National park · United Kingdom
Dartmoor National Park
Entry is free — no gate, no ticket. Drive to a moorland car park (Postbridge, Two Bridges, Meldon) and walk 2–4 hours to a tor; April–June and September are often better for walking, but check forecasts and ground conditions, start before 10:00, and carry a paper map because mist kills phone navigation.Entry is free — no gate, no ticket. Drive to a moorland car park (Postbridge, Two Bridges, Meldon) and walk 2–4 hours to a tor; April–June and September are often better for walking, but check forecasts and ground conditions, start before 10:00 AM, and carry a paper map because mist kills phone navigation.
Map to the park
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Area
954 km²368 sq mi
approximate
Established
1951
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 954 km²368 sq mi
- About 954 km² of moorland, tors, farmland and wooded valleys in Devon; the boundary is fixed, unlike some older figures (check).
- Established
- 1951
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Dartmoor is the free one: no gate, no ticket, no entrance fee — the cost is parking, fuel and your own navigation. The moor is open access land, so the decision is not whether to go but where to walk and when. South Dartmoor (Haytor, Hound Tor, Widecombe) gives the easiest tors and the biggest crowds; the centre around Princetown and Postbridge is wetter and higher; the north around Okehampton and Meldon is the quietest and the only part that closes on military firing days. Go April–June or September, start before 10:00, and carry a paper map and compass: mist can remove every landmark within minutes, and phone navigation fails exactly when you need it.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1951Designated a national park under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949; one of the UK's ten.
Size and age
954 km²368 sq mi · national park since 1951
About 954 km² of moorland, tors, farmland and wooded valleys in Devon; the boundary is fixed, unlike some older figures (check).
Why go
- No entrance fee and no gate: you park, you walk, and the whole moor is open access land.
- Granite tors you can climb in an hour, from Haytor and Hound Tor to the remote northern edges.
- Bronze Age stone rows, circles and hut circles scattered across open moorland.
- Real walking country with pubs and villages at the edges for lunch and a bed.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanWet, boggy, short daylight; some moor roads icy
- FebCold and wet; quiet
- MarDrier ground, fewer people
- AprDry paths, long light, lambs on the fields
- MayBest all-round walking weather
- JunLong days; book accommodation early
- JulSchool holidays; car parks fill by 10:00School holidays; car parks fill by 10:00 AM
- AugBusiest month; heat and horsefly
- SepDry, quiet, warm enough for a full day out
- OctMist and rain return; colours on the woods
- NovWet underfoot; very short days
- DecStorms, mud, limited daylight
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmoor poniesAll year · Semi-wild herds on the open moor; do not feed or touch them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Buzzards and ravensMar–Sep · Common over the tors; listen for calling ravens. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| AddersApr–Sep · Basking on warm rock; give them space and wear boots. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Bog and wet groundOct–Mar · Not wildlife, but the winter hazard that catches walkers out. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Plymouth
Train or bus to Yelverton or Ivybridge, then a taxi or the moor bus onto the moor; by car, 30–40 min to Princetown or Postbridge (check current bus times).
40–60 min
Open the page →
From Exeter
Train to Newton Abbot, then bus or car via Bovey Tracey towards Haytor and Widecombe (check current bus routes and times).
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From London
Train from Paddington to Exeter or Plymouth (2.5–3.5 h), then hire a car; the moor has no station of its own.
3.5–5 h
Open the page →
From Explore Dartmoor
Villages, gateway towns and where to base yourself around the moor.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| South Dartmoor | Haytor, Hound Tor, Widecombe and the wooded Dart valley; the easiest tors to reach. | Open; car parks charge. |
| Princetown and the centre | Prison, visitor centre, Foggintor and the Two Bridges road; the wettest, highest ground. | Open; the B3212 crosses it. |
| North Dartmoor | Okehampton, Meldon and the military ranges; the quietest and most remote walking. | Open, but parts close on firing days. |
| West Dartmoor | Brent Tor, Burrator reservoir and the Tavy and Walkham valleys. | Open; reservoir roads are popular with cyclists. |
Sketch map
- 1Princetown · Town≈50.544, -4.000Map ↗
- 2Postbridge · Headquarters≈50.594, -3.911Map ↗
- 3Haytor Rocks · Viewpoint≈50.579, -3.756Map ↗
- 4Hound Tor · Viewpoint≈50.594, -3.779Map ↗
- 5Wistman's Wood · Trail≈50.575, -3.960Map ↗
- 6Meldon Reservoir · Ranger station≈50.705, -4.045Map ↗
- 7Brent Tor · Summit≈50.603, -4.166Map ↗
- 8Castle Drogo · Village≈50.696, -3.811Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | Free; there is no entrance gate or ticket. |
| Moorland car park (Postbridge, Two Bridges, Meldon and similar) | Free | car | 2026 estimate; check the machine on arrival — some are free, others charge by the hour or day. |
| National Trust car park (e.g. Hound Tor, Castle Drogo) | Free | car | 2026 estimate; check charges on arrival — free for National Trust members. |
| Dartmoor Prison Museum, Princetown | GBP 4–6 | person | 2026 estimate; check opening days before driving over. |
| Castle Drogo (National Trust house and garden) | GBP 12–18 | person | 2026 estimate; separate from the moor, which stays free. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Backpack camping (wild camping) permit or guide
Fishing on the Dart, Tavy or Teign permit or guide
Military ranges (north Dartmoor) no permit
Park rules
- Dogs
- Keep dogs under control and on a short lead on open moorland from March to July, when ground-nesting birds and livestock are about.
- Fires and BBQs
- No open fires or disposable BBQs anywhere on the moor; bring a stove if you need to cook.
- Litter and wild camping
- Take everything out; backpack camping is one night per spot and only in the permitted zones.
- Ponies and livestock
- Do not feed or approach the ponies, cattle or sheep; close gates behind you.
- Military ranges
- Do not enter the northern ranges when red flags are flying or firing notices are up.check
- Drones
- Not allowed over the moor without permission from the park authority (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Princetown
The moor's own village: inn, cafés, prison museum and the visitor centre; best base for the centre and north.
In the park
Widecombe in the Moor
Village inns and cottages in the south; good for Haytor and Hound Tor.
Near the park
Chagford and Moretonhampstead
Small towns on the northeast edge with hotels, pubs and food shops.
Near the park
Okehampton
Rail-linked town on the northwest edge; the easiest car-free approach to the north moor.
Near the park
Ashburton and Bovey Tracey
Gateway towns on the east side, 15–25 min from the tors.
Safety
Mist and loss of visibility high
Bogs and wet ground medium
Weather change medium
Military firing in the north medium
Roads and livestock low
Accessibility
- Access details for the Princetown visitor centre, Postbridge and the Haytor car park are check — confirm step-free routes and level paths with the park authority before relying on them.
- Much of the moor is rough, boggy and pathless; wheelchair users should check surface and gradient with the park authority before planning a route.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the path at Wistman's Wood and other fragile sites; the wood is a protected relict habitat.
- Use the moor buses and park-and-ride-style lay-bys in summer rather than adding a car to a full car park.
- Buy food and fuel in Princetown, Widecombe or Chagford so the villages keep their services.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dartmoor National Park?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee, no gate and no ticket — the moor is open access land. You pay only for car parking (roughly £0–6 per car, 2026 estimate, depending on the car park) and for any paid attraction such as Castle Drogo or the prison museum.
What are the best hikes in Dartmoor National Park?
For a first visit: Haytor Rocks (1–1.5 h, easy), Hound Tor with the deserted medieval village (1.5–2 h, easy) and Postbridge clapper bridge to Bellever Tor (2–3 h, easy). Stronger walkers should try Meldon Reservoir to Yes Tor (4–5 h, hard) or the rough path to Wistman's Wood (2–3 h, moderate).
When is the best time to visit Dartmoor National Park?
April to June and September. Ground is driest, days are long and car parks are not yet full. July and August are the busiest and hottest; November to February is wet, muddy and dark by mid-afternoon.
Do I need a permit or a guide to walk on Dartmoor?
No permit or guide is needed for day walks on public paths and open access land. You do need to check the park's official map for backpack camping zones, and check firing notices before entering the northern military ranges.
Can I wild camp on Dartmoor?
Only as a backpack camper on foot, one night per spot, in the small zones shown on the park's official map — no cars, no fires, no groups. Check the current zones before you travel, as they have been changed by legal challenge.
Is Dartmoor easy to reach without a car?
Partly. Trains reach Plymouth, Exeter, Okehampton and Newton Abbot, and summer moor buses run from these towns to Princetown and the main villages. Once on the moor, however, a car or a long walk is usually needed to reach the tors.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go