Imagine! You’ve snatched a few days away from work and now you are setting off from the cosy B&B of your first nights stay, determined to walk off that superb evening meal.

The air is crisply invigorating, and the autumn leaves crunch underfoot. The ancient trackway winds its way between towering Devon hedgebanks to a small hamlet nestling in the fold of the hill. A thin blue wisp of woodsmoke escapes from the chimney of an impossibly charming thatched cottage. There is little sound except for the breeze stirring in the churchyard yew trees.
All is peace. It’s another world.

With over 90 miles of easy walking on offer, ‘The Dartmoor Way’ is an ideal way to explore some of the less well known sides of Dartmoor National Park at any time of year.

For the most part, the route follows public footpaths and quiet country lanes, so you don’t have to be a hardened backpacker to enjoy the fantastic variety of scenery. Leafy lanes, sheltered valleys and delightful small market towns and villages lie around the moorland edge, while the open moor offers an intoxicating mix of wide skies and panoramic vistas.

The trick is not to hurry, and of course, you don’t have to walk everyday. All along the way, there are special delights and attractions to discover with something to interest everyone. If you feel like swopping footwork for pedal power, there is also a separate route for cyclists to try, and plenty of places where you can hire a bike.

Click to enlarge Walking Route map