Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park

Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park
  • Major Dartmoor gateway town to the National Park's high moor. Drive the B3212 west to the moor around southern England's highest pub, the Warren House Inn
  • Visit the Miniature Pony Centre. Spend time at other local tourist attractions including Castle Drogo (National Trust)
  • Head up to the local beauty spot Blackingstone Rock for immense views across to Dartmoor's north moor
  • Walk the high moor and Dartmoor's wooded valleys. Lustleigh Cleave and the Teign Gorge are both amazing. Discover beautiful reservoirs on the eastern side of the Wray Valley near Moretonhampstead
  • Enjoy local public art and wander across to see Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses (National Trust)
  • Relax in the town's pubs/bars and cafes
  • Main photo: Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses (National Trust)

 

Where is Moretonhampstead in Dartmoor National Park?

Moretonhampstead is a Dartmoor gateway town in a great location in the north east section of the National Park.

The town is situated around the intersection of the A382 and B3212. These major roads provide great access to many of Dartmoor's most popular areas. The A382 runs north west to Chagford and south east to Lustleigh and Bovey Tracey with South Devon beyond. The B3212 is the National Park's most important trans-moorland road and crosses Dartmoor between its north and south moor. The famous Dartmoor moorland settlements Postbridge, Two Bridges and Princetown sit on the B3212.

 

Directions to Moretonhampstead

Follow the A382 from the A30 or the A382 from the South Devon area.

If you're coming from the western and central sections of Dartmoor, drive the B3212 to Moretonhampstead.

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

 

Parking in Moretonhampstead

There are two main car parks on the south and west sides of town.

You can normally find a spot on the B3212/Court Street in the centre of town if you're popping into the shops to grab some essentials.

 

Why holiday or weekend break in Moretonhampstead?

To help you choose Moretonhampstead, we've listed some of the local attractions below.

 

The White Hart Hotel and The Horse in Moretonhampstead

Enjoy local food and drink in one of the town's many pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Try The White Hart Hotel and The Horse next door.

Michael Howard Butchers in the centre of town is superb. In addition to high quality local meat, they sell pasties, great coffee etc to take away.

The luxury hotel Bovey Castle is on the outskirts of Moretonhampstead. The food and setting are great.

For a country pub, we'd recommend Ring of Bells Inn in the nearby village of North Bovey.

 

Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses

One of the most impressive buildings in Dartmoor National Park, Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses are owned by the National Trust.

 

Art in Moretonhampstead

Discover Moretonhampstead's Moretonhampstead Public Art/Sculpture ('Dartmoor Flight').

Visit Green Hill Arts.

 

Outdoor swimming pool in Moretonhampstead

Dartmoor is known for its wild swimming and outdoor pools.

Spend an afternoon at Moretonhampstead Swimming Pool (Outdoor).

See our Best Dartmoor Wild Swimming listing for information on wild swimming.

 

Moretonhampstead Motor Museum

At the top of Moretonhampstead high street, in a refurbished bus depot, is a super collection of vintage vehicles. There are about '90 vintage vehicles, from Victorian horse-drawn carts to cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles from pre-1920s to the 1990s'.

 

The Wray Valley Trail from Moretonhampstead

The Wray Valley Trail in Dartmoor runs south east from Moretonhampstead in the direction of Lustleigh. It's been under construction for years but connects Moretonhampstead with the pretty village Lustleigh and then Bovey Tracey. It then links up with another trail that takes you south east to Newton Abbot in South Devon.

 

The Miniature Pony Centre just outside Moretonhampstead

If you have kids, visit The Miniature Pony Centre.

The B3212 runs west out of Moretonhampstead on its way to the heart of Dartmoor. The Miniature Pony Centre is located between Moretonhampstead and the high moor.

 

Drive the moors west of Moretonhampstead

The abovementioned B3212 takes you through the heart of Dartmoor National Park to Princetown and Tavistock.

Stop at Warren House Inn. Southern England's highest pub looks out across high moorland to Birch Tor, the Headland Warren area and the bulk of Hamel Down beyond. Sensational views from the pub garden!

Postbridge Clapper Bridge is a little further south west.

Beyond that is Two Bridges which is close to the remarkable Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve.

The B3212 leads to Princetown, Dartmoor PrisonDartmoor Prison Museum and Princetown National Park Visitor Centre.

 

Dartmoor's high moor and tors near Moretonhampstead

Wander out onto the moors and summit some tors. Moretonhampstead is located on the B3212 that cuts across the National Park. This provides easy access to some of Dartmoor's most impressive moorland and tors.

The views from Hamel Down are huge and impressive.

Birch Tor overlooks the Warren House Inn.

Bellever Tor is a well-known Dartmoor beauty spot in the heart of the National Park. Great walk from Postbridge or the car park in Bellever Forest.

We'd also recommend following the A382 down to Bovey Tracey and then the B3387 to Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor (East Dartmoor).

 

Discover Dartmoor's prehistory near Moretonhampstead

Visit English Heritage's Grimspound (English Heritage).

Wander out to Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row.

For stone circles, try Scorhill Stone Circle.

Learn more about the National Park's rich prehistory in the Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre and the Princetown National Park Visitor Centre.

 

Mardon Down above Moretonhamptead

The north and east side of Moretonhampstead are also packed with places to visit and attractions.

Arguably the best view of Moretonhampstead is from the western edge of Mardon Down.

The B3212 climbs steeply out of Moretonhampstead and skirts an area of moorland called Mardon Down. Walk to the western side of Mardon for huge views over Moretonhampstead to Fernworthy Forest and Dartmoor's north moor.

 

Blackingstone Rock near Moretonhampstead

Take in some of the best views in Dartmoor National Park from Blackingstone Rock.

Visit in the morning and the sun's behind you lighting up the moors from Haytor Rocks to Cosdon Hill (Cawsand Hill).

 

Kennick, Tottiford and Trenchford reservoirs

Head a little further south east of Blackingstone Rock to experience a beautiful cluster of reservoirs east of the Wray Valley.

There are car parking spots at Kennick Reservoir, Tottiford Reservoir and Trenchford Reservoir. The area is particularly beautiful on a sunny day in autumn when the leaves turn.

 

The Teign Gorge and the National Trust's Castle Drogo near Moretonhampstead

Walk the Dartmoor Way Walking Route north and then north west of Moreton to the Teign Gorge (National Trust) and Castle Drogo (National Trust).

This section of the Way is particularly beautiful in Spring (say, early May) when the wild flowers are out.

The Teign Gorge (National Trust) is incredible. It's widely recognised as being one of the most stunning areas in the National Park. Within the gorge, we'd recommend visiting Castle Drogo, Fingle Bridge with its pub and Sharp Tor. Across the valley from Castle Drogo is the superb Whiddon Deer Park. Cranbrook Castle Hillfort offers immense views of Dartmoor National Park and large areas of Devon. Paths have been opened up on the southern side of the gorge under the name Deer Stalkers Paths.

Castle Drogo (National Trust) was the last castle to be built in England. Explore the house and gardens and then grab a cream tea in Best Chagford Walks. There's a great shop as well.

 

Lustleigh Cleave

Drive the A382 to Lustleigh and then yomp to the top of Lustleigh Cleave.

The views from Hunter's Tor (Lustleigh Cleave/East Dartmoor) are amazing.

Having explored Lustleigh Cleave, head to East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. England's first National Nature Reserve, the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve consists of parts of the Bovey Valley, Trendlebere Down and Yarner Wood.

 

Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor

Take the B3387 up to the Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor area.

Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor (East Dartmoor) are two of Dartmoor's most impressive tors.

 

Gardens near Moretonhampstead

For gardens, we'd suggest you spend an afternoon at the magnificent Stone Lane Gardens and Mythic Garden Sculpture Exhibition near Castle Drogo and Chagford.

Castle Drogo Gardens are also superb.

 

Other National Trust and English Heritage properties near Moretonhampstead

In addition to the National Trust's Castle Drogo (National Trust), there are plenty of other National Trust properties in, and around, Dartmoor.

Try Finch Foundry (National Trust), Lydford Gorge (National Trust), Buckland Abbey (National Trust), Saltram House, The Dewerstone and Hembury Woods (National Trust).

English Heritage properties include Okehampton Castle (English Heritage), Lydford Castle (English Heritage) and Merrivale (English Heritage).

 

Dartmoor's visitor attractions

Visit some of Dartmoor's many family attractions.

Try Becky Falls Ancient Woodland Park and Canonteign Falls.

House of Marbles and Teign Valley Glass is cool.

 

South Devon from Moretonhampstead

Leave the National Park and explore South Devon. Browse our sister site Love South Devon for detailed information.

The English Riviera is an amazing place that arcs from Babbacombe and Torquay through Paignton to Brixham. Visit Kent's Cavern and Torre Abbey.

Push south to experience the remarkable coastal towns Dartmouth and Salcombe.

For beaches, try Blackpool Sands, Bantham Beach and Bigbury-on-Sea.

We'd also suggest day trips to Exeter and Plymouth.

 

Local towns and villages near Moretonhampstead

For other 'gateway towns' try Chagford and Bovey Tracey.

For moorland villages we'd recommend Lustleigh, Manaton and Widecombe-in-the-Moor. To the north try Drewsteignton and Dunsford.