Things To Do in Dartmoor
New Bridge (Newbridge), Buckland in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
New Bridge, or Newbridge, is a narrow, granite bridge spanning the River Dart on the road that climbs from Ashburton to Poundsgate and beyond to Dartmeet and other well known visitor destinations in Dartmoor National Park. The bridge is situated at the eastern end of the glorious Dart Gorge. The riv...
Hole Rock, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park
Between the cairn on Black Hill and Smallacombe Rocks are a number of rocky outcrops running from the flat top of the hill down the flank of moorland towards a public footpath and then Becka Brook. These rocky outcrops are marked Hole Rock on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. The...
1638 Thunderstorm, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
Inside Widecombe St Pancras Church, at the base of the tower, are four wallboards telling the story of the 1638 Thunderstorm. The following transcription was taken from photos. 'It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lam.III.2.2. The merciful a...
Ted Hughes Memorial Stone, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
A memorial to the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes was unveiled in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey in December 2011. More appropriately, another memorial was helicoptered onto the high moors of Dartmoor National Park a decade before. It's a simple granite stone sunk into a mound close to the head of the...
Tottiford Reservoir, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park
One of three reservoirs near the north eastern border of Dartmoor National Park Tottiford Reservoir is one of three beautiful reservoirs north of Bovey Tracey and south west of Moretonhampstead. Tottiford was the first reservoir to be built in what is now Dartmoor National Park. Tottiford was bui...
Houndtor Down, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park
Houndtor Down is home to Hound Tor, Hound Tor Abandoned Medieval Settlement (English Heritage) and Holwell Lawn. The latter has one of the best bluebell showings in Dartmoor National Park. Houndtor Down was used for crops and livestock during the medieval period when the abovementioned settl...
The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
Award-winning pub The Rugglestone Inn was voted one of the best UK country pubs in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018. It's a great pub in a superb setting. Widecombe-in-the-Moor Situated on the edge of Widecombe in the Moor in the east section of Dartmoor, The Rugglestone I...
West Okement Head, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Up on Dartmoor’s north plateau, within a short distance of each other, are the headwaters of many of the National Park’s most famous rivers. The moorland here is remote, boggy, rough cut and tussocky. Given that the headwaters are located on a plateau, it’s also possible to argue that the view...
Avon Dam Reservoir, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
Magnificent reservoir on Dartmoor's south moor Avon Dam Reservoir is one of the many beautiful and much visited reservoirs in Dartmoor. It's situated in the south eastern section of the National Park towards the edge of Dartmoor's south moor. The Abbot's Way, as marked on the Ordnance Survey E...
Thornworthy Tor, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
Explore the northern section of Chagford Common and, against the backdrop of Fernworthy Forest, you'll see a rocky outcrop topping a reasonably large hill surrounded by a chunky stone wall. The outcrop is Thornworthy Tor and we were told by the local farmer that the wall demarcates a newtake or Dart...
East Webburn River Valley, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
Widecombe-in-the-Moor is located towards the middle of the East Webburn River Valley. As a consequence, the valley is one of the most visited in the National Park. The upper section of the valley is dominated by Hamel Down. The lower section is heavily wooded where the East Webburn River meets th...
East Dart Head, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
On Dartmoor's north plateau, in a bowl of moorland below some of the National Park's highest hills, are the headwaters of the East Dart River. It's a remote, strangely intoxicating area far away from villages and towns. After periods of wet weather, the land is boggy and unpleasant to walk across. I...
Kestor Settlements and Field System, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
Spend time walking in the northern section of Chagford Common and you'll see plenty of people heading up to Kestor Rock or wandering across to see the Shovel Down Stone Rows. Others strike out across the common on their way to high north plateau around Wild Tor and Watern Tor. Few explore the settle...
East Webburn River, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
The East Webburn River rises near Hameldown Tor and English Heritage's Grimspound on the vast back of Hamel Down. The headwaters are close to Hamel Down Cross and Broad Barrow. From its source, the river cuts deep into moorland and tumbles past Berry Pound before arcing through Natsworthy. It flo...
Okement Hill, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Okement Hill is remote, high moorland in the northern section of Dartmoor National Park. It's relatively easy to get to. At the southern end of the army ring road, you can walk or mountain bike up the hill using the safe, solid rough road. Okement Hill is known for its disused army observation point...