Dartmoor National Park, Visitor & Tourism Guide
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Country: England
Region: South West England
County: Devon
Nearby AONBs: Tamar Valley, South Devon, Cornwall, East Devon
Select Towns: Chagford, Princetown, Okehampton, Moretonhampstead, Tavistock, Bovey Tracey, Ashburton
Select Villages: Manaton, Widecombe in the Moor, Lydford, Belstone, Postbridge, South Zeal, North Bovey, Haytor Vale, South Brent, Drewsteignton, Holne, Buckland in the Moor, Hennock
Most southerly National Park
The most southerly National Park in the UK, Dartmoor is located in Devon in South West England. The Park lies a short drive north east of Plymouth and south west of Exeter.
Lush, wooded valleys or cleaves
To begin, Dartmoor is not bleak. Fringed by some of the most stunning gorges, wooded valleys and cleaves in England, the Park is far from the stereotype of bleak, wet moorland. Walking in the Teign Gorge and Dart Gorge, Lustleigh Cleave and Lydford Gorge and Waterfall, for example, is an awesome experience. See our 'Top 10 Recommended Valleys' and 'Top 10 Recommended Walks' for further ideas.
The only two mountains in southern England
The last great wilderness in the south of England, Dartmoor National Park is home to the only two mountains in southern England. The wilder, higher ground in which these mountains are located lies to the north and west. Head to the area around Meldon and Okehampton to summit these peaks.
Established in 1951, Dartmoor National Park covers 368 square miles (953 square km) and is famous for its granite tors of which there are about 160. Over 30,000 people live here. The highest point is High Willhays at 2,039 ft (621 m) and the most famous tor, perhaps, is Haytor Rocks to the east. We list our 'Top 10 Recommended Tors' below.
Places in which to base yourself
There are a number of 'gateway towns' around the fringes of the moors. To the north and east try Chagford and Moretonhampstead. To the north and west try Okehampton and Lydford. Ashburton, to the east, is gorgeous and Tavistock, to the west, is a great place from which to explore the high moors as well as the Tamar Valley AONB.
Rich prehistory
People have lived on these moors since prehistory with few areas in the UK having a higher concentration of prehistoric monuments. The Upper Plym Valley is particularly interesting. Try also Grimspound. Once a royal hunting forest, in medieval times tin-mining flourished here. Today the British Army use areas of Dartmoor for their training and control around 30,000 acres.
Dartmoor Ponies
Dartmoor Hill Ponies roam the moors, hikers pound its trails. There are castles and gorges, museums and ancient woods. We recommend a visit in Spring and early Summer to see the wild flowers in full show.
Take a look at our recommendations and quick links to discover Dartmoor and book your holiday or weekend break. Note that the South Devon AONB with all its stunning beaches is to the south east and The English Riviera is to the east. Cornwall and the Tamar Valley AONB are to the west. It's easy to combine a few days heavy walking with trips to one of these areas. The cities of Plymouth and Exeter are super, too. The former has an extraordinary history.
Last, members of the PictureTheUK team live in Dartmoor National Park. We also run the local UK travel website 'Holiday in Dartmoor'. Browse that website for more detailed information.
External Links
www.holidayindartmoor.com_
www.belstonevillage.net
Top 10 Recommendations
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Local Attractions [See more Attractions]
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Located in Postbridge, Devon, South West England, England Less than a mile away. Said to be the highest pub in southern England, the Warren House Inn is located by the side of the B3212 on the high moors of Dartmoor National Park. If you're travelling the B3212 from Moretonhampstead or Princetown, it... |
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Located in Postbridge, Devon, South West England, England Less than a mile away. If you visit the Warren House Inn and look east, you'll see the remains of tin mines set in beautiful moorland landscape. Birch Tor, Vitifer Mine and, a little further south, Golden Dagger Tin Mine are located in the are... |
Local Accommodation [See more Accommodation]
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 Approximately 4.0 miles away. Total Rooms: 65; Rates: £125 - £295 Per Night In 400 acres of immaculately kept grounds, surrounded by the dramatic natural beauty of Dartmoor National Park, this exclusive 5-star hotel, spa and sporting estate offers an unparalleled lifestyle experience... |
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 Approximately 4.1 miles away. Total Bedrooms: 3; Maximum Occupants: 8; Rates: £819 - £2,619 Per Week A luxurious detached granite lodge set within the grounds of Bovey Castle with breathtaking views over Dartmoor National Park. Excellent on-site facilities for all the family.... |
© Owner
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Approximately 4.2 miles away. Total Bedrooms: 3; Maximum Occupants: 8; Rates: £819 - £2,619 Per Week A luxurious detached granite lodge set within the grounds of Bovey Castle with breathtaking views over Dartmoor National Park. Excellent on-site facilities for the family.... |
