Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park spreads across nearly 1,000 square kilometres of Devon between Plymouth and Exeter. Its wild landscape is shaped by tors, dramatic rock outcrops rising from the moorland. The park also holds many prehistoric remains, including stone circles and burial mounds. Bronze Age hut circles and standing stones dot the open heath, showing how people once lived here. The high moorland sits at around 450 metres above sea level, giving wide views across the countryside. Rivers like the Dart and Tavy cut through deep valleys, adding to the varied scenery. This mix of natural and ancient features makes Dartmoor a place of quiet power. Visitors come to walk the long-distance trails that cross the park. The Two Moors Way and the Dartmoor Way both pass through these uplands, offering routes for all levels. The park is also home to ponies that roam freely, adding to its rugged charm. Rare birds such as the merlin and the Dartford warbler nest in the heather and gorse. The landscape changes with the seasons, from purple heather in late summer to frost-covered moors in winter. These wild features draw hikers, birdwatchers and anyone seeking open space. Inside the park, the village of Princetown sits near the highest land, where the Dartmoor Prison Museum tells the story of the old jail. Nearby, the River Dart begins its journey at a quiet spot called Dartmeet. Old clapper bridges, built without mortar, still carry walkers over the rivers. The park’s visitor centre at Postbridge explains how the moor has been shaped by people and nature. From these points, paths lead into valleys and up to the tors, where the wind carries the sound of the land itself.