Best Dartmoor Walks

Located in Devon's wild interior, Dartmoor National Park is full of fantastic walks. Whether you're here to see the region's natural beauty at a leisurely pace, to find a place to take the kids for a stroll or want to cover great distances and wild camp on a point-to-point adventure, the park's uplands and moors are full of opportunities. Read on to find out more about some of the best family-friendly walks, accessible paths, nature reserves and history trails in Dartmoor. 

Pitchup’s best Dartmoor walk

There’s fierce competition, but if we had to pick one walk and crown it the best in all of Dartmoor, it would be the trail around Hameldown Tor and Grimspound. With stunning scenery, great wildlife and connections to local folklore, this fantastic all-rounder is a great place to get started. 

Distance: 6 miles/10 kilometres
Parking: Safe roadside parking by Jay’s Grave or at Hound Tor car park
Notes: A map and detailed description of this walk can be found on the Divine Dartmoor Walks website

Starting at Jay’s Grave – said to be the resting place of an unhappy 18th-century housemaid who was betrayed by her lover (some locals leave flowers here to this day) – the walk heads through fields and crosses marshy areas where you’ll probably spot dragonflies in the warmer months. After passing old boundary stones (marking the edge of different Dartmoor estates) you’ll continue up rugged tors and then through a peaceful forest back to the starting point. 

The best thing about this walk is its sheer variety, plus the historical landmarks and interesting folk stories that you can find out about along the way. After you’ve finished, treat yourself to a drink or snack in the nearby village of Widecombe in the Moor.

Family-friendly Dartmoor walks

While these walks are suitable for little legs, not all of them are perfectly flat and suitable for pushchairs – see our accessible walks below if this is what you’re looking for.

Lydford Gorge

Distance: 2.7 miles/4.3 kilometres
Parking: National Trust car park 

Located on the edge of the national park between Tavistock and Okehampton, this scenic gorge walk is easy to complete but will feel adventurous to little explorers. Head down through the gorge to the stunning White Lady Waterfall, then cross to the other side of the water and return to the car park via the Devil’s Cauldron and a woodland filled with ancient oak trees. 

Families are well looked after here, as there are two toilet locations (both with baby-changing facilities), and there are also tea rooms that offer kids’ menus. It’s worth noting that the gorge is owned by the National Trust and there is a charge to enter (entry is free for children under 5).

Burrator Reservoir 

Distance: 4.5 miles/7 kilometres
Parking: Burrator Quarry car park

With stunning waterside views and minimal incline, this gentle route makes a scenic half-day walk for groups of all ages. The circular route hugs the edge of the reservoir, with just a couple of short sections along a very quiet road. Passing ruins, woodlands (where there are lots of bluebells in late spring) and with fantastic views of Sheeps Tor in the distance, this trail is also popular with cyclists and anglers. 

There are public toilets at the start/end point. While the path is generally well maintained, it can be muddy at certain times of year, so bring your wellies just in case.

Find out more about family-friendly activities in Dartmoor National Park.

Accessible Dartmoor walks

Several walks in Dartmoor are totally flat and level, which means everyone can get out and enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

Burrator Arboretum 

Distance: 0.6 miles/1 kilometre
Parking: Small car park shortly after Norsworthy Bridge car park

Located just next to scenic Burrator Reservoir, Burrator Arboretum has a well-surfaced gravel and boardwalk trail with hardly any incline that is suitable for all visitors, including wheelchair users. Most of the wide path is through woodland, with views of the water often appearing through the trees. You can learn more about the wildlife that lives in this nature reserve (or stop to use the accessible toilets) at the nearby Burrator Discovery Centre. 

The Granite Way

Distance: 11 miles/17 kilometres
Parking: Okehampton Station (regular train services to Exeter also available)

The Granite Way, an 11-mile trail, is a Devon classic. This trail along an old railway line is traffic-free and well paved, so the scenic route is accessible to all. It's also easy to get to, as the start point is at Okehampton station (where there is a car park plus trains and local bus services). The route passes close to Okehampton Castle before entering open countryside and passing by top local beauty spots like the Meldon Dam and Lydford Gorge.

Want to find out more? More accessible walks can be found at the Miles Without Stiles website. You might also want to check out the Pitchup guide to accessible things to do in Dartmoor National Park.

Nature walks

All of the walks on this page are great for feeling like you're surrounded by nature, but the following examples are particularly good for birdwatchers, nature photographers or anyone looking for a walk with lots of wildlife. 

Teign Gorge

Distance: 4 miles/6.5 kilometres
Parking: Castle Drogo car park

Running through a peaceful gorge by the side of the river Teign, this nature trail starts and ends at Castle Drogo, one of Devon’s most popular National Trust properties. The woodlands by the river are full of wildlife – key species include herons, kingfishers, dippers and otters – and the route also passes a deer park, where you’ll hear stags rutting in the mating season (between September and November). 

To be in with a good chance of spotting wildlife, walk this trail early in the morning, outside of school holidays or during the working week, when it is at its quietest. For a full route map, see the National Trust website. 

Bovey Valley butterfly walk

Distance: 2.8 miles/4.5 kilometres
Parking: Middle Trendlebere car park

Located in the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve, this moderate circular walk is an excellent way to find out more about the area’s butterfly population. Running by the river Bovey and through the heaths of Trendlebere Down, you’re in with a chance of spotting half a dozen species or more.

For a detailed guide to the butterflies you might see, as well as finding out about other walks in the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve, check out these downloadable leaflets from the Woodland Trust. 

To learn more about Dartmoor’s best wildlife watching spots and species to look out for, read our guide to the national park’s wildlife.

Cultural and historical walks

Postbridge Clapper Bridge

Distance: 6 miles/10 kilometres
Parking: Postbridge information centre

Starting at Postbridge Visitor Centre, this moderate circular trail covers woodlands, riverside areas and several archaeological sites. Keep an eye out for Dartmoor ponies and an ancient clapper bridge – a typical river crossing that originated in the West Country many hundreds of years ago. 

This route is part of the Dartmoor National Park Authority’s collection of audio walks – you can download the commentary or a transcript to find out more about the local area as you make your way along the path. 

Tavistock Canal

Distance: 5.5 miles/9 kilometres
Parking: Bedford car park, Tavistock 

Now a peaceful waterside walk, the Tavistock Canal was a hive of activity in the early 19th century due to the area’s importance in the copper mining trade. Linking the canal to the river Tavy, this gentle stroll is a great way to find out more about the history of this often-overlooked town, with the towering Lumburn Viaduct as its highlight. 

Find out more about the canal and its footpaths on the local tourist board’s website. 

Check out more historical and cultural sites in Dartmoor National Park.

From gorge walks and rugged tor climbs to peaceful nature reserves and tarmacked traffic-free paths, Dartmoor National Park has lots of excellent walks to choose from. Wherever you’re staying in the national park, there are sure to be plenty of options for all tastes and abilities. 

Wild camping is permitted on much of Dartmoor and can be combined with some of these walks for multi-day hikes, but there are also many excellent Dartmoor campsites, which typically offer more facilities and convenient car parking. If you end up booking one of the many local campsites available on Pitchup.com, don’t forget to upload photos of your favourite strolls to help other adventurers decide where to stay and explore.