Dartmoor

The Dartmoor Way is a 90 mile circular route around Dartmoor linking hamlets, villages and towns with a variety of scenery including wild upland, sheltered valleys and quiet lanes. Two routes exist, one for walkers and the other for cyclists. The walkers' route is coincident with the Tarka Trail between Sticklepath and Okehampton and with the West Devon Way between Okehampton and Tavistock, and is shown on OS mapping. Call into Moretonhampstead Information Centre for maps and advice.

Geocaching is an anytime, anywhere outdoor adventure. A treasure hunt for the modern digital generation, using GPS and smartphone technology. To find out about caches within Dartmoor National Park log onto the international geocaching website. Registration is free. Download the co-ordinates for your geocache, or enter them into your GPS receiver. Then use the OS28 Ordinance Survey map to check your route and away you go!

Letter boxes; small weather proof containers with a small stamp and notebook inside; are hidden in various places across Dartmoor. The boxes are found by clues printed in a catalogue or on a website. Letter boxing combines problem solving, map reading and orienteering and is fun outdoor activity for all ages.

Moorland Guides were set up when Dartmoor National Park shed their walks program, we consist of about 25 guides all familiar with Dartmoor and beyond. We guide for local hotels or individuals and can cater for your needs be it a couple of hours or a week, night walks can be catered for. Contact us on our website.

There are plenty of mountain biking opportunities on Dartmoor. You can cycle across moorland, amongst the granite and along forest trails. The options are varied and exciting, and there's something for every age and ability. Haldon Forest offers bike hire and graded trails for all ages and abilities. Popular starting points on Dartmoor are at Postbridge and Princetown, but even closer to Moretonhampstead is a stunning technical trail at North Bovey leading to Lustleigh Cleave.

The National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown is an ideal place to start your visit to Dartmoor. Newly refurbished, the Centre has exciting exhibitions, displays and a children's discovery zone. Staff at the Centre are knowledgeable, local people who will be pleased to help you with advice and ideas on where to go and what to see during your visit.

Opening Times 2015/16 
07 March - 01 November 2015
Open Daily 10.00am - 5.00pm (until 4:00pm from 28 September) 

05 November 2015 - 28 February 2016
Open Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, 10.30am - 3.30pm 
Please Note: Open daily during school holidays apart from Christmas Day

05 March 2016 - 30 October 2016
Open Daily 10.00am - 5.00pm (until 4:00pm from 26 September 2016) 

If you prefer a swim in the great outdoors, the local area offers plenty of stunning opportunities to do so. A couple of miles away the Teign offers many an opportunity to have fun in the water with the Salmon Leap below Castle Drogo or further afield there is the Shilley Pool, Meldon Quarry, Mel Tor and Holne Pool.

If you enjoy exploring and experiencing the beauty and wildness of Dartmoor National Park, the ideal centre for walking is Moretonhampstead. A network of footpaths and bridleways criss-cross the beautiful surrounding moorland, providing a wide variety of walks of to suit every ability. From family rambles and casual strolls to the more strenuous gradients and wilderness walking that test your map reading and orienteering skills.

All you need is sturdy footwear and an OS Outdoor Leisure Map 28, which covers all of Dartmoor at 2.5 ins. to 1 mile (4cm = 1km). Both OS Map 28 and the Walk Local booklet are available from Moretonhampstead Visitor Information Centre.