Things To Do in Dartmoor
Shelstone Tor, Sourton, Dartmoor National Park
Some of Dartmoor's most beautiful tors are either far from towns and villages or tucked away in less well known areas of moorland. Shelstone Tor is an example of the latter. Located near the north western border of Dartmoor National Park where the Upper West Okement Valley meets Meldon Reservoir,...
Lydford Gorge White Lady Waterfall, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park
We visit the Lydford Gorge White Lady Waterfall on a regular basis. Whilst it's always a beautiful spectacle in an even more beautiful setting, it's best to try and visit the waterfall after a period of heavy rain. Water flows fast from the nearby moors to the Lydford Gorge area and swells both the...
Whitchurch Common, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park
Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting of the accompanying Google map and you'll see lots of grass paths and tracks crossing moorland. These give you a sense of the popularity of Whitchuch Common. Other clues are provided by the size of the car parking area by the B3357 and the fact that the area is a w...
Homerton Hill, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Homerton is one of the hills surrounding Meldon Reservoir near the north western border of Dartmoor National Park. A popular path skirts the north and west sides of the hill around the reservoir and leads from the dam to Vellake Corner and then up to Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve. We'...
Rough Tor, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park
Every year, large numbers of visitors wander up the West Dart River valley from Two Bridges to explore Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve. Many of these visitors also climb to the top of nearby Longaford Tor for its sensational views across Dartmoor National Park. From the top of Longaford Tor,...
Bagtor Down, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park
As you climb the B3387 from Bovey Tracey past Haytor Vale to the high moors, Haytor Down runs north of the road and Bagtor Down to the south. Note that the River Sig rises on Bagtor Down from two boggy sections of moorland. The western section is called Bag Tor Marsh and is best avoided. If you...
Leather Tor, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
If you're familiar with the mountains of Snowdonia National Park, Leather Tor is a miniature version of the superb Tryfan. A fin of rock rising steeply from the surrounding moorland, Leather Tor is great for a scramble. It also offers immense views of Burrator Reservoir and Dartmoor's south moo...
Dartmoor Live Firing, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
If you see one of these flags then the army are using the area for live firing. You'll hear the gunfire well before you see red flags but, still, do look out for them. They're positioned on the highest ground so you can't miss them. Dartmoor has three army ranges: Okehampton, Wilsworthy and Merri...
Hemsworthy Gate, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
We include Hemsworthy Gate on 'Holiday in Dartmoor' as a reference point. As is the case with Nun's Cross Farm and Batworthy Corner, it's a great starting point from which to discover Dartmoor's landscape and history. There's a small car parking area and paths run off in all...
Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor), Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
There are a handful of tors on Dartmoor that give you very special views in return for very little effort. Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor) is one of them. Situated above a number of car parking areas on the B3212 Princetown to Yelverton road, Sharpitor provides a classic Dartmoor view over B...
Blackslade Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
According to the Dartmoor expert William Crossing, it was on Blackslade Down 'that the wicked Jan Reynolds once entered into a compact with a stranger, who turned out to be the Prince of Darkness, and failing to keep it became his victim. Seven years after the meeting Jan was discovered indulgin...
Langstone Moor Stone Circle, Peter Tavy, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor's stone circles tend to occupy stunning locations. Langstone Moor Stone Circle is no exception. Situated in a vast, open stretch of moorland with the bulk of Great Mis Tor rising to the south east, Langstone Moor Stone Circle is essential visiting if you're interested in Dartmoor's prehisto...
Bonehill Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
Bonehill Down is a finger of open access moorland surrounded by private land in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park near the popular moorland village Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Running north to south, the down is home to the impressive rocky outcrops Honeybag Tor, Chinkwell Tor, B...
Widecombe St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
The 'Cathedral of the Moor'. In East Dartmoor, and dominating the popular moorland village of Widecombe in the Moor, Widecombe St Pancras Church dates from the 1300s. Wallboards within the church tell a story of a fire-ball passing through the church and killing four people as a result of a light...
Ingra Tor, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
The Princetown Railway (Princetown to Yelverton Railway Dismantled) descends from Princetown to the border of Dartmoor National Park. All that remains is an old trackbed that's used for the Granite and Gears Princetown Railway Cycling Routes. The railway trackbed sweeps around a number of...