| For those who love camping, Dartmoor offers a | | | | mountain bikes. The Granite Way is a dedicated cycle |
| wonderfully windswept retreat to explore, hike and | | | | path. For those making their own way, an off-road |
| enjoy. The Dartmoor National Park is one of the | | | | cycling map is recommended. There are many |
| smallest in the UK, covering 954 square kilometres | | | | pre-planned cycle routes available on the Devon |
| (368 square miles) and is mostly moorland with tors, | | | | County Council website too. |
| which are granite hilltops, peat bogs, rivers, a few | | | | The granite tors of Dartmoor are popular with climbers |
| remote villages and the prison at Princetown. Although | | | | of all abilities, particularly around Haytor and Leigh Tor. |
| there are 450 miles of footpaths and bridleways, | | | | The many rivers on Dartmoor provide not only a |
| Dartmoor is designated as 'Access Land' and although | | | | natural home for wildlife but also some great canoeing. |
| it is privately owned, the public has free access rights | | | | After heavy rains the swollen rivers can make for |
| over it. | | | | some exciting and challenging conditions. The River |
| Wild Camping on Dartmoor | | | | Dart has some excellent whitewater areas. Fishing is |
| Although there are organized campsites on Dartmoor, | | | | also popular on Dartmoor. |
| wild camping on open land is acceptable on Dartmoor. | | | | Dartmoor Letterboxes |
| Campers cannot pitch a tent on farmland, moorland | | | | One pursuit which is unique to Dartmoor is letterboxing. |
| which is enclosed by walls, on archaeological sites or | | | | A little like Geocaching or treasure hunting, people have |
| within 100 metres of a road. Otherwise you are free to | | | | hidden 'letterboxes' all over Dartmoor. Guidebooks can |
| backpack, tramp the moors and sleep beneath the | | | | be bought listing clues to letterbox locations and when |
| stars as you please. | | | | discovered the letterboxes usually hold a visitor's book |
| Things to do on Dartmoor | | | | for signing, and a rubber stamp which can be used to |
| The most common pastime on Dartmoor is hill walking | | | | stamp the finder's record book. The stamp and visitor's |
| and visitors should be well prepared with proper hiking | | | | book are then hidden again for the next seeker. |
| boats for the rough, sometimes wet terrain. Clothing, | | | | Letterboxing adds an extra dimension to walking and |
| maps, a compass and emergency supplies should be | | | | camping on Dartmoor, especially for children as it |
| carried, as the fog can descend, leaving hikers | | | | captures their imagination and adds an element of |
| marooned. | | | | excitement and purpose. |
| Cycling both on the road and off-road is popular on | | | | |