Dartmoor National Park is one of England’s most distinctive walking landscapes, known for its dramatic granite tors, open moorland and ancient archaeological sites scattered across the wild Devon countryside. From sweeping high moors and deep wooded valleys to prehistoric stone circles and remote rivers, Dartmoor offers walkers a landscape rich in history, wildlife and far-reaching views.

This comprehensive Cicerone guidebook to walking on Dartmoor provides 39 varied day walks across the national park, plus a challenging two-day version of the famous Ten Tors Challenge. Written by experienced guidebook author Steve Davison, it combines clear route descriptions with practical planning advice, making it an ideal companion for discovering the best of Dartmoor on foot.

• 39 day walks across Dartmoor National Park, ranging from 7–19km (4 to 12 miles), exploring landscapes from the granite tors of the high moor to the wooded valleys, reservoirs and historic villages of the Devon moorland
• A 2-day, 58km (36-mile) route inspired by the famous Ten Tors Challenge for those seeking a longer moorland challenge
• Step-by-step route instructions with 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps and downloadable GPX files, perfect for navigating granite tors, open heaths, and secluded valleys
• Detailed insights into local geology, wildlife, and archaeology, including tors, stone rows, stone circles, and Bronze Age settlements
• Practical information on parking, public transport, and refreshment stops, covering key access points such as Tavistock, Ivybridge, and Okehampton

From the granite tors of Yes Tor and High Willhays to ancient stone circles and quiet wooded valleys, the landscapes of Dartmoor and the Devon uplands offer some of the most atmospheric walking in southern England. With this guidebook in your pack, you can confidently plan your walks, uncover hidden corners of the moor, and experience the timeless beauty of Devon on foot.

Walking on Dartmoor - Quick Facts

Guidebook name: Walking on Dartmoor 
Location: Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England
Designation: National Park; includes Ten Tors Challenge route
Distance: 

• Day walks 7–19 km / 4–12 miles 
• Ten Tors route 58 km / 36 miles

Typical duration: Day walks 2–6 hours; 2-day challenge route for experienced walkers
Start / End: Various circular walks across Dartmoor; Ten Tors route starts at Okehampton / Princetown
Stages: 39 circular day walks plus a 2-day high moor route
Navigation: Step-by-step route instructions with 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps and downloadable GPX files
Terrain: Granite tors, open moorland, wooded valleys, rivers, reservoirs, historic villages
Difficulty: Easy to moderate for day walks; challenging for the 2-day Ten Tors route
Best season: Spring to early autumn (Apr–Oct) for best weather 
Accommodation: Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, campsites in Tavistock, Ivybridge, Okehampton, and nearby villages

Author Highlight

“The joys of walking on Dartmoor are many. Stop a while on a craggy tor and admire the wonderful views while listening to nature’s music, from skylarks singing high above to the wind whispering over the moor. Take your time, wander past ancient sites – from stone circles to stone rows that seem to be marching over the moor – and wonder as to their purpose, or cherish the little insights gained from chatting to a farmer with years of local knowledge.”

- Steve Davison, author of Walking on Dartmoor

Map key

Route summary table

Introduction

Geology and landscape

Habitats and wildlife

A brief history

When to walk and equipment

Getting to and staying in Dartmoor

Bases

Maps and GPS

Safety

Waymarking and access

Using this guide

North-east

Walk 1 Drewsteignton and Fingle Bridge

Walk 2 Chagford and Meldon Hill

Walk 3 Moretonhampstead and Mardon Down

Walk 4 Trenchford and Tottiford Reservoirs and Christow

Walk 5 North Bovey and Easdon Tor

Walk 6 Challacombe, Grimspound and Water Hill

Walk 7 Lustleigh Cleave, Hunter’s Tor and River Bovey

Walk 8 Widecombe in the Moor, Hamel Down and Bowerman’s Nose

Walk 9 Hound Tor and Haytor Rocks

Walk 10 Buckland Beacon and Rippon Tor

South-east

Walk 11 The stepping stones walk

Walk 12 Dartmeet figure-of-eight

Walk 13 Dart Valley via Bench Tor and Sharp Tor

Walk 14 Ryder’s Hill and Snowdon

Walk 15 River Avon and Eastern White Barrow

Walk 16 Old tramways and Three Barrows

Walk 17 Butterdon Hill, Ugborough Beacon and Sharp Tor

Walk 18 Erme Valley and Stalldown Barrow

South-west

Walk 19 River Plym and Dewerstone Rock

Walk 20 Drizzlecombe and Gutter Tor

Walk 21 Burrator Reservoir, Meavy and Sheeps Tor

Walk 22 Down Tor, Nun’s Cross and Fox Tor

Walk 23 Leeden Tor, Sharpitor and Leather Tor

Walk 24 Devonport Leat and Black Tor

Walk 25 Great Mis Tor and Lich Way

Walk 26 Longaford Tor, Rough Tor and Beardown Tors

Walk 27 Foggintor, King’s Tor and Merrivale

Walk 28 Cox Tor, Great Staple Tor and Pew Tor

North-west

Walk 29 Peter Tavy and White Tor

Walk 30 Postbridge and Bellever Tor

Walk 31 Postbridge to Fur Tor

Walk 32 Fernworthy Reservoir, Grey Wethers and Watern Tor

Walk 33 Fernworthy Reservoir, Scorhill and Kestor Rock

Walk 34 Willsworthy, Tavy Cleave and Hare Tor

Walk 35 Great Links Tor and Widgery Cross

Walk 36 High Willhays via Yes Tor and Black-a-Tor Copse

Walk 37 Belstone, Cullever Steps and West Mill Tor

Walk 38 Steeperton Tor, Hangingstone Hill and Oke Tor

Walk 39 Cosdon Hill and Belstone Cleave

Ten Tors

Walk 40 Ten Tors two days

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Glossary

Appendix C Further reading

Seasons

Can be undertaken year round, however, the seasons bring with them different expectations. From October to the end of March is generally the wettest period, with lower temperatures and occasionally snow, especially high up. April through to the end of September is typically the driest and warmest period, however, the weather in Dartmoor can be very unpredictable, so always be prepared.

Centres

Okehampton, Princetown, Postbridge, Moretonhampstead, Widecombe in the Moor

Difficulty

The low-level shorter walks should be fine for all walkers. The higher-level routes are usually longer and more strenuous, paths can be less defined and include sections of wet/boggy ground; navigating in mist/low cloud over high open moor can be challenging and some of these routes also involve river crossings without bridges or using stepping stones - so care is required.

Must See

Exploring granite tors, ancient sites, High Willhays - highest top in Dartmoor and Southern England - Yes Tor, Oke Tor, Steeperton Tor, Great Mis Tor, remote Fur Tor, Great Links Tor, Beardown Tors, Hound Tor, Bowerman's Nose, Tavy Cleave, Merrivale stone rows, Drizzlecombe stone row, The Grey Whethers stone circles, Scorhill stone circle

September 2024

Walks 9, 12 and 13

January 2024

Walk 28 correction

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