Dartmoor National Park Authority

Walking

Dartmoor’s varied landscape offers great opportunities for many activities, particularly walking. Whether going on a family stroll, following a woodland or reservoir trail, joining a guided walk, or heading off into remote open country, walking is one of the best ways to discover and experience Dartmoor‘s beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage interest. Read More

You can download  the leaflet Walking on Dartmoor from the Publications section of the website.

Walking Routes

Dartmoor has a wide variety of pre- planned walking routes for you to discover and enjoy - they range from short one ot two hour strolls to long distance routes good for a full day or weekend.

Short walks -

Audio Walks
Dartmoor National Park Authority has developed four audio walks at Princetown, Bellever, Haytor and Postbridge - so why not download a walk today?

Walks from the National Park Visitor Centres
Princetown, Postbridge and Haytor Visitor Centres offer people a variety of short walks compiled in a publication which can be purchased online or at the Visitor Centres. Other walk booklets can also be purchased

Bus Walks
There are a number of circular and linear bus walks that can be enjoyed from the Haytor Hoppa bus service, these can be downloaded free of charge.

Long Distance Walks

Two Moors Way
The Two Moors Way is a long-distance walking route between Ivybridge on the southern edge of Dartmoor and Lynmouth on the North Coast of Exmoor, comprehensively waymarked except on the open moorland sections. It has a total length of 102 miles (163 km), making it an ideal week's walk.
The Way links the only two National Parks in south west England, and crosses both of them north-south. Not surprisingly, it passes through landscape of exceptionally high quality. Not only does this include the high moorland of some of the Dartmoor and Exmoor sections, but also the deep and wooded valleys of the moorland edges and between the moors, unspoilt rural scenery with a remote and tranquil feel difficult to find elsewhere in modern times. Walking mostly not difficult, but one or two strenuous stretches; some unwaymarked open moorland requiring navigational skills.

Dartmoor Way
90 miles around Dartmoor; the route is currently not waymarked.
Passes through numerous small towns and villages, including Okehampton, Chagford, Moretonhampstead, Buckfastleigh, Princetown and Tavistock.
A variety of Dartmoor scenery, including wild upland, sheltered valleys and quiet lanes. Generally reasonably easy walking. Coincides with various lengths of the Tarka Trail, Taw-Teign Link, West Devon Way and Two Castles Trail; links with the Templer Way and Two Moors Way.

Taw Teign Link
6 mile link between the Tarka Trail and Two Moors Way on the northern fringe of Dartmoor; the route is currently not waymarked. It Passes through the small town of Chagford (where it meets the Two Moors Way) and the village of Sticklepath (where it meets the Tarka Trail).
A quiet landscape of wooded valleys and moorland fringe. Walking is generally quite easy. Coincides with the Dartmoor Way; links with the Tarka Trail and Two Moors Way.
Bus access is available to both ends of the route.

Templer Way
18 miles between Haytor on Dartmoor and Teignmouth on the south coast; the Way traces the route by which granite was exported from Dartmoor via the unique Haytor Granite Tramway and the Stover Canal and is comprehensively waymarked except on the open moor.
Passes through Newton Abbot as well as Teignmouth; also the edge of Bovey Tracey.
A wide range of scenery including open moorland, woodland, river valleys, passing old quays and locks and along estuary foreshore; fascinating examples of the old tramway and canal are passed. Walking is quite easy from Haytor to Teignmouth (downhill), quite strenuous in the opposite direction.
Links with the South West Coast Path and Dartmoor Way.
Train access to Teignmouth and Newton Abbot; buses also serve both places and, in the summer, Haytor.
Pick up a copy of the Templer Way leaflet  - a guide to the long distance route between Haytor and Teignmouth.

Two Castles Trail
24 miles between Okehampton and Launceston (just over the border in Cornwall) on the western side of Devon; the route is waymarked except where it crosses open moorland.
Apart from Okehampton and Launceston, the route also passes through a number of small villages.
Moorland landscapes in the east, valleys in the west, all with a range of very wide views; the two Norman castles at Okehampton and Launceston, which give their name to the Trail, are passed, together with a variety of other historic sites. Generally easy walking with one or two short climbs.
Coincides with the West Devon Way at the eastern end; links with the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail at Launceston; the route lends itself to being part of a grand circuit around western Devon in conjunction with the West Devon Way and Tamar Valley Discovery Trail.
Train access (summer Sundays only) to Okehampton from Exeter; bus access to both ends and some intermediate points; there is a regular bus service running parallel to the whole route.

West Devon Way
36 miles between Okehampton and Plymouth along the western edge of Dartmoor; the route is waymarked except where it crosses open moorland.
As well as Okehampton and Plymouth, also passes through Tavistock and a number of smaller settlements.
Superb landscapes of moorland, river valleys and pastoral scenery; good long-range views. Walking is generally not difficult.
Coincides with the Two Castles Trail at the northern end and with the Dartmoor Way between Okehampton and Tavistock; links with the South West Coast Path and Erme-Plym Trail at Plymouth; also with the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail at Plymouth, via the Plymouth Cross-City Link walk. The route lends itself to being part of a grand circuit around western Devon in conjunction with the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail and West Devon Way.
Train access to Plymouth and (summer Sundays only) to Okehampton from Exeter; bus access to both ends and to Tavistock and many intermediate points; there is a regular bus service running parallel to the whole route.

For details of all bus routes and times www.traveline.org.uk/index.htm (external link, opens new window)

Walking with Moor Care

• Be prepared for rapidly-changing weather conditions.
  Wear and carry the right equipment
  Use stiles and gates to cross boundaries
  When the ground is wet, always park and plan routes on hardened surfaces.
  Always follow the Countryside Code
• If you have a dogs please take extra care Walking With Your Dog

Page updated 17 September 2009