Walking on Dartmoor: A Beginner's Guide to the National Park

Dartmoor is different from most walking landscapes in England. Where the Lake District and Snowdonia offer defined ridgelines and dramatic summits, Dartmoor is a high, rolling granite plateau with relatively modest elevation but a character that rewards exploration and catches out the unprepared. The highest point, High Willhays, reaches 621 metres, but the moor’s sense of remoteness and the speed with which mist can change the landscape make it more committing than its height suggests.

For beginners, Dartmoor offers both an excellent entry point (well-signed low-level routes through river valleys and around the moor edges) and, once confidence grows, a genuine progression into open moorland navigation that develops skills usable across all upland environments.

Understanding the Landscape

Dartmoor is the largest area of open moorland in southern England, covering around 365 square miles. The National Park was established in 1951 and most of the open moor is designated Open Access land, meaning walkers can move freely across it without being confined to paths.

The moor’s character changes dramatically with conditions. In clear weather with the granite tors visible as landmarks, it is an exhilarating open landscape with sweeping views south to the English Channel on good days. In mist or rain, the same terrain becomes featureless and the distances between landmarks stretch. This is why navigation skills matter on Dartmoor even at modest altitudes.

The main rivers (Dart, Teign, Avon, Erme) cut through the moor in deeply wooded valleys below the open plateau, creating sheltered walking that contrasts with the exposed ridge and tor routes above.

Beginner Routes

Haytor and Hound Tor Circuit

Distance: 7 miles / 11km Ascent: Approximately 250m Time: 3.5 to 4.5 hours Start: Haytor car park (SX 765 773) Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Haytor is the most visited tor on Dartmoor and a logical starting point. The granite rocks at the summit are large enough to scramble on safely and offer wide views over the eastern moor and down to Torbay. From Haytor, the route crosses open moorland to Hound Tor, a more complex and atmospheric granite formation that sits alongside the ruins of a medieval village, one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval farmstead abandonment in England.

The return follows the Templer Way, an old granite tramway that once carried stone from the quarries to the Stover Canal. The trackway surface is clear and makes for easy walking.

What to expect: This is a good introductory route because Haytor and Hound Tor are both prominent and identifiable even in moderate mist, providing reliable navigation anchors. The open moorland section between the two tors is straightforward in clear weather. The medieval village at Hound Tor is genuinely interesting and worth spending time at.

Burrator Reservoir Walk

Distance: 5 miles / 8km Ascent: Approximately 80m Time: 2.5 to 3 hours Start: Burrator Reservoir car park (SX 556 681) Difficulty: Easy

Burrator Reservoir sits in a wooded bowl below Sheeps Tor in the south-west of the moor. The circuit of the reservoir is almost entirely on good path through mixed woodland, with the reservoir as a constant companion. This is one of Dartmoor’s most peaceful walks in good conditions, and entirely suitable for families or those wanting a very accessible introduction to the park.

From the reservoir circuit, the short ascent of Sheeps Tor (the rocky hillside above the southern shore) adds approximately 30 minutes and offers excellent views over the reservoir and south toward Plymouth Sound.

What to expect: This is an easy, well-signed walk with no navigation challenges. The woodland path can be muddy after rain but is generally passable throughout the year. Good birdwatching around the reservoir margins.

Postbridge and the East Dart Valley

Distance: 6 miles / 10km Ascent: Approximately 150m Time: 3 to 4 hours Start: Postbridge car park (SX 647 789) Difficulty: Easy

Postbridge sits at the centre of the moor and is home to one of Dartmoor’s most famous features: the clapper bridge, a medieval granite slab bridge across the East Dart that dates from the 13th century or earlier. The valley walking from Postbridge along the East Dart is classic Dartmoor at its most accessible: clear river, open moorland banks, and the granite plateau above.

The route follows the river upstream to where the landscape opens onto the higher moor, before returning via a higher path with views down the valley.

What to expect: River valley walking with clear paths. The riverbanks can be boggy in places. The upper section requires some care with navigation, and carrying a map is recommended.

Safety on Dartmoor

Mist: Dartmoor mist descends quickly and reduces visibility to metres. Before heading onto the open high moor, check the forecast and have a clear plan for descent to the valley if conditions change. Know which direction takes you off the plateau toward a road or settlement.

Military firing ranges: Three live firing ranges cover significant areas of the northern and southern high moor. When active, red flags fly and access is not permitted. Check the Dartmoor National Park firing notification service (available online and by phone) before any route that enters range areas. Outside active firing periods, the range land is open access.

River crossings: After significant rainfall, Dartmoor’s rivers rise quickly and some crossing points may not be safe to ford. If a crossing looks uncertain, do not attempt it. Find a bridge or wait.