Walking for Pleasure Walking is good for you. We all know that! But where you walk can have a profound impact on your mental health as well as your physical well-being. Dartmoor has some of the most glorious, breathtaking scenery in the whole of the UK, and you can enjoy it for free! The far ranging vistas, with miles and miles of open countryside, herds of wild living ponies, mysterious and ancient woodlands, gently flowing rivers and massive towering granite tors are all within easy walking distance from the many car parking areas.
©Heather Devona
Stories like Hound of the Baskervilles and films like War Horse have fired the imagination of many, and encourage visitors to come and see for themselves the settings for these fabulous works! It matters not one jot how young or old you are, whether you love to potter along just enjoying the peace and quiet, or prefer to load a rucksack and head off on a good old yomp, there are areas of the moor that will give you exactly what you need. Dartmoor is home to some wonderful cycle tracks and easy-going footpaths which are pushchair-friendly and easy to follow. This means that less mobile visitors using mobility scooters have the opportunity to explore the beautiful surroundings too.
©Pete McCrickard
All the visitor centres on Dartmoor have knowledgeable, friendly staff who can advise you on specific walks to suit you and your family. They have car parks, loos, a wide range of maps, leaflets and fun merchandise too! Princetown visitor centre has fabulous exhibitions, interactive displays and films too, a great place to start your walk from. Where else can you wander as a family amongst wild ponies, and shaggy Highland cattle, have the opportunity to spot deer, foxes, badgers, rare butterflies and cuckoos, all within easy walking distance of your car? It’s magic! Come and see for yourself!
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©Sue Rowe ©Baz Richardson
©Simon Lloyd
