Dartmoor, a place of wild beauty, utterly charming villages, cosy pubs and farm shops, and the sense of complete peace and tranquillity. In our opinion, it’s the perfect spot for an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday; the opportunity to truly switch off and unwind in your serene surroundings.
To help inspire your next adventure in this pocket of paradise, we’ve put together a guide to 24 hours in Dartmoor, including wonderful walks, where to eat, and where to stay. We hope you enjoy it!
Morning
We started the day off with a visit to Ullacombe Farm Shop to pick up some local produce for breakfast. This rather lovely farm shop is brimming with locally sourced food and gifts, with its own café if you don’t fancy making your own breakfast!
We made sure to say hello to the farm animals before returning to our cottage for a leisurely brunch spent planning the day’s adventures. You can pick up a map from a local shop on your journey to your cottage of choice (we got ours from Ullacombe Farm Shop) to help plan your route.
We stayed at The Shippon at Oldsbrim, which made for the perfect setting to gaze out at the incredible views over to Sharp Tor, and plan our adventures, coffee in hand, before setting off for the day.
Afternoon
After driving through the beautiful moors, we parked at Saddle Tor South car park for a blissful walk at Emsworthy Mire. This really was such a delight; we spotted swallows and heard a cuckoo, and it was the perfect opportunity to savour our quiet surroundings. It also makes for a wonderful spot to enjoy a picnic lunch. If you time it right in the spring or early summer, you’ll be able to see the stunning bluebells blanketing the fields.
After we’d worked up an appetite, we headed to the picturesque village of Widecombe in the Moor. We stopped at the Café on the Green, where we enjoyed two delicious cakes and some hot drinks.
With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, this is a lovely place to sit back and relax after a morning of adventures.
From there, we headed back outside to explore the village shop and gallery and, of course, say hello to the Dartmoor ponies that graze there.
From there, we made our way to Wilder Sauna at Dartmeet, which is just moments away from the Shippon at Oldsbrim, for a soothing sauna session. Set by the river, savour your tranquil surroundings and indulge in the therapeutic benefits of the sauna, before heading into the water for a revitalising dip. Bliss!
Evening
After our sauna session, we were ready to eat! We made our way to the very charming Warren House Inn, where it is said the fire has been burning since 1845.
Hidden away in a rather spectacular setting, with glorious moorland views, this is just the place for a cosy supper. Top tip: Try and get a window seat - the views really are quite special.
Once we’d eaten, we made our way back to The Shippon at Oldsbrim to sink into the sofa and unwind. If you’re feeling energetic, we highly recommend the walk up to Sharp Tor to make the most of those incredible views - a truly unforgettable experience!
Feeling inspired to have your own moorland adventure? Explore our collection of holiday cottages in Dartmoor here.
