Explore Dartmoor
Situated on the edge of Dartmoor, the unspoilt Stannary town of Chagford rests on the slopes above the River Teign. Located in the heart of the diverse Dartmoor landscape, Chagford is the perfect place to experience outdoor pursuits such as walking, cycling, fishing, horse riding, hang-gliding and canoeing, among others.
Some nearby attractions include:
Castle Drogo
A National Trust property which is stunningly set above the Teign Gorge. Behind the incredible exterior lies a family home. Inside you will find 17th-century tapestries alongside the family keepsakes. The spectacular Dartmoor setting can be appreciated from the beautiful garden and walks into a rhododendron valley. Guided tours are available most days, along with quizzes and trails. On sunny days you might even fancy a spot of croquet followed by a visit to the café where local produce is their speciality.
The English Riviera
A trip to The English Riviera is a must. The journey takes less than an hour and there are many lovely places to visit.
Becky Falls
See waterfalls and a 60 acre ancient woodland estate with river walks, nature trails, a tea room, gift shop and restaurant. Situated in a spectacular ancient valley, Becky Falls have been attracting visitors for over 100 years. This attraction is a great day out for people of all ages.
The River Dart Country Park
An adventure centre with lots of activities to keep you entertained! Enjoy canoeing, high ropes course, indoor climbing and the mega zip wire.
Canonteign Falls
Less than 30 minutes away is Englands highest waterfall and a breathtaking outing for the whole family encompassing a variety of activities and events.
The Miniature Pony Centre
Set in 20 acres of beautiful parkland this attraction is perfect for all the family. Get really close to the Miniature Shetland ponies and Miniature Mediterranean donkeys. There are lots of animals to see and plenty of activities, both inside and out to keep the whole family entertained.
Activities
Fishing on Dartmoor
Dartmoors rivers are noted for their fishing of wild brown trout, sea trout and salmon. The West Dart flows through one of the most beautiful valleys on Dartmoor, and is fed by several major tributaries. It includes some of the largest fishing pools on Dartmoor. The East and West Dart and their tributaries offer some 25kms of river to explore and fish.
Clean rivers and fresh air in stunning surroundings, who wouldn’t fancy a day out in some of the most staggering river and reservoir locations in Devon? The Upper Teign is a magical river with boulder-strewn water around Fingle Bridge and Castle Drogo.
Fernworthy Reservoir is nestled in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, adjacent to the idyllic village of Chagford. Set on one of the highest points of Dartmoor, this picturesque reservoir offers traditional fly fishing for wild and stocked brown trout. Stocked with fish up to 4lbs with the average size being 10-12 inches. Permits for Fenworthy are available to buy online. Season Date: 15 March – 12 October
Dartmoor Fishing Seasons
Salmon: 1 February to 30 September
Sea trout: 15 March to 30 September
Brown trout: 15 March to 30 September
Walking on Dartmoor
Dartmoor has everything from guided walks for those a little less confident of your surroundings, to a challenging trek across windswept moors and everything in between. You can download an audio walk or try any of the circular walks, that range in ability. Take a gentle stroll through the woods or get kitted out for a challeging tor to tor walk.
From Chagford there are a number of walks to try. It’s a short walk from Chagford to the stunning Teign Gorge. Follow the Two Moors Way by the River Teign to the mouth of the gorge. Castle Drogo sits high above the gorge, well worth walking the extra mile for the stunning views. You’ll also find wild swimming spots on route.
In the spring try the Whiddon Deer Park Bluebell Circular Walk. This walk is superb any time of year but the bluebells are a treat.
Chagford sits below Meldon Hill. The views from up top are magnificent. You can just climb the hill from the town or try the Meldon Hill circular walk.
There are stunning walks throughout Dartmoor to be enjoyed by all. Dartmoor weather can be wild and unpredictable and the terrain can be dificult so make sure you are wearing sturdy footwear, suitable clothing and let someone know where you are going, and what time you expect to be back.
Golf on Dartmoor
Dartmoor is a landscape of stunning views, awe-inspiring granite tors, deep wooded valleys with fast flowing rivers, and rugged, wide open spaces. But Dartmoor also has fabulous golf courses.
Bovey Castle is set amongst the mature woodlands of Dartmoor National Park. The challenging, yet beautiful course meanders through the estate and is regarded as one of England’s most idyllic destinations to play golf.
Teign Valley Championship Golf Course is set in beautiful countryside on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. The 18 hole course at just over 6000 yards (par 70) is fast-draining and provides excellent all year round playability. Designed to challenge the talented, yet not too daunting for the beginner, the course takes advantage of natural features including ponds, streams and mature trees, making it a varied and interesting test of golf.
Tavistock Golf Club, situated on the western slopes of the Dartmoor National Park, an area of outstanding beauty. The golf course was established in 1890 and offers a challenging test to golfers of all abilities. The course looks deceptively simple with its wide fairways and sweeping vistas but it offers a challenging test. Nature has provided its own hazards, with thick gorse and bracken, plus the odd clump of scrubby trees and hidden bunkers.
Yelverton Golf Club is a delightful moorland course, where the old mine workings act as natural hazards to challenge golfers of all standards. It is a very natural course, with Dartmoor ponies and cattle sharing the fairways. It has outstanding views across Dartmoor and over Cornwall. The current layout came into play between the wars. The course has played host to many top competitions, including The Men’s Senior Amateur Championships in 2006.
Fingle Glen Golf Club was built as a nine-hole course in 1989 and then extended in 2002 to the full 18-holes. In 2004 a further extension was made to allow the golf course to be improved and lengthened and Fingle Glen now offers nearly 6000-yards of good testing conditions for golfers of all standards.
Cycling on Dartmoor
Dartmoor is a great place to cycle with many quiet lanes and cycle routes, together with over 350 km of bridleways and byways.
On road
The challenge of Dartmoor’s roads the narrow lanes, hidden bends and steep hill climbs is fun but be aware of what you may meet on the roads, including tractors, cattle, sheep and ponies and other motorists.
Off road
There are some great off-road and traffic-free cycling routes on Dartmoor.
Wray Valley Trail a 10 mile (16km) mainly traffic-free route from Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead, following the dismantled railway line through the National Trust Parke Estate and the picturesque village of Lustleigh.
Princetown Railway route choose a 10km or 30km route along Princetown’s disused railway, passing the granite quarries to reach Burrator Reservoir
Burrator route a 20km route from Princetown, crossing open moorland on permitted bridleways to reach Burrator Reservoir.
Granite Way this is an 11 mile (18 km) multi-use trail running between Okehampton and Lydford along the north western edge of Dartmoor. It is mostly traffic free, largely following the course of the former Southern Region railway line. A journey along the Granite Way offers fantastic views of the granite landscape of Dartmoor, as well as a number of specific sites of geological interest.
Drake’s Trail this is a 21 mile cycling and walking route linking Tavistock with Plymouth
Dartmoor Way a 95 mile circular route around the National Park, with an additional 27 mile High Moorland link which crosses Dartmoor.
Horse Riding on Dartmoor
If you love to ride horses, Dartmoor is the place to do it with dramatic scenery and some challenging routes. From beginners on their first trek to an experienced rider embarking on another adventure, Dartmoor is hard to beat. You can ride out on to the open moor, trot along woodland trails and bridleways, or follow in the hoofprints of Dartmoor’s forefathers along historic byways.
Horse riding on the open moor is an exhilarating experience and gives a totally different perspective than walking. Many public houses on Dartmoor welcome horse riders, providing tie rails or paddocks, water for your horses, and convenient picnic tables from which you can keep a watchful eye on them. Don’t leave horses unattended – even on a tie rail. There are several riding stables on Dartmoor and details of these can be found in the Enjoy Dartmoor magazine, or through Visit Dartmoor.
Country Sports on Dartmoor
Hunting
Hunting on Dartmoor is one of the best ways to get to know the moor, and to learn to ride on the moor with respect. it is not for the faint-hearted, but can be enjoyed by most competent riders. There are a few jumps, some good going, some bogs, and parts scattered with granite boulders.
Shooting
Shooting is a popular sport on Dartmoor. You can shoot rabbit and pigeon all year round. For other species, you are only permitted to shoot in certain months, mainly autumn and winter although shooting for some species starts in August.
Clay pigeon shooting is available throughout the year!
Falconry
Falconry is believed to have been introduced to Europe around 400 AD. The British Isles has an active population of birds. The sight of a falcon diving down towards earth at over 100mph is exhilarating and having a hawk stand on your fist, happily tearing at its food, is a rare privilege. A Falconry experience is not to be missed.