A guidebook to walking the Dartmoor Way. Covering 175km (109 miles), this long-distance circular trek exploring Devon’s Dartmoor National Park can be hiked in 10 days and is suitable for walkers of most abilities.

The route is described anticlockwise from Ivybridge in 10 stages, each between 12 and 21km (8–13 miles). Each stage includes low-level detours in case of bad weather, as well as details of walking the route in reverse. The 2-stage, 37km (23 mile) High Moor Link is also described.

• 1:50,000 OS maps included for each stage
• GPX files available to download
• Detailed information on facilities, public transport and accommodation on route
• Advice on planning and preparation

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Route summary table

Trek planner

Introduction

History of the route

Geology and landscape

Wildlife

When to go

Planning the walk

Accommodation

Public transport

Maps

Getting there and getting away

What to take

Food and drink

Health and safety

Mobile phones and emergencies

Waymarking and access

Using this guide

The Dartmoor Way

Stage 1 Ivybridge to Shipley Bridge

Stage 2 Shipley Bridge to Ashburton

Stage 3 Ashburton to Bovey Tracey

Stage 4 Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead

Stage 5 Moretonhampstead to Chagford

Stage 6 Chagford to Okehampton

Stage 7 Okehampton to Lydford

Stage 8 Lydford to Tavistock

Stage 9 Tavistock to Shaugh Bridge

Stage 10 Shaugh Bridge to Ivybridge

High Moor Link 1 Buckfastleigh to Hexworthy

High Moor Link 2 Hexworthy to Tavistock

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Refreshments and supplies

Appendix C Selected accommodation

Appendix D Further reading

Seasons

Ideal in the 'shoulder' months: wild flowers, lambs and foals in spring; rusty bracken moorland, colourful oak woods and diverse fungi in autumn. Expect cooler and wetter weather in autumn and winter.

Centres

Ivybridge, South Brent, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, Bovey Tracey, Manaton, Moretonhampstead, Chagford, South Zeal, Sticklepath, Belstone, Okehampton, Sourton, Lydford, Mary Tavy, Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Yelverton, Cornwood, Holne, Hexworthy, Princetown

Difficulty

Includes short but steep ascents and descents, but the route is well signed and split into easily manageable day walks. Alternative low-level routes listed for days when visibility is poor, and navigation may be a challenge.

Must See

Dartmoor National Park; Redlake Tramway; Buckfast Abbey; Haytor Rocks and the Haytor Granite Tramway, built in 1820; the Teign Gorge; Cranbrook Iron Age hillfort; Castle Drogo; Belstone Cleave and the Taw River; Okehampton castle; Meldon Viaduct and bluebell woodland; Dartmoor's highest point, High Willhays; Lydford Castle; The Dewerstone; Lee Moor china clay workings; Princetown's Napoleonic prison

October 2023

Metres to feet conversion

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