Our Project

Dartmoor Walking Way

This project is a joint Ramblers/Dartmoor National Park Authority initiative. The project will create a Way-Marked walking route around the perimeter of Dartmoor.

The aim is to make the route much more accessible to the public who will be able to use the route without being proficient in map reading.

The perimeter route is 100 miles and there is a cross moor route to create a figure of eight to provide many alternative ways to enjoy the special qualities of Dartmoor. The Dartmoor Way was created in 2000 and is in use by walkers. This re-launch will extend the route around the Southern moor to create a full circular route.

A volunteer team will reduce the cost of sign installation. If interested, see our Volunteer page. On completion volunteers will deliver ongoing maintenance of the signing and the marketing. This is an exciting project and it is expected that the success of the Cycle Route will be mirrored when the Walking Route is launched.

The project is managed by a Steering Group representing the statutory bodies DNPA and DCC together with Ramblers and business members. A Community Interest Company – the Dartmoor Way CIC has been established to take responsibility for finance and ongoing maintenance.

The Dartmoor Way Walking Route is Phase 3 of a multi-phase project. A Feasibility Study and the Cycle Route have been delivered successfully by the Steering Group. The Cycle Route was launched in Autumn 2013, see our cycling pages. A great welcome has been followed by many positive reports from our users.

Dartmoor Walking Way

The project aims to increase tourist activity around the perimeter of Dartmoor. It will use existing rights of way and the route will be way marked to make it very easy to use. The route has been designed to link many of the hamlets, villages and towns on the edge of the moor to deliver tourists to the businesses in these locations and to encourage tourists to enjoy their special qualities.

In the longer term, it will be possible to add themes such as wildlife, archaeology and gourmet trails. Elements of these themes will be included in the web site route descriptions from inception to inform our users and to indicate the long- term potential of the project.

Dartmoor Walking Way

An important objective of the project is to get the way-marked route back onto the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 mapping (OL 28) as a named route. OS policy has changed and only way-marked routes are shown on their maps. Thus, the original Dartmoor Way was removed from OS mapping several years ago because of the lack of way-marks.

Dartmoor Walking Way The Dartmoor Way crosses this bridge

It is designed to deliver tourists to the towns and villages along the route such as Okehampton, Moretonhampstead, Chagford, Bovey Tracey, Ashburton. Buckfastleigh, Ivybridge, Yelverton and Tavistock.

Dartmoor Walking Way The Dartmoor Way crosses this clapper-bridge

The provision of way-marking and a down-loadable PDF route description will make the route much more accessible to all without the need for map reading capability. It will increase the number of users giving direct benefits to businesses along.

There is considerable support for the project from businesses and communities along the route. It links walkers to many areas of great landscape value which can be coupled with interpretation such as archaeology and architecture.

Dartmoor Walking Way

The project aims to deliver environmental benefits by encouraging users to follow the circular route between towns and villages without the need for car or bus transport throughout their holiday. Access to the mainline rail network is at Newton Abbot, Totnes, Ivybridge, and Plymouth. Access is also available at the branch line station at Okehampton and the heritage railway at Buckfastleigh.

Our route description will include information on walking and/or use of public transport to get to the Dartmoor Way from these stations. The project will contribute to the Health & Wellbeing strategy of the Government and Local Authorities by promoting healthy exercise in the open air.

The project aims to deliver environmental benefits by encouraging users to follow the circular route between towns and villages without the need for car or bus transport throughout their holiday. Access to the rail network is possible at Newton Abbot, Ivybridge, Okehampton and Plymouth. Our route description will include information on walking and/or use of public transport to get to the Dartmoor Way from these stations.

The project will contribute to the Health & Wellbeing strategy of the Government and Local Authorities by promoting healthy exercise in the open air.

This project will complete a circular route around the whole moor. This provides the opportunity to market an almost unique product. Circular walking routes with way marking are very rare in the UK.

Email: info@dartmoorway.co.uk

Dartmoor Walking Way