Holne, Dartmoor National Park

Holne, Dartmoor National Park
  • Village on the edge of Dartmoor's south moor near the sublime Dart Gorge and beauty spot Spitchwick. The Dartmoor gateway towns Ashburton and Buckfastleigh are below to the east and south east
  • Follow the long distance walking route the Two Moors Way from Holne up onto Dartmoor's south moor. Enjoy great views of Dartmoor, South Devon and the beautiful Avon Dam Reservoir
  • Explore the Dart Gorge. Picnic or wild swim at Spitchwick. Walk to Bench Tor from Venford Reservoir for amazing views
  • Drop down to the National Trust's Hembury Woods and visit the many tourist attractions around Ashburton and Buckfastleigh
  • Drive the A384 to Totnes and continue to the South Devon coast. Spend a day at Dartmouth where the River Dart meets the sea
  • Main photo: the view west up the Dart Gorge to the Princetown area from Bench Tor by Venford Reservoir and Holne

 

Where is Holne in Dartmoor National Park?

Holne is located on the edge of Dartmoor's south moor near the sublime Dart Gorge and beauty spot Spitchwick. The Dartmoor gateway towns Ashburton and Buckfastleigh are below to the east and south east. It's a great place from which to experience Dartmoor's high moor and steep-sided valleys.

There are two beautiful moorland reservoirs relatively close by. The long distance walking route The Two Moors Way passes through the village.

Holne is also a beautiful, short drive from Dartmeet where you can pick up the B3357 to explore the heart of Dartmoor at Two Bridges, Princetown, Bellever and Postbridge.

Because Holne is situated near the south eastern border of Dartmoor National Park, it's also easy to get to Exeter and Plymouth via the A38 and the South Devon coastline with all its famous beaches via other Devon A roads.

 

Directions to Holne

Drive the A38 to Ashburton. Take the exit at the southern end of town and head towards the River Dart Country Park. Cross the River Dart at Holne Bridge and climb towards the high moor. The road splits. The right fork takes you to New Bridge and Spitchwick. The left takes you to Holne and then the high moor around Venford Reservoir.

If you're coming from the heart of Dartmoor, drive to the Dartmeet area. Cross Hexworthy Bridge, pass The Forest Inn and climb to Venford Reservoir. Holne is just down the hill on your right.

We've positioned Holne on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.

 

Parking in Holne

There's a small car park in the centre of the village by Holne Tea Room.

 

Why holiday or weekend break in Holne?

To help you choose the Holne area, we’ve listed some of the local attractions below.

 

The Church House Inn in Holne

Relax in The Church House Inn in the heart of the village. Makes a great stop if you're walking the Two Moors Way.

 

Holne Tea Room in Holne

Alternatively, enjoy a cream tea in Holne Tea Room which is pretty much across the road from The Church House Inn. Again, makes a great stop if you're walking the Two Moors Way.

 

The Two Moors Way from Holne

The Two Moors Way is a long distance path that runs from Lynmouth on the Exmoor National Park coast all the way south to Ivybridge on the southern border of Dartmoor National Park. At over 100 miles, it's a long way but, clearly, one can dip into the walk at various points. Holne is a great starting point if you want to walk a section of the path.

Heading north. Walk to New Bridge and then Spitchwick before following the amazing Dr Blackall's Drive to Jordan valley. Dr Blackall's Drive offers incredible views of the Dart Gorge. The Two Moors Way then splits but one route cuts across Dunstone Down to Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Great walk.

Heading south west and south. From Holne and Scorriton, the Two Moors Way follows a track to Chalk Ford on the boundary of the moor. The views back along this track across Dartmoor to South Devon are superb. At Chalk Ford, you climb over domed moorland and drop down to Huntingdon Warren Cross. Note the Avon Reservoir to the south. From Huntingdon Warren Cross, head for the clapper bridge that spans the River Avon. Yomp up the steep hill to the plateau. You'll see Red Lake China Clay Works and the start/end of the Red Lake Railway.

 

The Dart Gorge near Holne

Explore the Dart Gorge. It's one of the most beautiful places in Dartmoor National Park. Like the Teign Gorge and Lustleigh Cleave, the Dart Gorge is a steep-sided wooded valley cut by a fast-flowing river that runs from the high moors down to the Devon coast.

 

Spitchwick and River Dart wild swimming near Holne

Picnic or wild swim in the River Dart at Spitchwick. A large, grassy area running along a bend in the River Dart, Spitchwick is often heaving with families having picnics and wild swimming in the holiday season. It's known for its natural beauty and is easily accessible from Holne.

For a walk and wild swim in the Dart Gorge, head for Sharrah Pool.

 

Tors near Holne

Walk to Bench Tor. Topping a spur of moorland that juts out into the Dart Gorge, it's a breathtaking place. The heavily wooded gorge walls are a riot of colour. After a spell of heavy rain, water roars in the River Dart below. We cannot recommend the place highly enough. It's also in the Dart Valley Nature Reserve and near two exceptionally popular visitor spots at New Bridge and Dartmeet.

Combestone Tor is superb and next to a car parking area.

Sharp Tor (Dartmeet/East Dartmoor) is on the north side of the Dart Gorge.

 

Venford Reservoir near Holne

Visit the beautiful Venford Reservoir at the foot of the south moor.

 

Dartmoor south moor walks near Holne

Walk to Ryder's Hill which is the highest point on Dartmoor's south moor.

Hardened walkers should try the Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route.

 

Hembury Woods near Holne

Discover the National Trust's Hembury Woods.

The River Dart rises in two places on Dartmoor's north plateau. The East Dart River and West Dart River merge at Dartmeet and the combined River Dart flows through the stunning Dart Gorge on its way to the south eastern border of the National Park. The National Trust's Hembury Woods provides the best riverside walking along this lower section of the River Dart. The woods rising from the river are magnificent and are topped with Hembury Hillfort.

 

Avon Dam Reservoir from Holne

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.

 

Princetown, Two Bridges, Postbridge and Bellever from Holne

Drive to the Dartmeet area and follow the B3357 to the heart of Dartmoor at Two Bridges, Princetown, Bellever and Postbridge.

 

Ashburton and Buckfastleigh from Holne

Drop down to Ashburton and Buckfastleigh.

Visit some of Dartmoor's most popular visitor attractions including the River Dart Country Park, Buckfast Abbey, the South Devon Railway, Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies and Pennywell Farm.

 

Exploring South Devon from Holne

Head down to the South Devon coast. We'd recommend day trips to Bigbury-on-Sea Beach and Bantham Beach.

See our sister site Love South Devon for more information.

 

Other local towns and villages near Holne

For villages, try Widecombe-in-the-Moor

For towns, visit Ashburton and Buckfastleigh. Head to Princetown on the high moor.