5 Dog Walks on Dartmoor
It’s the single largest area of tranquility in the whole of the south of England, 450 miles of roaming paths that weave round lofty tors, wooded valleys, rushing rivers and open heathland. Dartmoor’s boundless landscape is ideal for dog walks. Here are some of your most popular dog-friendly walks on Dartmoor and some pubs for waggy tails.
1. Castle Drogo and Cod Wood
This stunning circular walk provides a series of sweeping panoramas and also includes plenty of areas where dogs are welcome to scamper off leash.
Designed by 20th-century architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, Castle Drogo is an iconic landmark that dominates the skyline above Teign Gorge, the last castle to be built in England and encompassed by magnificent gardens. As you emerge from the forest, having followed the footpath from the castle car park, the trail takes you along Hunter’s Path into a leafy valley. A winding road will take you to the historic stone arches of Fingle Bridge, upstream from the ruins of Fingle Mill and the leat that once housed the mighty mill wheel. You’ll also discover the characterful Fingle Bridge Inn close by on the banks of the River Teign where dogs are always welcome guests. Sturdy walking boots are preferable as the track can be “stoggy” during the soggier months and the terrain uneven in places.
Enjoy a tranquil riverside stroll before venturing up the hillside through Cod Wood with its towering conifers. You’ll be able to gaze over the Iron Age remnants of Wooston Castle which once commanded views up the Teign Gorge and was recently cleared by heavy horses to protect its legacy. Crossing the bridge below Hunter’s Tor, you’ll traverse the gorge along the foothills of Drogo, picking up the laneways to complete your loop. Look out for the dogs on leads signs and please keep your dogs under close control and in the line of the path.
2. Burrator Reservoir and Princetown
This captivating Dartmoor circular walks takes in one of Devon’s most iconic reservoirs. Officially opened in 1898 and holding more than one million gallons of fresh water, Burrator Reservoir is beloved by walkers, cyclists and fishing enthusiasts. These quiet, sun-dappled shores are hugged by woodland and are a habitat for all sorts of wildlife, more than one hundred species according to the South West Lakes Trust. Before following the path to Princetown, enjoy a stroll along the Arboretum and look in on the onsite Discovery Centre. The walk takes in the granite uplands of Ingra Tor, King’s Tor and South Hessary Tor, offering incredible views across the southern reaches of Dartmoor. The moorland path leads you to the rural village of Princetown, the highest settlement on the moor and home to a handful of charming pubs and cosy tearooms.
This is a long loop; expect to clock up 23km, so definitely a daylong excursion for you and your dog.
3. High Willhays & Yes Tor
High Willhays is Dartmoor’s loftiest point, 621 metres above sea level, which also makes it the highest point in southern England…easy to see why some people refer to it as “the roof of Devon”.
Begin your walk at the Meldon reservoir car park and pick up the southwest bound bridleway, leading you on to a path at the western end of the reservoir. Cross the River Meavy (as it wends its way to Burrator Reservoir) and follow the track until you see the logan stones of Black Tor, where you can enjoy views of the Devonport Leat as it cascades down the hill and across the aqueduct. Black Tor Falls lies below the tor, an enchanting fretwork of small waterfalls that feed into a splash pool below. High Willhays is clearly visible in the distance, less than a mile away in an easterly direction. You’ll see the old drovers’ paths leading towards it, weaving through the “clitter”, sometimes called “clatter”, old words for the scattered rocks found beneath a tor.
Having reached the summit of High Willlhays, take a moment to savour the altitude of southern England’s highest point and the far-reaching views that comes with it. Just shy of a mile north lies Yes Tor, another of Dartmoor’s beloved peaks that’s well worth conquering with your canine in tow. If you’re looking for a pub nearby, try The Dartmoor Inn, Moorside, Lydford, where you’ll find a hearty menu and where dogs are pride of place.
4. Haytor & Hound Tor
From Saddle Tor car park (two miles from Widecombe in the Moor), follow the north-easterly path to Haytor Rocks, only a short walk from the National Park Visitor Centre. These striking twin outcrops, quilted in moss and lichen, are protected as an area of geological interest. Steps and grab irons guide you to the summit of the higher of the tors while the Templer Way opens a path along the abandoned granite rails of the old tramway to the deep and mysterious pools of Haytor Quarries, a popular haunt for wild swimmers. Join up with the bridleway that runs along the Becka Brook Valley to reach the ford, which as legend has it was once a dragon’s lair which feasted on sheep, cattle and unfortunate wayfarers strayed from the path.
In the distance you’ll be able to see the rugged contours of Hounds Tor, steeped in the story of Bowerman and the witches’ coven, the courageous hunter who along with his pack of hounds was turned to stone. It’s here that Arthur Conan Doyle is believed to have conceived his most memorable and gruesome tale, The Hound of the Baskervilles. It’s a chance to be spellbound by another moorland panorama that spills past the ruins of the fallen medieval village of Hundatona across the heather-bathed steppes beyond. If you’re in need of some sustenance, head for Widicombe in the Moor and the Grade II listed Rugglestone Inn where your hound is also welcome.
5. Avon Dam & Zeal Tor Tramway
The last in our series of dog-friendly walks on Dartmoor takes us back to the southern foothills and another of the area’s magnificent reservoirs. A steady incline up to the Avon Dam is made relatively smooth by way of a tarmac path that runs for a majority of the trail and is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Expect stunning views across the rolling hills of South Devon that stretch as far as Start Bay – don’t forget your binoculars! It’s also the ideal place to throw down the picnic blanket and while away an hour in the sunshine.
Start your dog walk at Shipley Bridge Dartmoor National Park car park, where you’ll also find toilet facilities. The hike to the reservoir is about two and a half miles long, following the banks of the river across the heather-bound landscape. From here, you can pick up the pilgrim’s trail know as the Abbot’s Way, passing the mounds of ancient settlements on route to the West Wallabrook’s confluence with the River Avon. Walkers tend to follow another of Dartmoor’s great trackways, Two Moors Way, in search of Petre’s Cross which marks the boundary of the Manor of Brent. The old Zeal Tor tramway can be seen as you eventually pick up the road below the White Barrow stone cairns that will guide you back to the Shipley Bridge car park and the perennially popular Taylor Made Coffee Van along with its selection of cakes and ice-creams.
Click here to learn about the Dartmoor Ranger Code and for further information on planning your dog walks on Dartmoor.