Top Things to do in Dartmoor National Park
Countries
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Dartmoor National Park, England
Discover the best top things to do in Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom including Simmons Park, Lukesland Gardens, Ashburton Swimming Pool, Dartmeet River Junction, Grimspound, Buckfast Abbey, Museum of Dartmoor Life, Buckland Abbey, National Trust, Fernworthy Reservoir, Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary.
Restaurants in Dartmoor National Park
1. Simmons Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By kevyp14
Lots of open space; with plenty of play equipment. Lovely river walk past the water fountain and pools.
2. Lukesland Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 51 reviews
Reviewed By FalmouthLucy - Devon, United Kingdom
Great experience.We have a 2 for 1 gardeners world card and used it here but would have paid £6 entry each anyway.We really liked the lay out of garden and want to come back at a different time of year.There were some lovely Autumn colours when we went.Cafe is gerat.Loved the soup cake and coffee all very resonably priced.Very covid aware and plenty of hand sanitiser about and feltit all felt very safe
3. Ashburton Swimming Pool
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 38 reviews
Ashburton Swimming Pool is a beautiful outdoor heated pool that is open from May until September. It is 21 x 9m is heated to about 27C. The pool appeals to children and adults alike with various sessions and membership options available. It is found in the heart of the historic South Devon town of Ashburton, nestled on the southern side of the vast Dartmoor National Park. There is a lovely field for picnics and games next to the pool and a small cafe run by volunteers for drinks and snacks. There are also a wide selection of cafes, pubs and deli's in the town itself. The nearest parking is the public car park in the centre of Ashburton, which is about 5 minutes walk away. The pool is run by volunteers from the community and is a charity.
4. Dartmeet River Junction
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 165 reviews
Reviewed By 786carolb - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Wednesday 19th August 2020, My husband and I drove down to Dartmeet. Dartmeet is a popular tourist spot; it lies about 4.5 miles east of Two Bridges. As the name suggests, Dartmeet is the meeting point of the two major tributaries of the River Dart: the East Dart and West Dart. The road bridge, built in 1792, spans the East Dart; just above it, at the side of the large car park is an earlier, possibly medieval, Clapper Bridge, now partially collapsed. The actual confluence of the two rivers is just downstream of the bridge. Due to the heavy rain which has swelled the rivers, the water was white water rapids, white and boiling and the sound of the water was a deafening roar, which was really amazing and I took some really wonderful photographs of the bridge, cascading water and my husband and I sitting on the rocks by the river. Dartmeet is at the centre of an important archaeological landscape mainly due to its prehistoric field systems, delineated by reaves, many of which can be found on Yartor Downs and are the best preserved examples in North West Europe.
5. Grimspound
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
Reviewed By CanBrit1
We re-visit Grimspound every few years because it's probably the best example of an Iron Age settlement in easy reach of a road. The wall is intact. The house outlines with the draft-excluding shell shapes show how peoples of that time lived on the moor. Walk up to the neighbouring tor to get a better view. More adventurous walkers park at the Warren Inn and talk the trail across the moor. If you only visit one ancient site on Dartmoor, make it Grimspound.
6. Buckfast Abbey
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,466 reviews
We are delighted to be partially re-opening from Monday, 26th April 2021 and fully re-opening from 17th May, (subject to Government guidelines.) Our Gift Shop will be open during our partial re-opening and our Grange Tea Rooms will be open for a takeaway service. Toilets will also be open. During this period, our opening times will be 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday and 11.30am to 4pm Sundays. The Abbey Church, Bookshop and Monastic Shop will remain closed during the partial re-opening time. We look forward to welcoming you and assure you that Covid safety measures are in place.
Reviewed By stormbringer55 - St. Albans, United Kingdom
What a lovely place . The air of tranquillity is amazing ,as is the Devon cream tea. Great visitor centre and good shops and a nice little Methodist chapel ,free parking and entry all go to make this a great place to visit . Just down the road from the steam railway another great place to visit.
7. Museum of Dartmoor Life
8. Buckland Abbey, National Trust
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 738 reviews
Enjoying a profound sense of calm and quiet, buried deep in a Devon valley, Buckland Abbey has been a home for hundreds of years. The Cistercian monks who founded this abbey in the later 13th Century led a life of religious contemplation and fruitful toil, working the land and tending their animals. Passed into private hands after Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, Buckland Abbey underwent a major conversion to become the grand home of rich and famous seafarers, including Sir Francis Drake. For all that has changed over 750 years, Buckland is a place that has kept its air of peace and tranquility for modern day pilgrims to enjoy.
Reviewed By suej391
Very informative and interesting, full of history and certainly learnt more about Sir Francis Drake, the tithe barn well worth visiting, and most beautiful gardens, with good cafe it makes a very enjoyable day. Found the staff very helpful.
9. Fernworthy Reservoir
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 156 reviews
Reviewed By CherylD1563 - Worthing, United Kingdom
Stumbled upon this by accident while driving around Dartmoor. Luckily had walking boots and drinks with us. We did the whole walk and took us just under 2 hours with a rest 3/4 of the way round. £2 for 2 hours in the car park (cash only). Would definitely go again when we are in Devon it was a beautiful walk.
10. Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,966 reviews
We are a small, friendly and very different visit for all the family. Run by a small dedicated team we aim to make your visit educational and fun. You can enjoy and learn about our tropical butterflies in the specially designed habitat of which you become part. You not only see the butterflies but feel the rainforest atmosphere that they enjoy as you see their amazing life cycle unfold.In the Otter Sanctuary there are three species of otter to see, our native British otter, the playful Asian short clawed otters and the large North American river otters who love to show off. Our keeper is on hand to explain all about the otters to visitors, some are here for breeding, some for retirement, some just for fun and some because they are unsuitable to be returned to the wild.Make sure to bring your camera.
Reviewed By DaveWebbSouthMolton - South Molton, United Kingdom
A cheap, value for money attraction. We have been several times and always found all the staff there informative and very helpful. We particularly like the fact that it is left to be natural which is very important for otters as it replicates their natural environment. well stocked shop with a good selection of goods on sale including some gorgeous canvas photographs of the otters there. The keepers passion for the animals there excels during the otter feeding times and its obviously a love and passion rathe than a job - well done to all of them there for providing what can only be described as a great visit attraction for less than a tenner each!
TAGS
