Home | Dartmoor Bed and Breakfast | Dartmoor Self Catering | Dartmoor Camping | Dartmoor Hotels
Dartmoor Attractions | Dartmoor Guide | Gallery | Maps | A-Z | Search
Your Guide to Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor
in Devon was designated a National Park in 1951, with the aim to ensure
the conservation, sustainable development, understanding and enjoyment
for everyone. Dartmoor National Park hosts thousands of ancient monuments
and archaeological sites, including burial chambers, stone circles and
menhirs - more than anywhere else in Europe, as while as miles of paths
and tracks, and vast areas of moorland waiting to be explored whether
you choose to explore on foot, horse back or bike.
Most of the moorland is common land - which means that it is common access land for both walkers and horse riders. You do not need to stay on the tracks, but if you head off them, you would be advised to take a map to you. Cyclists must however keep to cycle ways, public bridle ways and bye ways.
- Dartmoor is famous for it's "Tor's" which are large hills,
topped with outcrops of bedrock, which in granite country such as
Dartmoor are usually rounded boulder-like formations. There are over
160 tors on Dartmoor, so you can see how many you can discover. The
best know Tor is Haytor, which has a visitors centre built nearby.
- There are lots of wonderful walks on Dartmoor which enable you to
really explore the moors. Details of some of the walks can be found
here
along with the Tor's they pass by.
- The moor takes it's name from the River Dart - the East and West
Dart River join at Dartsmeet. The river meets the Sea at Dartmouth,
where you enjoy walking along the river front, enjoy a boat trip along
the river to Totnes, or follow the banks of the river by steam train
up to Paignton.
- There are a number stone circle on Dartmoor which are worth seeking
out - Scorhill Stone Circle, is nearly 90 ft in diameter, although
only 35 stones are left, and dates back to the Bronze Age.
- Drewsteighton has the remain of some Iron Hill Forts, which will
established about 700BC to protect families and livestock from raiders.
- Drizzlecombe, is home to Dartmoor's tallest standing stone, at 4.5m
(15ft) and the impressive Giant's Basin cairn. Southeast of Drizzlecombe
is Ditsworthy Warren which was once the largest commercial rabbit
warren on Dartmoor.
- Merrivale, between Princetown and Tavistock this site is one of
the largest and most accessible prehistoric sites on Dartmoor. The
site comprises three stone rows - two double and one single; a stone
circle; a standing stone; a large damaged cist and hut circles to
the north, and is well worth a visit.
- Dartmoor is a focal point for whitewater kayaking and canoeing,
due to the high rainfall and high quality of rivers. The River Dart
is the most prominent meeting place, but the Erme, Tavy and Plym are
also frequently paddled.
- Dartmoor is surrounded and incorporates a range of small villages
and hamlets, many with great traditional country pubs waiting for
you to discover and taste true Devon produce - not forgetting the
traditional Devonshire Cream Tea.
