Dartmoor National Park Authority

Guided Walks and Local Events March 2010

For more information on the start point location use the following link to Guided Walk Start Points

For information on charges Key facts on walks

Dartmoor National Park Authority events and walks are shown in bold in this list

March Highlight:  Medieval Star Gazing at Higher Uppacott

TUESDAY 2
10:30: 4hr Walk, Holne Moor and High Moor Mining (Venford Reservoir) Industrial Archaeology just forms part of the story in this area. Discover more on this walk.  Guide C Fitzroy 01822 890414 Distance 6.5m/10km ***

WEDNESDAY 3
Dartmoor Volunteer Days: Gorse Clearance & Cairn Surveys. Leeden Hill, near Princetown.  Join the Dartmoor Preservation Association in helping to clear gorse and survey cairns during the winter months. For more information including the possibility of other sites and dates or to book contact Paul Rendell 01837 54727.

SATURDAY 6
Moretonhampstead Festival of Food, Beer and Arts.

SUNDAY 7
11:00: 2.5hr Walk, General Introduction to Winter Walking (Two Bridges) Hints and tips on walking in Winter conditions. Guide N Handley 01752 780557 Distance 5m/8km **
14:00: 2hr Site Visit, Visit a Dartmoor Longhouse (Bel Tor Corner) Visit Dartmoor National Park Authority's own Grade 1 listed 14th Century Longhouse - a place where people and animals lived under the same roof. Why not make an interactive visit first www.virtuallydartmoor.org (external site, opens new window).  Please book on 01822 890414

MONDAY 8
10:30: 2.5hr Activity, An Introduction to Nordic Walking (Pork Hill) An opportunity to try out a new sport on Dartmoor and increase your fitness.  Nordic walking engages the muscles of the upper body and therefore burns more calories than ordinary walking.  Cost £6.00 which includes tuition and the use of poles.  Booking essential 01822 615513.

SATURDAY 13
Bovey Tracey Farmers' Market. Union Square. Contact M Carpenter 01626 834109.
09:00:  Tavistock Farmers' Market. Bedford Square. Voted the ‘Best Farmers’ Market in the South West’.  The markets take place on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, from 9.00am to 1.00pm.  Everything you will find on sale is produced within the local area, and stallholders are the farmers, growers or producers themselves. All products sold have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholders. Contact www.tavistockfarmersmarket.com (external site, opens new window).

SUNDAY 14
10:30: 4hr Walk, A Ridge Walk with a Beacon (Belstone) tread the highest points of the North east side of the moor and across 'The Beacon' which was so beautifully described by Eden Phillpotts in his book of the same name.  Guide A Cope 01297 625375 Distance 8.5m/12km ***

TUESDAY 16
10:00: 6hr Walk, Reservoirs, Farms, Leats and the Abbots way (Burrator Quarry) Plenty to discover on this walk. Walkers need to be fit and well equipped.  Guide D Payne 07785 720064 Distance 11m/17.5km ***

SATURDAY 20
10:30: 4hr Walk, Bronze, Tin, Peat, Clay, Granite and Man (Ivybridge) The south moor is rich in its history, discover more on this walk which takes you out to Western Beacon, Spurrells Cross and Butter Brook. This walk is timed to coincide with trains and buses arriving at the station. Guide M Walker 01752 897034 Distance 8m/13km ***
10:30: 3.5hr Walk, Lunch at the Waterfall (Postbridge) Lunch at the East Dart Falls as part of this walk.  Guide B Kocziban 01395 278533 Distance 4.5m/7km **

Special FREE Event
18:45 2hrs Medieval Star Gazing at Higher Uppacott (Bel Tor Corner)
Experience the Dark Night Skies on Dartmoor from Higher Uppacott Dartmoor National Park Authorities Grade one listed medieval longhouse.  Discover more about this house, the history of Astronomy and what the stars may have meant to medieval occupiers with help from members of the Tiverton and Mid Devon Astronomy Society.  What ever the weather this event will run so for more information and to book contact 01822 890414

09:00:  Okehampton Farmers' Market. St James' Chapel Square, centre of town. Okehampton Farmers' Market has 20 or more stalls of local foods. You will find pork and pork products, free range chicken, venison, ostrich meat and products, lamb, beef and game in season. Organic foods, cheeses, preserves, honey. Fresh fish (weather permitting) and beer. Bread, cakes and chocolates. Vegetables and fruit in season. Free range eggs, yogurt. Herbs, herbaceous and perennial plants.  www.okehamptonfarmersmarket.co.uk (external site, opens new window).  Contact Ruth Kelsey 01837 811 762

SUNDAY 21
10:30: 4.5hr Walk, Peaks and Pixies (Okehampton Moor) A visit to the home of the Dartmoor pixies and the highest point in Southern England.  Guide J Whiting 01837 861333 Distance 6m/10km ***

SATURDAY 27
10:15: 6hr Walk, Improver's Navigation (Princetown) brush up on your naviagtion Skills.  Suitable for those who have done a beginners course or those with a basic knowledge of navigation (using a map and compass). Please book on 01822 890414.
10:30: 4hr Walk, The East Moor (North Bovey) A mixture of open moorland, footpaths and quiet country roads feature on this walk.  Guide P Rendell 01837 54727 Distance 8m/13km ***

Bovey Tracey Farmers' Market. Union Square. Contact M Carpenter 01626 834109
09:00:  Tavistock Farmers' Market. Bedford Square. Voted the ‘Best Farmers’ Market in the South West’  The markets take place on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, from 9.00am to 1.00pm.  Everything you will find on sale is produced within the local area, and stallholders are the farmers, growers or producers themselves. All products sold have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholders. Contact www.tavistockfarmersmarket.com (external site, opens new window)
09:30:  Widecombe-in-the-Moor Village Market. Church House. An interesting range of produce, from olives and olive oil to locally grown vegetables and plants. Cheeses, apple juice, honey, home made bread, cakes, jams; chutneys etc. are all there with the core stalls being beef, lamb and pork from local Widecombe farms.  Refreshments are provided by local groups and charities who benefit from the proceeds. Contact Di Cameron 01364 621218.

SUNDAY 28
10:00: 6hr Walk, Far Form the Madding Crowds (Postbridge) A good moorland yomp with plenty of interest on the way.  Walkers need to be fit and well equipped.  Guide T Burges 01404 44579 Distance 8.5m/13.5km ***

10:00: 6hr Activity, Practical Navigation (Pork Hill)  Improve your navigation skills.  To book ring 01822 890414

Page updated 24 March 2010