DARTMOOR
DARTMOOR IS LIKE NOWHERE ELSE
Wild Dartmoor
368 square miles of beautiful moorland, wooded valleys and wind-swept granite tors. It is home to a rich array of wildlife from the ash black slug and Fritillary butterfly to the iconic Dartmoor pony. Explore its many archaeological remains, including standing stones and hut circles, and imagine what life must have been like for people living here. Climb its tors, walk alongside the rivers and streams that meander across the open moor and through its valleys, or simply sit and enjoy its spectacular views.
Ashburton is the ideal gateway to Southern Dartmoor and is the only town lying entirely within the Dartmoor National Park boundaries. From here it
is just a stone’s throw to reach one of Dartmoor’s wooded river valleys or, if you are feeling more adventurous, the wild open moor to picnic under an imposing granite tor.
DID YOU
KNOW?
Legend has it that Houndtor rocks were originally a pack of hounds that were turned to stone by a witch. It is also said by some to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’.
Dartmoor by Bike
Whether you want to simply enjoy the scenery and take time to explore the lanes and paths that criss-cross the moor; or you prefer the challenge of an off-road track with spectacular views, or the thrill of riding at pace across wide open moorland roads - cycling is a great way to enjoy Dartmoor.
Pop into Ashburton Information Centre for cycle-maps, guides and advice to help you enjoy your ride.
Dartmoor for Walkers
Anyone who walks on Dartmoor regularly knows that there is so much to see throughout the year. In winter the trees, shaped by the wind, reveal their silhouettes and lichen covered branches.
Spring brings carpets of daffodils, skylarks sing on the high moor and the woods smell of wild garlic. By May, the bluebells are flowering and you can hear the cuckoo’s distinctive call. In the heat of summer, there are peaceful picnic spots by Dartmoor’s cooling rivers and streams and in autumn purple heather and yellow gorse cover the moors and Rowan and hawthorn trees drip with red berries as the leaves begin to turn. There is no finer view anywhere in England!
