Outdoors & Nature in Dartmoor National Park

East Dart River Waterfall, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park
With its rocky high ground and numerous rivers, Dartmoor National Park has many waterfalls. In Lydford Gorge (National Trust) and Canonteign Falls, water falls from a great height. In Becky Falls Woodland Park and Yealm Steps Waterfall, water tumbles dramatically over rocks. The waterfall on the upp...

Piles Copse, Harford, Dartmoor National Park
Piles Copse is one of three high altitude oak woodlands in Dartmoor National Park. See also Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve and Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve.

Upper West Okement Valley, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
The West Okement is a river that rises on Dartmoor's north plateau by the National Park's famous Cranmere Pool. From this river head, the water flows swift and clear around the north slope of Great Kneeset to Kneeset Foot. This remote and boggy area is at the top of a stunning, steep-sided valley to...

Fordsland Ledge, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Fordsland Ledge is a large strip of moorland covered with clitter occupying ground between High Willhays and the West Okement River. Whilst we include it on Holiday in Dartmoor as a point of reference, Fordsland Ledge provides stunning views of Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve, the Upper We...

Ivy Tor, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
In winter, if you stand on Belstone Great Green and look east along the gorgeous Belstone Cleave, you'll see a rocky outcrop jutting out of the trees on the right hand side, or southern wall, of the wooded valley. This is Ivy Tor. It rises from the south bank of the River Taw next to a steep moorlan...

Ivy Tor Water, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
Ivy Tor Water is a small stream running off the north flank of Cosdon Hill into the River Taw in Belstone Cleave. We include Ivy Tor Water on Holiday in Dartmoor as a reference point for finding Ivy Tor. You also cross Ivy Tor Water on routes taking you around Cosdon Hill or up to its summit at Cosd...

Ockerton Court, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
All the way at the southern end of the army ring road on Dartmoor’s north moor is a pool of water at Ockerton Court. It’s a beautiful place to photograph high moorland with Hangingstone Hill beyond. It’s also on one of the most popular routes to the famous letterbox at Cranmere Pool. Whilst it...

Belstone Cleave, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
By Dartmoor standards, Belstone Cleave is a relatively small cleave or wooded valley so it's easy to walk and explore. This website helps people discover and holiday in Dartmoor National Park. It's a practical guide. As such, for the purposes of this listing, we take Belstone Cleav...

Yarner Valley, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
Two streams arc through Yarner Wood and meet near Yarner Wood Base Reserve. To the north is Woodcock Stream. To the south is Yarner Stream. The valley cut by the latter is particularly impressive and we'd recommend visiting for its natural beauty, birdlife and historical features. We've positione...

Steeperton Gorge, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
By Dartmoor standards, this is a small gorge. Unlike the Dart Gorge, Teign Gorge or Lydford Gorge which have been cut by wide, powerful waterways, Steeperton Gorge is situated pretty far upstream on Dartmoor's north plateau. The River Taw rises on the high, boggy ground around Hangingstone Hill and...

Yarner Wood Bird Hides, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
'The internationally important upland oak woodlands in this National Nature Reserve are one of the best places to see woodland birds of many kinds but especially the enigmatic pied flycatcher, secretive lesser spotted woodpecker and vocal wood warbler.' The Natural England information boards at the...

Yarner Wood Nature Trail, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
Yarner Wood is part of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. Dotted around the wood, you'll find posts to which are attached numbered Yarner Wood Nature Trail waymarkers. You can follow either the short loop that runs close to the Yarner Wood Reserve Base or extend it into a longer loop&nb...

Crow Tor, Two Bridges, Dartmoor National Park
Head up the valley from Two Bridges to Wistman's Wood and you'll see a distinctive lump of granite on a spur of land to the north. This is Crow Tor. The spur of land is cut by the West Dart River to the east and south and by a small moorland stream to the west. North, the moorland rises from Crow To...

West Mill Tor, Yes Tor and High Willhays Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
From Okehampton, follow the signs to Okehampton Camp. The views down to Okehampton, Okehampton Castle and North Cornwall/Mid & North Devon are impressive if you have clean light. At Okehampton Camp, cross the cattle grid and turn hard right. The road leads to West Mill Tor with Yes Tor behind. Pa...

Yarner Wood Reserve Base/Natural England Office, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
The Yarner Wood Reserve Base/Natural England Office is situated next to the car park and main access point for Yarner Wood. Just across the car park from the office is a bird hide providing views over a large pond (the stew pond) frequented by birdlife. Leaflets providing information about Yarn...