Bluebell Walks, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Bluebell Walks, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park

Best places to see bluebells on Dartmoor

The below recommendations are all linked to Google maps but we'd suggest you refer to the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map for detail.

If we had to choose a couple of places to see bluebells, we'd pick East Hill Bluebell Circular Walk up on the northern border of the National Park near Okehampton and Holwell Lawn Bluebell Circular Walk to the east near Widecombe-in-the-Moor.

However, both of these are open areas. If you fancy seeing bluebells under a canopy of green try Meldon Woods Bluebell Circular Walk near Okehampton. Again, each recommendation is linked to Google maps. Click through to the listing and zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see exact locations.

Scroll through the picture gallery below to see images of bluebells on Dartmoor.

 

When to go?

We've been photographing bluebells on Dartmoor since 2008 and most of the images in the gallery were captured in the middle of May. In some years, say 2011, they came out a little earlier. The density and colour differs year on year as well. The 2014 showing was spectacular after a stormy, wet winter. If you want to see how the bluebells are looking before visiting, we'd suggest you browse images on Twitter. Dozens of Dartmoor photographers capture images and post them after their trips so you get a good sense of their progress.

 

Other locations for bluebell walks in Dartmoor National Park

East Hill by Okehampton.

Holwell Lawn between, roughly speaking, Hound Tor and Haytor Rocks.

Emsworthy, just south of Holwell Lawn and close to Saddle Tor by the B3387, is a favourite with local bluebell photographers.

Meldon Woods near Meldon Viaduct down the valley from Meldon Reservoir.

Whiddon Deer Park Bluebell Circular Walk. Just across the way from Castle Drogo, there are dense patches of bluebells on the upper valley slopes. The views over the Chagford area to Dartmoor's north plateau are immense. 

Dartmoor Way path north of Moretonhampstead. Follow the Dartmoor Way north out of town and within ten minutes you'll walk through a wooded area with a thick carpet of bluebells. This area is rich in wild flowers, too.

Also near Moretonhampstead, try Pepperdon Down near Blackingstone Rock and Tottiford, Trenchford and Kennick Reservoirs.

Lustleigh Cleave area around Hunter's Tor (Lustleigh Cleave/East Dartmoor).

Greator Rocks by Hound Tor (East Dartmoor).

East Okement River.

Wray Cleave in the Wray Valley. Thick carpets of bluebells in super, remote woods. Very steep and tough walking from the worn valley path to the upper part of the cleave.

 

Other suggestions for places to see bluebells on Dartmoor

To prepare for April/May 2019, we've been asking for recommendations for Dartmoor bluebell walks via Twitter. Answers so far:

@Dartmoor NT - Hembury Woods (National Trust) near Buckfast; Dunsford Woods Steps Bridge; Lydford Gorge; Fingle Bridge Woods Teign Valley; Holne Woods (National Trust) New Bridge on the Dart.

@ponytruelove - Fingle Bridge is usually very good.

@DartmoorChilli - bluebell woods near Ashburton. Or perhaps Jordan valley near Ponsworthy. Loads of bluebells.

@BarnabasHouse - I have seen some lovely bluebells down at Meavy by the ford and along the Devonport leat. Also at Buckland Abbey (National Trust).

@BarnabasHouse - Buckland Abbey (National Trust) only 2 miles from us, has a bluebell walk in the Great North Wood. Lovely. Note, this relates to a specific walk with the Warden.

@alpew - on Houndtor Down and Holwell Lawn, an area linked with Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles.

We add Dartmoor bluebell walks as we discover them. If you know of any good spots on Dartmoor for a good bluebell walk then please contact us and we'll share the information here.