NATURE TRAVEL: Dartmoor National Park - England

NATURE TRAVEL: Dartmoor National Park—England  

By Jorge Jefferds June 13, 2015

Dartmoor National Park's landscape is as dramatic as its weather. From its striking granite tors to steep wooded river valleys and from swathes of heather covered moorland to tucked away villages and hamlets. It is a land of contrasts - some people come to experience the tranquility by getting away from it all, whilst others come to get active.

Dartmoor National Park is located in the south west of England in the county of Devon and is within easy reach of all the main transport links. Actually, the M5 motorway crosses over the park, which is bordered by the A30 and A38 dual-carriageways as well.

Dartmoor is a fabulous place to walk, with over 450 miles of public rights of way. Step back in time when you visit the Ditsworthy area, where Steven Spielberg adapted Michael Morpurgo’s First World War novel “War Horse”. Walk in the footsteps of prehistoric settlers, medieval tinners, rabbit farmers, and the military.

For Spielberg’s movie, Ditsworthy Warren House was used as Albert’s home and many scenes were shot in this area and at other sites in the National Park. As you explore the area you will experience fantastic scenery - lofty tors, the wide open spaces of unspoilt moorland, the upper reaches of the River Plym as it descends to the sea at Plymouth and the remains of human activity dating back to prehistory.

Ditsworthy Warren House

The Dartmoor landscape has long been an inspiration for artists and many have chosen to make the National Park their home. Across the moor, you will find small workshops, artists’ studios and galleries showcasing original artwork.

If you’re not one for walking, you could always go on a foodie trail and explore the delights of Dartmoor this way instead. Starting in the north at Okehampton, you can travel clockwise to the towns and villages in and around the National Park, including Chagford, Moretonhampstead, Bovey Tracey, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Ivybridge, Princetown and Tavistock to find great cafes for morning coffee and cake. There are quaint tea rooms offering the ‘obligatory’ Devon cream tea for the afternoon and you can finish off the day in the cozy atmosphere of a traditional country pub for a hearty evening meal. Once you have savored what is on offer, you will undoubtedly want to buy your own supplies so that you can enjoy them at home- whether this is artisan bread, flavorful local cheese, Dartmoor chilies, or great tasting beef and lamb with a Dartmoor provenance.

Brentor

There are a wealth of activities available to everyone on Dartmoor, from Nordic walking to wild running, horse riding to climbing, cycling to gliding and most things in between.

There are plenty of moorland walks with experienced guides who can show you less accessible parts of the moor, or you can hire a bike and ride across stunning scenery on the Granite & Gears cycle route. Dartmoor has superb locations for bouldering or outdoor climbing with one of the many activity providers. Why not explore the mooron horseback for a different perspective?

During the winter months kayaking and canoeing on the River Dart is an exhilarating way to see the countryside with one of the relevant clubs offering qualified tuition and exciting days out.

Bobey Castle Hotel in Devon

Dartmoor is a fabulous location to experience something a bit different too! Caving, letterboxing, geocaching, navigation courses – there’s quite literally something for everyone.

For those with some problems getting around, Dartmoor can still be accessible by hiring a tramper or enjoying a guided ramble with the Disabled Ramblers.

If you are planning to come and stay on Dartmoor, you may be interested to know of some exciting events that are happening in the surrounding cities of Exeter and Plymouth throughout 2015, so you can plan your visit around these.

Exeter is one of the host cities for the Rugby World Cup 2015- a once in a lifetime opportunity for the city. Join in the Festival of Rugby celebrations (10 June – 31 October) for concerts, carnivals and street parties in and around the city.

The Exeter Fanzone, located in Northernhay Gardens (free entry), will be showing live matches on a big screen and holding a variety of events and entertainment for all the family, plus a range of stalls featuring the best Devon food and drink. For more information, visit www.heartofdevon.com/rugbyworldcup.

Plymouth Events for 2015:

Pirate Weekend, Waterfront (16 -17 May), Sky Ride, Hoe (Sunday 31 May), Lord Mayor’s Day, City Centre (Saturday 6 June), Armed Forces Day, Hoe (Saturday 27 June), Flavour Fest, City Centre (14-16 August), British Fireworks Championships, Hoe (18-19 August), Ocean City Festival, Barbican (7–27 September), Seafood Festival, Barbican (26-27 September), Bonfire Night, Hoe (Thursday 5 November).

Getting to Dartmoor National Park is much easier than you think. There are good mainline train connections to Exeter, Newton Abbot and Plymouth and there is an international airport at Exeter and ferry terminal at Plymouth. Approximate journey times to Dartmoor from Exeter or Plymouth is 30 minutes.

Travelling by car means 40mph maximum speed limit. This has been set up to protect the cattle, sheep and ponies that freely roam the moor and can wander onto the roads at any time. If your intentions are driving a coach or motor home, be aware that some of the roads around Dartmoor are quite narrow and have width and length restrictions. Such condition, certainly, makes them unsuitable for large vehicles such as coaches, motor homes or vehicles towing.

Don’t forget to visit Dartmoor National Park in your next trip to the United Kingdom.