18 July 2006
Celebrate National Parks - Britain’s Breathing Spaces
National Parks’ Week 21 – 28 July
National Parks are Britain’s breathing spaces. Places where you can enjoy quiet moments of reflection or challenge yourself physically in stunning surroundings. You can experience thousands of years of history and culture, enjoy delicious local produce, or simply unwind on a gentle stroll or family picnic. Whatever your age or ability, you will find inspiration and enjoyment in Britain’s National Parks.
Merrivale Stone Row, Dartmoor, copyright Ross Hoddinott (external link, opens new window) | National Parks’ Week, coordinated by the Association of National Park Authorities (ANPA) is dedicated to raising public awareness of the reasons for the existence of National Parks and to celebrate their beauty, diversity and the wide range of opportunities they offer for enjoyment. |
As part of the celebrations Dartmoor National Park Authority has organised a major exhibition, to be launched during National Parks’ Week 2006 at the High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown.
Natural Beauty – celebrating Britain’s breathing spaces opens on Wednesday 26 July and is the result of collaboration between all the United Kingdom’s National Park Authorities to produce an exhibition of some of the finest photographic images available from each National Park.
The exhibition contains information on each National Park and there is a great new activity book for children with colouring fun, word games and wildlife activities, free to those who come along. Find out about the worldwide family of National Parks and how partnership working benefits both National Parks in the UK and abroad. The exhibition will also be accessible online at www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk. The exhibition runs at the High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, until Wednesday 4 October 2006. Admission to the exhibition and Visitor Centre is free.
Princetown can be accessed by public transport. Please telephone Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 for public transport information.
There is a specially organised programme of events and guided walks taking place throughout the week, with family events, pony visits and a special children’s activity.
On Sunday 23 July experience Dartmoor Pony Encounters at Widecombe-in-the-Moor. This two hour guided stroll is a must for those who would like to find out more about this National Park icon. The walk starts at 10.30 am. Please book by telephoning the High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, on (01822) 890414. Also starting from Widecombe-in-the Moor is a six hour Sketch and Stroll walk enabling you to try your hand at capturing the inspirational scenery on paper. Meet at the Teignbridge District Council car park at 10.30 am. |  |
Or join local farmer Andy Bradford on a Scenic Farm and History Walk to discover the diversity of wildlife and fascinating history surrounding Brimpts Farm, near Dartmeet. Meet at Brimpts Farm, 10.30 am. If you fancy stretching your legs on a longer walk, to experience the rugged beauty of the northern expanse of Dartmoor on a six hour high moor walk, encompassing Rifle Ranges and Moorland Views. Meet at Willsworthy, 10.30 am (Ordnance Survey grid reference SX 518 834).
On Monday 24 July another six hour high moor walk explores the Fernworthy area, starting at 10 am from the main reservoir car park, and on Tuesday 25 July, a gentle two hour stroll provides an ideal opportunity for families wanting to experience the beauty of walking in the National Park for the first time. This Family Introduction to Dartmoor starts at Newbridge at 10.15 am.
On Wednesday 26 July, at 10.30 am, join a National Park Guide to experience Nature in the Bovey Valley (meet at Trendlebere, SX 784 793) and on Thursday 27 July, at 10.30 am, Trendlebere is the starting point for another opportunity to Sketch and Stroll amongst stunning Dartmoor scenery.
A High Moor Walk, meeting at Pork Hill on Thursday 27 July at 10.30 am, enables those wishing to venture a little further from the road, do so in the company of an experienced National Park Guide, while at 1.30 pm, Phil Page, of English Nature, will lead a tour of East Dartmoor Woods and Heaths Nature Reserve, looking at heathland and woodland butterflies. Bring binoculars for this walk which starts at Bovey Tracey car park (opposite the Tourist Information Centre) and lasts for three hours.
National Parks’ Week culminates, on 28 July, with a four and a half hour walk exploring the area South of Princetown, including South Hessary and Crock of Gold (meet outside the High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, at 11am) and a chance to join local radio presenter Tony Beard on a Widecombe Village History tour.
Many guided walk start points are accessible by public transport. If you arrive at the start point by public transport, and show your ticket to the guide, you can join the walk free of charge. Princetown can also be accessed by public transport. For public transport information telephone Traveline on 0870 608 2 608. Please note that no dogs, other than guide dogs, are permitted on guided walks.
National Parks provide unspoilt and challenging environments where you can try things that are new and different and reconnect with what’s important in life. If you would like to find out more about recreation on Dartmoor, the National Park Authority Recreation Roadshow is coming to a selection of towns and cities in the region during National Parks’ Week – so come along and find out more.
Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Recreation Roadshow is coming to:
Torquay (Union Street, outside Woolworths) - Saturday 22 July;
Saltram House, Plympton - Sunday 23 July;
Plymouth (New George Street, outside Waterstones) - Monday 24 July;
Buckland Abbey, Buckland Monachorum - Tuesday 25 July;
Newton Abbot (town centre outside Lloyds Bank) - Wednesday 26 July;
Totnes Show - Thursday 27 July;
Exeter (Guildhall, opposite WH Smiths) - Friday 28 July.
Ends
For Further Information
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Claire Partridge, Information Officer (Activities)
Jackie Ridley, Tourism and Recreational Transport Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are now available on the Authority's website These Agendas are placed on the Authority's web site 7 days in advance of these meetings.
You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (see www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk and click on In the news).
Notes for Editors
Guided walks costs
Up to 2 hours £3.00
Up to 3 hours £4.50
Up to 4 hours £5.00
Up to 6 hours £6.00
Children 14 & Under £1.50
Children’s activities £2.50
Accompanying adults go free but must accompany children 14 and under
Forthcoming Exhibitions at the High Moorland Visitor Centre
•6 Oct - 22 Nov 2006: Farms for City Children - An exhibition of work by photographers Chris Chapman and the late James Ravilious.
•24 Nov 2006 - 10 Jan 2007: Moor - An exhibition of paintings by Pennie Elfick/ Jenny Graham.
•12 Jan - 4 March 2007: Tors - Images by regional photographers.
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,400 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
There are 14 National Parks in the UK. They are: Brecon Beacons, Cairngorms, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, Yorkshire Dales and the Broads.
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This page last updated 18 July 2006
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Send comments, enquiries, etc. to communications@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
Page updated 18 July 2006
