House to rugged unspoiled surroundings and wild ponies grazing on the native heather, you donโt should be a long-distance hiker to go to Dartmoor with children โ so throughout our brief keep in Exeter, I used to be decided to slot in not less than a day in and round Dartmoor to see a couple of of the highlights.
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Our AirBNB within the metropolis was solely round half an hourโs drive from the perimeters of Dartmoor but it surelyโs simply as simple to succeed in should youโre staying on the south coast round Teignmouth and Shaldon, as we did final yr, or additional alongside the Devon coast.
And even when, like us, you solely have a day or so to discover โ and your children (like mine) arenโt followers of lengthy treks, there are some nice simple walks and enjoyable Dartmoor sights to find. My daughter was so gained over, sheโs determined to reside right here when she grows upโฆ
On my day exploring Dartmoor with children, we combined some driving, strolling to a few tors and visiting two sights, however Iโm additionally together with among the different choices that Iโve tried and liked over time.
Driving throughout Dartmoor with children
Our first cease of the day was Buckland Abbey, on the perimeters of Dartmoor, so the driving route I created was half practicality and half exploration โ and partly for my husbandโs amusement!
You can too nip around the A38 and the A30 should youโre in need of time and donโt thoughts a much less picturesque route, in addition to sticking to the โfundamentalโ B roads throughout the moor to keep away from the one lane tracks.
We headed in to Dartmoor from the north previous Chagford and over in the direction of Lettaford, Postbridge and Two Bridges โ alongside the best way, after twisting by tree tunnels, the highway rises above the moorland with some wonderful views.
In August, the purple heather and yellow gorse had been in bloom, brightening the greens and gold of the moorland โ and as you cruise alongside holding an eye fixed out for the animals residing on Dartmoor, itโs excellent to absorb among the surroundings.
There are sheep galore, some strolling nonchalantly throughout the highway, others leaping unexpectedly from ferns, in addition to cows: a number of shaggy horned specimens inflicting a minor roadblock at one level.
We manoeuvered very rigorously round them (these horns are huge!) though the cows appeared to just accept this as their rightful due.
However the perfect animal recognizing on Dartmoor with children is the wild ponies: half a dozen, together with a mom and foal, trotting in the direction of us, the mom kicking out at an unwary fellow member of the herd who acquired too near her child.
One other bore a healed hoof mark, so we had been simply as respectfully cautious of those lovely creatures.
Add in a wild rabbit hopping into the hedgerow and a squirrel streaking up a tree and my daughter was in heaven.
From right here, our route took us in the direction of Princetown, dwelling to HMP Dartmoor โ a looming, brooding presence on the horizon โ in addition to Dartmoor Jail Museum, then onwards to Yelverton and Buckland Abbey.
On our return to Exeter, for an additional of the perfect Dartmoor driving routes, we took a unique route through Tavistock in the direction of Dartmeet, Widecombe within the Moor and Haytor Vale to Bovey Tracey โ stopping alongside the best way.
You could possibly additionally detour to incorporate a number of different Dartmoor sights, to not point out stopping for some simple walks on Dartmoor with children.
Strolling on Dartmoor with children
Whether or not you fancy a brief stroll to get a style of the moors with youthful children or a full-blown hike, youโll discover a string of choices for family-friendly walks on Dartmoor.
For those whoโre trying so as to add extra of a problem to the day, strive letterboxing on Dartmoor. The forerunner to geocaching, itโs a mixture of treasure looking and puzzle fixing (plus some orienteering) with over 100 letterboxes to trace down.
With older children, you can re-tell a few of Dartmoorโs legends and ghost tales as you stroll โ thereโs a superb motive Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was impressed to jot down the Hound of the Baskervilles right here.
For extra Dartmoor walks with children, Go to Dartmoor has recommendations or try the Dartmoor Walks for all of the household guidebook, in addition to Devon: 40 Coast and Nation walks.
Saddle Tor and Hay Tor
One of many best walks to strive is round Saddle Tor and Hay Tor โ each are only a few minutes drive aside, or a brief stroll, and thereโs parking close by too.
A tor, by the way, is the title for a bunch of free-standing rocks on high of a hill โ some are virtually like big cairns, others might be simply scrambled up, the largest should be climbed.
We began off at Saddle Tor, the place there have been extra wild ponies roaming round beneath the rocks and a straightforward climb for an eight-year-old (and a 40-something-year-oldโฆ) to get to the highest to benefit from the views.
We might look out throughout to Hay Tor as properly, silhouetted towards the cloudy white sky.
My daughter had had a lot enjoyable bouncing on the springy grass, scrambling and clambering (in addition to shouting โIโm the King of the worldโ from the highest, which I persuaded her was totally important) that we went straight over to sort out that subsequent.
Hay Tor itself was a bit busier โ on a cloudy day, there have been nonetheless queues to rise up the rocks, so be ready to go early or share it with extra individuals if the solar shines โ and a few components are steeper, with metallic rungs and rings pushed into the rock that will help you rise up.
As we waited, the mist out of the blue descended and the highest of the tor vanished within the cloud, so we determined to chop our climb brief โ however even should youโve acquired toddlers or a extremely tight schedule, you’ll be able toโt go to Dartmoor with children with out attempting not less than a straightforward stroll.
Houndtor and Bonehill Rocks are additionally close by as extra choices to climb and look out throughout the moors.
Go to Lydford Gorge, close to Tavistock
Head past Tavistock in the direction of Lyford within the west and you may discover Lydford Gorge โ the deepest gorge within the south west.
In addition to the spectacular 30m waterfall often called the White Woman, thereโs an hour-long strolling path to see it.
The river and wildlife are lovely whether or not youโre visiting with spring flowers in bloom or autumn leaves on the timber and completely different trails lead you previous among the highlights, together with the effervescent Satanโs Cauldron.ย Not buggy-friendly, though you’ll be able to borrow carriers and there are tearooms at this Nationwide Belief web site.
Wistmanโs Wooden
For one of many extra uncommon walks on Dartmoor with children, thereโs additionally the eerie Wistmanโs Wooden, whose gnarled, twisted, otherworldly timber remind me somewhat of Puzzlewood within the Forest of Dean.
You’ll be able to comply with a path from the Two Bridges resort: enable a few hours to comply with the five-mile circuit.
Tamar Trails
Select from seven walks at Tamar Trails close to Tavistock โ the Mineral Railway Path is the simplest and flat sufficient to do with a pushchair, whereas there are others which can take you near the previous mines of this a part of Devon.
Makes a superb choice should youโre visiting the realm for Lydford Gorge (scroll up for particulars) or an alternate should youโre seeking to discover a brand new a part of the realm.
Canonteign Falls
As one other different to Lydford Gorge, Canonteign Falls within the north-east of Dartmoor, near Exeter, is the best waterfall in Devon.
With 90 acres of grounds, woodland and lakes to discover, thereโs a climb to succeed in the highest of the artifical waterfall, however nonetheless doable with children (as my good friend Claire, blogger at Tinbox Traveller, found when she first climbed it with one daughter in a child service).
Hold an eye fixed out for the fairies and a dinosaur alongside the best way too.
River Dart Nation Park
Youโll discover actions for all ages at River Dart Nation Park , together with a toddler playground, in addition to zip wires, a wood fort, a ropes and impediment course, bike path and journey playground.
And thatโs all earlier than you take into account the nation park incorporates 90 acres of parkland to discover, all inside Dartmoor Nationwide Park.
Hembury Woods, close to Buckfastleigh
Wandering previous the traditional oaks of Hembury Woods close to Buckfastleigh is one other pretty choice to strive should youโre visiting Dartmoor with children.
The Nationwide Belief property of Parke is close by, the place the grounds and woodland are open to discover as properly.
Take a look at the Devon with Children Fb group for some nice tips about extra concepts of Dartmoor walks and place to go to in Devon too
Biking on Dartmoor with children
For those whoโd choose to cycle somewhat than stroll, there are bike trails galore in addition to bridleways and different bike routes โ you’ll be able toโt cycle on the moor itself, until itโs a part of a route or designated bridleway.
One choice which is ideal with children is the Granite Approach. An previous railway line, itโs flat and largely traffic-free, and runs between Okehampton and Lydford. Or Go to Dartmoor has tips about different cycle routes within the space.
For those who donโt have your personal wheels, try Devon Cycle Rent on the sting of the Granite Approach, which specialises in bike rent for households together with baby seats and tagalongs. Prebooking bikes is advisable โ and you too can organize for e-bikes (with a baby seat) if you wish to take it simple.
Household sights on Dartmoor
We bookmarked our day round Dartmoor with children with two of the realmโs household sights โ starting at Buckland Abbey and ending at Home of Marbles in Bovey Tracey, however thatโs solely two of the choices if youโre exploring the Dartmoor space.
Buckland Abbey, Yelverton
This pretty Nationwide Belief web site dates again over 750 years. Because the title suggests, it was as soon as an abbey, the final of the Cistercian abbeys to be inbuilt England and Wales โ itโs simple to think about them farming this lush stretch of countryside, though many buildings are lengthy gone because the Dissolution.
The home then handed into non-public arms, together with Sir Francis Drake โ my daughter explored the duplicate of the Golden Hind in Brixham after we visited some years in the past, in addition to our evening voyage sleepover on the opposite duplicate, the Golden Hinde in London, so was intrigued to see his dwelling.
Closed throughout our go to, thereโs plenty to find inside โ itโs actually half museum, in addition to half home. You can too discover the medieval Nice Barn, which has hardly modified over the centuries because it was constructed, and even see a Rembrandt self-portrait throughout your go to.
The gardens themselves had been pretty โ there are sometimes trails for youths, together with one throughout our go to the place you needed to spot indicators exhibiting among the crops and produce which the monks would have grown.
In addition to honey โ with hives nonetheless dotted round โ and apples from the orchard (plus an enormous cider press within the Nice Barn), there have been a couple of extra uncommon ones to search out too.
Not simply poppy and mandrake, however a barnacle tree โ in medieval occasions, individuals believed the tree grew barnacles which geese then hatched out of โ and vegetable lamb of tartary, one other plant which supposedly grew sheep.
I did marvel if these monks had been hitting the medicinal herbs a bit laborious.
In addition to the completely different gardens, some full of wildflowers, others with fruit timber, you’ll be able to take one of many woodland walks โ because the drizzle had began up once more, we caught to the shortest yellow path to get a style.
The Home of Marbles, Bovey Tracey
The Home of Marbles is all the time considered one of my high picks for a free day trip in Devon with children โ in addition to being a fantastic choice for a wet day in Devon.
A mixture of museum, exercise and store, itโs very simple to whereas away an hour or so exploring. Within the little museum telling the historical past of marbles, there are additionally the primary of the marble runs youโll encounter.
Alongside the best way, you’ll be able to spot different conventional youngstersโs toys, info on how marbles are madeย and a marble making machine, which is believed to have churned out round 15 million marbles!
Transferring on, you’ll be able to see glassblowers demonstrating their abilities, with among the creations on show, from vases and paperweights to glasses and glass animals. Itโs tough to withstand selecting up a memento โ be warned should youโre searching for an inexpensive day trip!
A much less pricy memento are the marbles, with the most cost effective ones costing round 10p (and even among the greatest, very satisfying to carry, are round a pound). Do head upstairs within the store too for the large marble run as properly.
Thereโs additionally a small pottery museum: Devon has its personal pottery historical past, with among the items made on this space on show.
The Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary, Buckfastleigh
The beautiful Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary is an ideal day trip for youths who love animals, particularly should youโre visiting Devon with youthful children.
Three species of otter reside right here, together with native British ones, playful Asian brief clawed and show-off North American river otters โ youโll have the perfect likelihood of seeing all of them at feeding occasions, at 11.30am, 2pm and 4pm.
You’ll be able to even e book particular child-friendly otter encounters should youโd wish to get a bit nearer.
A specifically designed habitat homes the tropical butterflies, with dozens of various species exhibiting off their brightly colored wings โ though do keep in mind that should you go to in winter, solely a uncommon few are prone to be fluttering round.
Totnes Uncommon Breeds Farm
One other fabulous attraction in Devon with children, you’ll be able to cuddle a guinea pig or easy the feathers of an Eagle Owl as you discover the Totnes Uncommon Breeds farm.
Set close to the South Devon Steam Railway, itโs one other excellent day trip with toddlers, with the prospect to spy a complete sequence of livestock, in addition to the attractive owls.
There have been beforehand usually joint tickets obtainable to the farm, and the butterflies and otters on the Buckfastleigh sanctuary however these are at present unavailable. Do verify instructions on the web site earlier than visiting too, as sat navs typically ship you to the fallacious tackle.
Pennywell Farm, Buckfastleigh
Thereโs extra to find at Pennywell Farm than simply the animals โ with a unique exercise happening each half-hour, you can take pleasure in something from watching pig racing to tractor rides.
Simply pay attention for the bell each half-hour as one thing new begins, with all the pieces on the each day timetable included in your ticket.
However the farm can be dwelling to over 150 animals, together with the miniature pigs (save a while for a cuddle), miniature donkeys, alpacas, hedgehogs, loads of different farmyard favourites and a bunch of small fluffy creatures too.
Add in play areas, a bouncy citadel, a small railway and cafe, and itโs a fantastic Devon day trip with children โ plus Dartmoor Nationwide Park is on the doorstep too.
South Devon Railway,ย Buckfastleigh to Totnes
With seven miles of railway operating alongside the River Dart valley, the South Devon Railway takes you between Buckfastleigh and Totnes so you’ll be able to benefit from the Devon countryside with none effort as your steam practice puffs and chuffs alongside.
There are sometimes particular themed occasions, together with Thomas the Tank Engine days and Christmas Santa specials
Though you’ll be able toโt at present purchase mixed tickets to the Totnes Uncommon Breeds Farmย and the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary in Buckfastleigh, itโs simple to go to them at both finish of your practice experience to make a full enjoyable day trip.
Dartmoor Zoo
And for some somewhat greater animals, thereโs additionally Dartmoor Zoo: 33 acres of parkland thatโs dwelling to endangered animals and identified significantly for its huge cats.
Youโll additionally discover apes, birds and reptiles among the many inhabitants, made well-known by the real-life story behind We Purchased a Zoo, with each day talks and a few pretty gardens to discover too.
Fort Drogo
On the north facet of Dartmoor, you too can discover the final citadel to be inbuilt England โย Fort Drogoย has lately undergone a serious renovation venture by the Nationwide Belief, and you may tour the home now all of the scaffolding has come down.
Thereโs loads to do within the grounds as properly. Uncover the miniature play home within the gardens, comply with spotter trails and stroll to the Teign Gorge.
The place to remain round Dartmoor with children
We stayed at an AirBNB in Exeter for our journey, which made a fantastic base to discover town, Dartmoor and the coast however there are many locations to remain exterior town as properly.
You’ll be able to try extra self-catering cottages in Devon, together with choices close to Exeter, or family-friendly resorts in Exeter, in addition to discovering extra concepts of family-friendly lodging in Devon in my final information for households.
*First printed 2020, final up to date 2024*
PIN FOR LATER: VISITING DARTMOOR WITH KIDS
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