Outdoors & Nature in Dartmoor National Park
Mel Pool, Holne, Dartmoor National Park
Wild swimming is popular in Dartmoor National Park. Mel Pool is one of the most beautiful, and remote, places in which you can enjoy it. A stretch of cascades and calm pools of water on the River Dart in the stunning Dart Gorge, it's relatively difficult to get to although nothing too challenging fo...
Sharrah Pool, Holne, Dartmoor National Park
Wild swimming and walking The East Dart River and West Dart River converge at Dartmeet to form the Double Dart or, more simply, the River Dart. The River Dart then passes through the Dart Gorge which is one of the most beautiful and wild places in Dartmoor National Park. The river cascades and...
Dartmoor North To South Walk In A Day, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
You can walk from Belstone near the northern border of Dartmoor down to Ivybridge on the southern border of the National Park in a day. Providing you don't get lost, it takes roughly twelve hours so you'll need to do it when there are sufficient daylight hours unless, of course, you want to walk by...
Plym Valley (National Trust), Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park
If you look at the Ordnance Survey Landranger 191 'Okehampton and North Dartmoor' map, you'll see three blocks of moorland and wooded valley demarcated as National Trust land. This is what we refer to as Plym Valley (National Trust). Roughly speaking, and following the OS map, ...
Dartmoor Cycling, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
This listing is intended as an introduction to cycling in, and around, Dartmoor National Park. For detail, we'd recommend buying a copy of Harvey British Mountain Map's 'Dartmoor and the surrounding area for cyclists for off-road cycling and cycle touring'. Family Cycling Routes 1. G...
Teign Gorge and Fingle Woods to Steps Bridge Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
You can pretty much follow the River Teign from the mouth of the Teign Gorge below the National Trust's Castle Drogo all the way east to Steps Bridge at the far end of Fingle Woods. Whilst it seems like a long way, you're walking by a river so it's reasonably flat. About 20km there and back (detours...
Stover Country Park Local Nature Reserve, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor Zoo, the National Trust's Buckland Abbey and many other major visitor attractions are located just beyond the border of the National Park. Clearly, lots of people visit them when on holiday in Dartmoor which is why we include them on this site. Another superb attraction just beyond the east...
Stover Country Park The Ted Hughes Poetry Trail, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
This superb poetry trail runs, roughly speaking, around the lake in Stover Country Park Local Nature Reserve. Nature poems by the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes are displayed on posts. Interspersed between the posts are other displays providing information on local birdlife, wildlife and history. On a sun...
Fingle Woods Halls Cleave/Cod Wood Circular Walk, Drewsteignton, Dartmoor National Park
The woods around Fingle Bridge in the Teign Gorge (National Trust) can get relatively crowded. Head east into Fingle Woods (National Trust/Woodland Trust) and you'll find fewer walkers. This is especially the case in Halls Cleave and Cod Wood. However, these are remarkably beautiful places teeming w...
East Hill Bluebell Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
In Spring, drive along the A30 as it skirts the northern border of Dartmoor National Park and you'll see purple moorland above Okehampton. This is the showing of bluebells on East Hill near the British Army's Okehampton Camp. It's up there with the best areas of bluebells in the National Park. Re...
Holwell Lawn Bluebell Circular Walk, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park
Holwell Lawn is the most popular place to experience bluebells in Dartmoor National Park. On a sunny day, when the flowers are at their most vibrant and their intoxicatng smell pervades the moor, Holwell Lawn can get crowded. This circular walk takes you through the most popular area in addition to...
Whiddon Deer Park Bluebell Circular Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
In 2014, the bluebells up at Whiddon Deer Park were at their best in the middle of May. Clearly, this is a Spring walk when the bluebells are out. For other bluebell walk recommendations, see our listing for Bluebell Walks. Start at Iron Bridge below the National Trust's Castle Drogo (National Tr...
Meldon Woods Bluebell Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
This is one of the most impressive stretches of bluebell woodland we've experienced in Dartmoor National Park. Roughly speaking, the bluebells are thick between Meldon Viaduct and the car parking area on the west side of the woods. We can't recommend this area highly enough to bluebell fans. Ther...
Broad Down, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park
If you're heading to Fur Tor or Cut Hill from Postbridge, it's likely you'll be walking over, or around, Broad Down. It's a beautiful spot offering great views of the East Dart River. Broad Down forms part of a lovely circular walk from Postbridge to the East Dart River Waterfall and back again....
White Ridge Stone Row, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park
Just east of Fernworthy Forest, on Hurston Ridge, is an impressive and well-known stone row. It's one of many stone rows in and around Fernworthy. Some are located in the forest. Others create ancient avenues on the moors. Perhaps the most difficult to find is the stone row on White Ridge. Situated...