Welcome to Visit Dartmoor! Our new website has been built from the ground up to tell you about the magical landscape of our moorland, with its stunning panoramic views, wooded valleys, welcoming communities and wild open spaces.
None of the UK’s other national parks are as iconic; the Dartmoor ponies living semi-wild all over the moor are one of Britain’s most recognisable animals, while the awe-inspiring tors, mysterious stone circles, dramatic scenery and even the stark buildings of Dartmoor Prison have inspired and entranced people for centuries.
Dartmoor truly has something for everyone — nature lovers will find an unrivalled choice of walks, countryside to explore and wildlife to try and spot. History buffs can visit our museums to learn about the area’s unique local myths and legends or try exploring on a guided walk or cycle ride.
If you want to get active, our ‘Get Active’ section has got plenty of information on cycling, climbing, horse riding, walks to suit everyone and opportunities for water sports and fishing. You can even try out Letterboxing, where walkers can ramble across the moorland hills in search of boxes containing a stamp for the journey and a visitor’s book to leave their own mark.
It’s ideal for families too, with lots of great attractions for a day out, fun activities to get you outdoors and active and a wide choice of places to stay no matter your budget or taste.
You won’t find communities as welcoming anywhere in the country, with Dartmoor’s towns and villages offering up numerous great places to stay and visit. Each community has its own distinct charm and things to do, so you’ll never be short of great ideas and days out.
Upon visiting Dartmoor to film scenes for his 2011 hit film War Horse, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg said that “I have never before, in my long, eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse. With two and a half weeks of extensive coverage of landscape and skies, I hardly scratched the surface of the visual opportunities that were offered to me.”
It would take a lifetime to fully experience all the opportunities that this unique landscape offers up, but no matter how long you’re visiting for, you’ll find an amazing experience.