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Dartmoor Walking Festival started in 2016 in order to have an annual event celebrating walking on Dartmoor. Simon Dell has been running the festival since its inception and it has taken place annually since 2016 with the exception of 2020 (because of covid). The festival consists of a series of guided walks, run by individual guides all over Dartmoor in order to showcase some of the best areas Dartmoor has to offer.
Over the years, the festival has raised over £10,000 for its chosen charity, Devon Air Ambulance. In conjunction with handing over Moorland Guides to new director, Hannah Durdin, Simon also made the decision that 2024 would be his last year of running the festival. He is passing it on to Hannah and local expedition leader, Richard Matthews. Hannah and Richard plan to develop the festival over the coming years into a larger event, running the traditional walks but adding additional events and a central festival 'hub' to showcase the best that Dartmoor has to offer. |
2024 Festival Programme
Sunday 8th September
- The Tavistock Canal - industrial history & a poetry trail. 10.30am - 1.30pm. An accessible walk with the Wheelchair Access Group. Email [email protected] for more information and to book. Level 1 walk, 3 miles.
- Dunnabridge and the historical landscape. 2pm - 5pm. Join Richard for a walk through history and the landscape starting at Dunnabridge. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Explore the River Teign and Whiddon Deer Park. 10.30am - 3.30pm. Level 3 walk, 6 miles. An accessible walk with the Wheelchair Access Group starting at Fingle Bridge Inn before following the River Teign upstream. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- 4000 years of human habitation. 10am - 2.30pm. 5 miles. Join Liz for a walk at Hound Tor car park, looking at a wide landscape to Haytor Quarries and the evidence of human habitation and industries there. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Belstone Bimble: a stone circle and wild swims. 10am - 3pm. 5.5 miles. Join Sue for a walk from Belstone to Taw Ford for a dip then up to Belstone Tor and onto Cullever steps. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Bowerman's Nose and Hound Tor medieval village. 10am -1.30pm. 5 miles. Join Debbie for a circular walk through fields, along quiet lands and over open moorland. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- A walk on the open moor looking at the military use of Dartmoor. 10.30am - 4pm. Level 3 walk, 6 miles. An accessible walk with the Wheelchair Access Group starting at Row Tor car parking. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Cox Tor Night Walk. 8pm - 10.30pm. 3 miles. Join Mike as the sun sets for a night walk in the Cox Tor area. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- High Time on the South Moors. 9am - 4pm. 12 miles. Join Phil at Shipley Bridge car park to visit the Hunters Stone before walking onto the moors to Black Tor, Rider's Rings, the Avon Reservoir, Pupers Hill, Petre's Cross and much more! Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Dartmoor Belstone Blast. 10am - 1pm. 4 miles. Join Chris for a fantastic walk from Belstone car park to explore the nearby Belstone Tors, Higher Tor and Tor Marsh. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Archaeology and geology around Burrator and Sheepstor. 10am - 2pm. 5 miles. Join Liz for an introduction to the geology and man's influence in the area around Burrator Dam and Sheepstor. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- The Wray Valley Trail, from Bovey Tracey to Hawkmoor Halt. 10.30am - 1pm. Level 1 walk, 3 miles. An accessible walk from the Wheelchair Access Group which follows the Wray Trail from Bovey Tracey through Parke. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Tour of Higher Uppacott, a rare 14th century cross-passage longhouse. Two sessions, one at 10.30am and one at 2.30pm. A chance to tour this special house, still with a shippon, owned by Dartmoor National Park Authority. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Mosses, ferns and lichens. 10am - 3 pm. 2 miles. Join Geri for a walk in which we'll slow down to take a closer look at 'lower plants'; the mosses, ferns and lichens that we might otherwise stride past. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Walking the north ridge above Burrator Reservoir. 10.30am - 4pm. Level 3 walk, 6 miles. An accessible walk from the Wheelchair Access Group that leads up from the Quarry car park to Yennadon Down with great views before heading to Norsworthy Bridge. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Sunset Walk around Hound Tor. 4.30pm - 8.15pm. 5 miles. Join Gillian to experience Dartmoor at one of the best times of the day, this walk will take in some of the most iconic views on Dartmoor with opportunities for mindfulness and to reflect on the day. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Pew Tor and Cox Tor. 10.30am - 4pm. Level 3 walk, 6 miles. An accessible walk from the Wheelchair Access Group that heads south towards Pew Tor in the morning and north to Cox Tor in the afternoon, providing tremendous views across the moors. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Mariners Way Walk. 2.30pm - 6pm. 3 miles. Join Emma to walk a section of the ancient 'Mariners Way' through beautiful woodland, fields and old holloways then back up to the open moor along a tor ridge taking in the stunning 360 degree views on a clear day. Visit www.dartmoorsdaughter.com/public-walks/mariners-way-dartmoorwalkingfestival-devonairambulance for more information and to book.
- Dartmoor Sunday Bimble. 10am - 2.30pm. 7.5 miles. Join Chris to navigate tracks and open moorland that will visit Highmoor Bimble, Row Tor, West Mill, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Dinger. East Mill and Sandpits. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.
- Mardon Down Historic Walk. 10am - 1pm. 3 miles. Join Mike and members of the Moretonhampstead History Society to look at the history of Mardon Down, focusing especially on the WW2 aspects of its historic landscape. Email [email protected] for more information and to book.