

 

Lustleigh Cleave above Lustleigh

Walk Lustleigh Cleave. Rivers flow from Dartmoor's high moorland and cut steep-sided wooded valleys, or cleaves, on the fringes of the National Park. Lustleigh Cleave is one of the finest.

We particularly recommend the views from Harton Chest (Lustleigh Cleave) and Hunter's Tor (Lustleigh Cleave/East Dartmoor).

 

Wray Valley and Lustleigh

Explore the Wray Valley.

From Lustleigh, walk or cycle the Wray Valley Trail in Dartmoor to the National Trust's Parke Estate (National Trust) then continue to MAKE Southwest in Bovey Tracey.

The three reservoirs east of the A382 are impressive. Try the Tottiford, Trenchford & Kennick Reservoirs Circular Walk

 

East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve near Lustleigh

Discover Yarner Wood which is part of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve.

 

Dartmoor's visitor attractions near Lustleigh

Enjoy both Becky Falls Ancient Woodland Park and Canonteign Falls.

Take a trip to the House of Marbles and Teign Valley Glass.

 

Haytor Rocks near Lustleigh

Stand on top of Haytor Rocks having learnt about the local area in the Haytor National Park Visitor Centre.

Continue to Hound Tor (East Dartmoor).

If you're into walking, we'd recommend heading up to Hamel Down for views of Dartmoor's north plateau, central bowl and south plateau.

 

Dartmoor's prehistory near Lustleigh

Experience Dartmoor's prehistory. English Heritage's Grimspound (English Heritage) is the most obvious site to visit in this part of the Park.

For stone rows, see Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row.

To learn more about Dartmoor's prehistory, spend some time in both Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre and Princetown National Park Visitor Centre.

 

The National Trust's Castle Drogo north west of Lustleigh via the A382

Visit the National Trust's Castle Drogo (National Trust). Located high above the mouth of the Teign Gorge (National Trust), it's worth visiting for its views alone.

Walk the remarkable Teign Gorge to the local beauty spot Fingle Bridge where you can grab a drink at Fingle Bridge Inn.

Other National Trust properties to visit on Dartmoor include Finch Foundry (National Trust) and Lydford Gorge (National Trust).

 

Outdoor activities near Lustleigh

Try Dartmoor's outdoor activities.

Go horse riding from Shilstone Rocks Horse Riding.

Try climbing and bouldering at Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor (East Dartmoor).

Haldon Forest Park is great for family mountain biking.

Whilst it's a bit of a trip, we'd also recommend mountain biking the Granite and Gears Princetown Railway Cycling Routes up at Princetown and cycling the Granite Way between Okehampton and Lydford.

 

The coast from Lustleigh

Head to the South Devon coast.

Explore The English Riviera and then drop down to the beautiful coastal towns of Dartmouth and Salcombe.

For top beaches, try Blackpool Sands, Bantham Beach and Bigbury-on-Sea Beach.

 

Exeter and Plymouth from Lustleigh

From Lustleigh, we'd also recommend day trips to Exeter and Plymouth via the A38.

 

Local towns and villages near Lustleigh

Just over Lustleigh Cleave is Manaton.

Try also the 'gateway towns' of Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey.