Outdoors & Nature in Dartmoor National Park
Roman Chair, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
In his work 'High Dartmoor', the Dartmoor expert Eric Hemery writes: 'On the north slope of the hill, a little below the Iron Age fort and surrounded by furze bushes of great height, is a small unrecorded outcrop presenting the appearance of a huge stone chair. John Hodge [a local farmer] was tol...
Ashbury Tor, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Ashbury Tor isn't marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map which is a shame as the views from the top of its outcrops are wonderful, especially if you like a mix of wooded valley and high moorland. We've positioned Ashbury Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting...
Okehampton Camp to West Cleave Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
West Cleave is a stunning place. Whilst you can walk in from all directions, our favourite approach is from the west. There are a number of circular walks you can complete from the Okehampton Camp area. Note that this is one of the best areas on Dartmoor for bluebells in Spring. From Okehampton,...
Chapel Ford (and 'Chapel Lands'), Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
If you're walking the Tarka Trail in Dartmoor National Park, you'll cross the wooden footbridge at Chapel Ford on the East Okement River at the upper end of West Cleave. The ford is just downstream of the footbridge. There's also a set of stepping stones. The Tarka Trail runs along the west bank mov...
Belstone Cleave and Skaigh Woods Circular Walk, Belstone, Dartmoor National Park
Walking/views Start at the car parking area at the entrance to Belstone (by Brenamoor Common). Wander through the village to Belstone Great Green. Cosdon Hill is the vast dome of moorland to the south east. Belstone Cleave is the beautiful wooded valley running east. Stand facing Belstone Clea...
Walking/views Start from the car park next to Princetown National Park Visitor Centre. Wander up the B3357 main road in the direction of Dartmoor Prison and Dartmoor Prison Museum. Very shortly, you'll see Station Road to your left. The road leads to Dartmoor Brewery and then bends r...
Princetown, Nun's Cross and Hart Tor Circular Walk, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Walking/views If you're not staying in Princetown, there's a large car park in the centre of the village. Start from there. Wander over to the Princetown National Park Visitor Centre and you'll see The Plume of Feathers Inn across the road. Just to the left of the inn is the beginning of a track&...
Mardon Down Stone Circle, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park
Prehistory/views Dartmoor's stone circles are invariably situated in stunning locations. Arguably, Mardon Down Stone Circle provides the finest views. Positioned on top of an island of moorland in the north eastern section of the National Park, there are massive views from the stone circle to Dar...
Emsworthy Local Nature Reserve, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
Nature Emsworthy Local Nature Reserve sits below Haytor Down in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park. It's very easily accessible and is known for its Spring bluebell showing and cuckoos. We've positioned Emsworthy Local Nature Reserve on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite'...
Tamar Trails Walking, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park
If you're a keen walker, we'd very much recommend exploring the walking routes around the Tamar Trails Centre. Passing through a section of the magnificent Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the west of Dartmoor, these walking routes are also within an internationally impo...
Haldon Forest Park Walking, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
Whilst Dartmoor offers some of the best moorland and valley walking in the UK, it's also nice to walk in areas outside the National Park that provide big views of Dartmoor's high ground. Kit Hill Country Park in Cornwall is great to the west. Haldon Forest Park is superb to the north east....
Haytor Rocks to Hound Tor Circular Walk, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park
Walking two of the most popular and visited tors in Dartmoor National Park Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor (East Dartmoor) are two of the most popular and visited tors in Dartmoor National Park. Haytor Rocks is located on Haytor Down. Hound Tor is located on Houndtor Down. Becka Brook divides th...
Dewerstone Valley Circular Walk, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park
Walking the beautiful Dewerstone Valley The Dewerstone Valley is one of Dartmoor's many stunning wooded valleys. Located on the south west border of the National Park, the valley is cut by the River Plym as it flows from Crane Hill on Dartmoor's south plateau down to the city of Plymouth. This...
Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel), Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park
A wheal is a mine. A leat is a man-made waterway used to channel water from, say, a river down to a mine, mill or town/city. Wheal Emma Leat is the now dry channel of a leat built in 1859 that once collected water from near the source of the River Swincombe as it flows past the eastern side of Foxto...
Ducks' Pool, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor has a north and south plateau separated by a central bowl. Both high plateaus have iconic and remote pools and letterboxes that attract high numbers of Dartmoor enthusiasts. The north's most famous pool is Cranmere Pool with its letterbox. The south's most famous is Duck...