Best Dartmoor Walks With Kids, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
How difficult are Dartmoor walks with kids?
Dartmoor is a great starter National Park for kids. The terrain is relatively gentle. Our youngest daughter wandered up to High Willhays (the highest point on Dartmoor and in southern England) when she was four. Every year, children as young as 13* complete the 35 miles Ten Tors Challenge with full kit. In general, walking on Dartmoor isn't demanding and the rewards are huge.
How long do walks take?
We've been walking on Dartmoor with kids for about a decade. As a rule of thumb, we tend to cover a mile in 30 minutes. Clearly, it depends on their age and fitness but the terrain is significantly easier to walk than, say, the high cliff sections of the South West Coast Path or the steep mountainsides of many UK National Parks.
Very easy Dartmoor walks with kids
Haytor Rocks. Arguably Dartmoor's most famous tor. There are plenty of car parking areas on the B3387 below the tor. We'd recommend walking from the lower car park by Haytor National Park Visitor Centre. In the eastern section of Dartmoor.
Hound Tor (East Dartmoor). One of Dartmoor's most popular and dramatic tors, there's a large car park below the rocky outcrop. Great place for a picnic with views across to Haytor Rocks. Nearby Holwell Lawn is known for its amazing Spring bluebells. In the eastern section of Dartmoor.
Buckland Beacon Walk. Provides one of the finest views in the National Park. In the eastern section of Dartmoor.
Castle Drogo (National Trust). Major Westcountry National Trust property overlooking the Teign Gorge which is one of Dartmoor's most beautiful places. Walk in Castle Drogo Estate. We'd recommend walking from the castle to Sharp Tor and back via Hunter's Path. In the north eastern section of Dartmoor.
Rowtor. Perhaps the easiest way to experience Dartmoor's high moor. There's a large car parking area below the tor. In the northern section of Dartmoor.
Great Mis Tor. Four Winds is a car park on the B3357 near Merrivale. A good track rises from Four Winds to the superb Great Mis Tor. In the western section of Dartmoor.
Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor). In the south western section of Dartmoor. There are car parks on the B3212 below Sharpitor. It's a short climb to the rocky outcrop for stunning views over Burrator Reservoir.
Avon Dam Reservoir. In the south eastern section of Dartmoor. A tarmac road rises from Shipley Bridge to Avon Dam Reservoir. You'll see lots of families walking here. Kids take bikes.
Walking with kids to some of Dartmoor's best tors
Haytor Rocks to Hound Tor Circular Walk. In the eastern section of Dartmoor.
Cox, Roos and the Staple Tors Circular Walk. In the western section of Dartmoor.
Walking with kids to the highest ground on Dartmoor
Dartmoor's Highest Points Circular Walk (High Willhays/Yes Tor). In the northern section of Dartmoor.
(Other routes are described in our Yes Tor and High Willhays listings.)
Walking Dartmoor's magnificent gorges and valleys with kids
Lydford Gorge Circular Walk. In the western section of Dartmoor.
Teign Gorge Circular Walk (Fingle Bridge to Castle Drogo). In the north eastern section of Dartmoor.
Reservoir walks on Dartmoor with kids
Fernworthy Reservoir Circular Walk. In the north eastern section of Dartmoor.
Seasonal walks on Dartmoor with kids
Dunsford Wood Wild Daffodil Circular Walk. In the north eastern section of Dartmoor.
*Conditions of entry for the Ten Tors Challenge. 'Age. All those taking part in the Ten Tors Challenge must be between the ages of 14 and 19 as at the 31 August of the year of the Challenge.'
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