Dartmoor National Park
A land of contrasts
Wild, open moorlands and deep river valleys, with a rich history and rare wildlife, striking tors and swathes of heather, Dartmoor will touch your soul.
With 450 miles of paths to walk, cycle, run or ride, thousands of archaeological sites and features to discover the past, Dartmoor is packed full of stunning views that steal your breath, mysterious stories to intrigue and spaces to simply sit and be.
Key activities
Exploring
Follow one of the many routes such as the Dartmoor Way or Wray Valley Trail on foot or by bike. Or maybe take a compass and a map to explore the moor in your own way.
Eating & Drinking
What can be more rewarding after a long (or short!) walk than visiting one of Dartmoor’s pubs, restaurants or tea houses. Whether you prefer gourmet food or a cream tea, there are plenty of choices.
Discovering
Dip into Dartmoor’s incredible history, find out more about its rare wildlife and special habitats. Come along to one of our many events or discover for yourself.
Special qualities
Overview
“I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.” Steven Spielberg.
Dartmoor’s granite tors, rich coloured rivers and open landscapes have inspired authors, poets and artists for years. From Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie’s detective Poirot and the evocative works of Widgery to the contemporary folk songs of Seth Lakeman.
Steeped in history Dartmoor is the most important site for Bronze Age archaeology in western Europe, it’s home to the Dartmoor pony which can be seen grazing wild with foals close by and it’s the only place in the world where you can find the tiny Bog Hoverfly. In Dartmoor’s woodlands you might spot the world’s largest land slug the whopping Black Ash Slug that can exceed 20cm!
Find a river side spot for a picnic, walk Stallmoor stone row – the longest in the world, explore a hut circle and cross a clapper bridge or climb a tor and take in the natural beauty of Dartmoor, it will leave you uplifted, refreshed and revived.
Did you know?
Enjoying Dartmoor
Dartmoor doesn’t just have places, it has special places. These are places that are set apart from the ordinary or the mundane. This could be due to their history, their setting, their offer or often due to all of this and more.
Start your journey in one of Dartmoor’s towns or villages and discover what makes them so special. Maybe it’s because they’re a market town, a Medieval Stannary town or just a great place to start a walk or ride from. What you can be sure of is the welcome and the quality of the food and drink.
Venturing further up on to the Moor, come and discover one of three National Park Visitor Centres. With a wealth of natural and built beauty, opportunities for short or long walks and things to do for people of all ages, they make great bases to explore Dartmoor.
Getting around
Dartmoor can be explored on foot, bike, horse or vehicle. There are several bus services running from the main moorland towns and for hassle free travel there are organised trips with a variety of coach companies.
Getting there
Dartmoor National Park has train stations nearby in Exeter, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Ivybridge and Plymouth. The average journey time from London is 4 hours.
Exeter Airport offers access from the rest of the UK and internationally.
There are good road links to the gateway moorland towns.
☀️Summer can unfold quietly in nature across our National Parks.
In @pembscoast it’s happening right now.
Wildflowers brighten the clifftops, from sea pinks and oxeye daisies. These colourful blooms don’t just look beautiful - they are also provide a vital food source for butterflies and bees. 🐝
These simple seasonal moments are a gentle reminder to slow down, take a closer look, and notice the quieter side of summer in nature. 🌼
#ParkSpotlight #Summer #UKNature
💚 It’s Love Parks Week! Share this with someone who loves the National Parks, or add it to your story to show others that you do too.
There’s so much to love about our National Parks. They’re not just great places to visit, they’re places that protect habitats, restore nature, support local families and businesses, and bring communities together.
We all have our own reasons for why these places are so special to us.
#LoveParksWeek #NationalParksUK
🦋 Some of the UK’s rarest butterflies find a home in our National Parks. Here are just a few.
From flower-rich meadows to ancient woodlands and heathlands, many of our landscapes provide the ideal conditions that butterflies need to thrive.
Every butterfly is a reminder of why these places matter and how we can all play a part in protecting them.
The Big Butterfly Count is happening now. If you’re out exploring this summer, take part and help build a picture of how our butterflies are doing 👉 bigbutterflycount.org
Photography 📸
@lloydlanephotography
Tammy Andrews
Lloyd Lane
Neil Hulme
#BigButterflyCount #ButterflyConservation #UKNature
There’s something truly magical about the craft and skill of dry stone walling. 🪨
These remarkable walls still zigzag for more than 5,000 miles across the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
They’re a lasting reminder of the generations of craftsmanship that have shaped our landscapes, and of the traditional skills that continue to thrive across the UK’s National Parks.
🎥 Yorkshire Dales National Park
#ParkSpotlight #YorkshireDales
History doesn’t only live in museums.
It’s woven into the landscapes of our National Parks. From hillforts and castles to ancient pathways and drystone walls - these are places where heritage isn’t just protected - it’s still part of everyday life. 💚
When we protect these landscapes, we also protect the stories, traditions and history within them.
📍Dartmoor National Park
#NationalParksUK #UKHistory
There`s more to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park than lochs. 🌳
It`s also home to The Great Trossachs Forest – one of the UK`s largest woodland restoration projects.
So far, more than 2 million native trees have been planted, creating richer habitats for wildlife and helping shape healthier landscapes for the future.
And speaking of growing... today the National Park celebrates 24 years of protecting people, places and nature.
Happy Birthday @Lomondtrossachs! 🎉
#ParkSpotlight #UKForests
POV: One of those perfect July evenings.
🌾 Some of the best moments outdoors are the simple ones.
National Parks aren’t just places to visit on holiday. They’re where we connect with nature and ourselves, everyday.
Where’s your favourite place for a summer stroll? 💚
#Wellbeing #UKCountrySide #NationalParksUK
Wales is famous for its waterfalls 💧
Across UK National Parks, rivers have shaped the landscape over thousands of years, creating some of the UK’s most spectacular waterfalls.
From the force of the water to the life and habitats these rivers support, they’re a powerful reminder of the remarkable landscapes our National Parks protect.
📍Bannau Brycheiniog National Park
#ParkSpotlight #UKWaterfalls #BannauBrycheiniog
