The 10 best walks in Dartmoor National Park

The 10 best walks in Dartmoor National Park

The best walks in Dartmoor National Park showcase the most beautiful landscapes in England

I have always loved Dartmoor. I first went there as a child on a family holiday and have returned regularly since then to explore the best Dartmoor walks. Famous for its wild ponies, open moorland and rugged granite tors (free-standing rocky outcrops that rise abruptly from the surrounding area), it is one of the few truly wild places in England.

Tucked away in the south west of the country, Dartmoor National Park is home to some of the most beautiful hiking trails in England. A number of hiking trails criss-cross the expansive vistas and there are several routes to suit different abilities.

Almost half of the park consists of moorland, which makes for an incredibly beautiful landscape. It's easy to understand why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle chose Dartmoor as the setting for his classic crime novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, starring the infamous Sherlock Holmes.

alt="Horses Live in Groups: Stop Riding">DavidYoung/ShutterstockWalks in Dartmoor are famous for wild ponies and granite rocks

Across the moor, picturesque villages and market towns punctuate the landscape and provide the perfect excuse to stray from the path. They feature charming tearooms serving clotted cream teas, traditional pubs brewing cask ale and a wealth of local craft shops.

Dartmoor National Park is one of England's best walking destinations, supported by excellent infrastructure and a wealth of accommodation options. Whether you choose camping, glamping or holiday cottages on Dartmoor, there are a wealth of walks to choose from.

Best hikes in Dartmoor National Park

We've picked the best walks in Dartmoor National Park, including gentle circular walks as well as more challenging long-distance trails.

From rolling moorland with torched crowns to babbling streams in ancient forests, there are walks in Dartmoor to suit every taste.

1. Lydford Gorge

Distance: 4.2km (2.6mi)Duration: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Easy

alt=”Lydford Gorge is one of the best walks in Dartmoor National Park “>Marcin Jucha/ShutterstockLydford Gorge is a popular hiking trail

Lydford Gorge is a short but popular Dartmoor walk. The deepest river gorge in the southwest runs from the bubbling Devil’s Cauldron hot tub down to the dramatic 30m-high White Lady waterfall.

The winding route follows the gorge, flanked by dripping, moss-covered rock faces, and shows a different side of Dartmoor away from the famous tors and moorlands. The bluebells are in effect from mid-April.

A mix of paths, boardwalks and suspension bridges trace a route along this circular one-way path. Make sure you wear sturdy shoes as the terrain can be slippery.

Find cabins in Dartmoor for this walk.

2. Wistman's Forest

Distance: 4.5km (2.8mi)Duration: 1-2 hoursDifficulty: Easy

alt=”Wistman’s Woods is one of the best walks in Dartmoor National Park”>stefan.istrate/ShutterstockDartmoor's Gremlin Forest

UPDATE: Visitors are currently asked to avoid Wistman's Wood to protect the forest following a recent influx of visitors.

Dartmoor's gremlin forest of lichen-covered, leaning trees is worthy of an episode of Game of Thrones. The eerie forest has remained untouched for hundreds of years, its dense, tangled web of branches and uneven rocky ground making it impassable to the moor's roaming cattle and ponies.

Legend has it that Druids planted Wistman’s Wood, whose name is said to come from “wise man,” another name for a Druid.

Legend also claims that dogs live in the forest and emerge at night to claim the souls of those who enter it. Fortunately, there have been no such reports recently!

A clearly marked trail leads through the trees along the West Dart River near Two Bridges.

Find cabins in Dartmoor for this walk.

3. Gutter gate

Distance: 6.4 km (3.9 miles)Duration: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Easy to moderate

alt="The view from the top of Sheeps Tor best walks in Dartmoor National Park">Marcin Jucha/ShutterstockThe view from Sheeps Tor

This classic Dartmoor circular walk reveals the landscape that inspired Michael Morpurgo's 1982 children's novel War Horse. Morpurgo lived in the area and Steven Spielberg's 2011 film adaptation was filmed nearby and received six Oscar nominations.

The trail winds clockwise through the scenic countryside, but it's worth detouring to the top of the modest peaks in places for the best views. The triangulation point on the 350m summit of Gutter Tor offers excellent views of Dartmoor, including the rocky ridge of Sheeps Tor to the north and Gutter Mire to the east.

The highest point of the route, a slightly grassy path up to the Higher Hartor Tor, preserves the most beautiful views in the long term. On a clear day the views stretch across the magnificent Plym Valley to the west.

Find cabins near Kingsbridge for this hike.

4. Citizens

Distance: 7.1km (4.4mi)Duration: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Easy-moderate

alt="Leather Tor overlooking Burrator Reservoir">Matt Gibson/ShutterstockThe summit of Leather Tor overlooking Burrator Reservoir

Another loop trail, Burrator, offers a slightly more challenging hike. Steeped in history, the Burrator Trail offers hikers the opportunity to gain a bit of elevation and enjoy some of the most dramatic views in southern England.

The initial 500m climb to the summit of Sharpitor will certainly get the blood pumping, but the rewards are worth it. The views over Burrator Reservoir are excellent and improve as you continue to Leather Tor, which requires another courageous climb.

From here the path leads down to the banks of the reservoir, which was built in 1898. The path then heads back a bit before branching off through the forest towards Black Tor.

Of course, like much of Dartmoor, the Burrator region is steeped in legends with a variety of stories to consider. Headless riders, a dragon, ghost dogs, goblins, disembodied hands and the devil himself have appeared in the area - so be careful!

Find cabins near Kingsbridge for this hike.

5. Large staple and white gate

Distance: 10.3km (6.4mi)Duration: 3-4 hoursDifficulty: Moderate

alt="Great Staple Tor and its rock towers are one of the best walks in Dartmoor National Park">Travel Light/ShutterstockGreat Staple Tor and its rock towers

This outstanding walk leads to Great Staple Tor with its iconic rock towers and stretches across wild moorland to Langstone Moor stone circle and on to White Tor (pronounced Whit) with its magnificent views over the wrinkled slopes of Tavy Cleave.

This classic route offers a great chance of seeing the wild Dartmoor ponies that are common in the area. At the summit of White Tor, look west towards Cornwall and the ponderous hills of Bodmin Moor, then south-west towards the sparkling sea of ​​Plymouth Sound. They are perhaps the most beautiful views of all Dartmoor walks.

Find cabins in Dartmoor for this walk.

6. Teign Gorge

Distance: 6.9 km (4.2 miles)Duration: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Medium

alt="Castle Drogo was the last castle built in England">Radomir Rezny/ShutterstockCastle Drogo was the last castle built in England

Tucked away in the north-east of Dartmoor National Park lies Teign Gorge, one of the best walks in Dartmoor. With views of the enormous Castle Drogo (the last castle built in England), the magnificent Hunters Path high above the roaring River Teign and the abundant wildlife that thrives in the surrounding oak forests, Teign Gorge is an excellent Dartmoor walk.

It starts at Castle Drogo, which was built between 1910 and 1930, and then flows into Whiddon Wood. For 3,000 years, dating back to the Iron Age, timber production flourished in the area, seriously decimating the forests. However, thanks to restoration projects by the National and Woodland Trust, the ancient forest is making a comeback.

The path crosses the river before looping back on the opposite bank of the property. Look out for the roaring of deer. Whiddon Deer Park lies southeast of the castle and is an important refuge for the area's wild deer!

Find cabins near Totnes for this walk.

7. Hound Gate

Distance: 8.5 km (5.2 miles)Duration: 2-3 hoursDifficulty: Medium

alt="Climbers at Hound Tor, one of the best hikes in Dartmoor National Park">Phil Friar/ShutterstockClimbers on Hound Tor

This exceptional footpath leads to several of Dartmoor's most famous tors, including Saddle, Haytor, Howell Tor and Hound Tor. These are full of legends; Witches, ghosts and dragons appear along the way.

The steep moorland paths offer impressive viewpoints, starting at Haytor Rocks. These are known for the story of a young woman who, desperate to escape an arranged marriage, jumped from the top of the rocks to her supposed death. However, her body was never found...

Next is Hound Tor, popular with climbers and one of Dartmoor's most famous attractions. The iconic rocks were created when a formidable hunter and his pack of dogs interrupted a coven of witches. Of course, the witches retaliated by turning him and his dogs into stone.

Eventually the path passes Greator Rocks, another dramatic torch, before heading back across the moorland to its starting point.

Find cabins near Totnes for this walk.

8. High Willhays

Distance: 17.5 km (10.8 miles)Duration: 4-5 hoursDifficulty: Moderate

alt="High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor">Phil Harland/ShutterstockHigh Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor

One of the best walks in Dartmoor National Park is this full-day route to High Willhays, Dartmoor's highest point. The walk takes in beautiful countryside near Okehampton Common with some fantastically named tors including Scarey, Rough, Yes and Dinger.

At 621 m (2,039 ft) above sea level, High Willhays is also the highest point in the United Kingdom south of the Brecon Beacons in south Wales.

This route can be quite strenuous as it also leads to Dartmoor's second highest point. Yes Tor is located approximately 1km north of High Willhays on a ridge known as the 'Roof of Devon'.

High Willhays and Yes Tor can also be reached via paths leading from Meldon Reservoir (see below).

Find cabins in Dartmoor for this walk.

9. Cranmere Pool

Distance: 21km (13mi)Duration: 5-6 hoursDifficulty: Moderate

alt="Meldon Reservoir on the way to Cranmere Pool">VAmbrosini/ShutterstockMeldon Reservoir on the way to Cranmere Pool

This excellent return route passes Meldon Reservoir before heading across the country to the site of the first postbox - not of the Royal Mail variety, but of letterboxing, a hobby somewhat similar to geocaching and involving elements of orienteering and puzzle solving. Since around 1854, letterboxing has spread around the world.

Cranmere Pool is also home to the Legend of the Cranmere Benjie, a rather convoluted tale about a sobbing, guilt-ridden ghost, a ghostly horse and a sheepskin sieve. This isn't a joke.

Eccentric English hobbies and long-winded legends aside, the route past Meldon Reservoir, along the West Okement River and through Black-a-Tor Copse to Cranmere Pool is a wonderful walk through an unusual part of the moors.

Find cabins in Dartmoor for this walk.

10. Two Moors Trail

Distance: 58km (36mi) Duration: 6-8 days Difficulty: Difficult

alt="The Two Moors Way showcases the best scenery Dartmoor has to offer">Paul Nash/ShutterstockThe Two Moors Way is one of the best walks in Dartmoor National Park

The Two Moors Way is an unofficial long-distance footpath that crosses Dartmoor and Exmoor. It's a different approach to the coast-to-coast experience as the trail traverses 188km (117 miles) from the North Devon coast to the South Devon coast.

The section that traverses Dartmoor National Park from Ivybridge to Drewsteignton showcases the best scenery Dartmoor has to offer. Mind you, it doesn't come without its challenges. Expect particularly challenging terrain north of Ivybridge.

If you really want to push yourself, head further north to Exmoor National Park, which feels slightly less wild than Dartmoor but offers similar terrain. However, where Dartmoor lies entirely inland, Exmoor enjoys the high cliffs and rugged coastline of the Bristol Channel.

Find cabins near Kingsbridge for this hike.

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Lonely Planet Great Britain is a comprehensive travel guide to Great Britain, covering the region and many of the best walks in Dartmoor National Park in detail.

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