Trains to Dartmoor

Dartmoor has a long and complex history; both as a natural habitat for wildlife and as a home for ancient people. It has been a site of human life for over 10,000 years and is now an unparalleled destination for exploring English heritage and natural beauty. With easy CrossCountry routes to Dartmoor and plenty to occupy you on your trip, explore Devon’s national park in all its majesty.

How to Get to Dartmoor by train

Conveniently, Dartmoor sits between several CrossCountry train stations. Exeter St. Davids is eight miles away; Newton Abbot is just six miles away; and Plymouth, on the southwest edge of Dartmoor National Park, is only seven miles away.

Between these stations, you can reach Dartmoor directly from all across the UK with ease, including from Cheltenham Spa and Sheffield.

Things to do in Dartmoor

Dartmoor is the largest and highest upland in Southern Britain, which makes it an especially unique environment. This vast and remarkable site offers the opportunity to explore nature and wildlife unlike anywhere else in the UK. Dartmoor National Park boasts reservoirs, woodlands, mires, and moorlands – each of which is home to its own wildlife.

If you’re a keen birdwatcher, Dartmoor provides a habitat for rare and protected birds, such as the skylark and snipe, whose populations have declined elsewhere in the UK. Make sure to pack your binoculars and tread quietly to spot the most stunning array of birdlife!

Getting out into nature is one of the key reasons so many people visit Dartmoor each year, and efforts have been made to ensure accessibility for all. Thanks to ‘Miles Without Stiles’ paths, various accessibility needs are met, and the National Park can be enjoyed by a wider breadth of visitors. Guided walks on Dartmoor are also on offer if you’re eager to learn more about the environment as you explore. And with such a beautiful and interesting landscape to navigate, there is plenty to keep your pup active and intrigued.

Of course, there’s more to the moor than just walking. There are plenty of cycle rental outlets as well as horse riding, canoeing, and climbing to help make the most of the outdoors. And if one day isn’t enough, camping at Dartmoor is a welcome activity in certain are

as of the National Park, a great opportunity to connect with the glorious wildlife on show. 

With a wide range of events running throughout the year, from seasonal events like easter egg hunting to volunteer work aimed at preserving the area’s natural beauty, there’s never a shortage of ways to make the most of your time in and around the National Park.

About Dartmoor

The wide-ranging landscape is a reserve for a huge variety of plants, animals, and insects. The naturally rocky environment provides a unique experience when it comes to viewing and understanding nature.  From hay meadows to woodlands and wetlands, Dartmoor is a very special site of natural pilgrimage, bursting with a huge diversity of rare and protected species.

The woodlands are also an integral part of the history, with centuries-old oak trees sprawled across the National Park. There are a number of rivers running through Dartmoor too, most famously the River Teign and River Dart. These are also home to a wide variety of wildlife including otters and salmon.

The human story of Dartmoor is slightly more recent. People have been using the moor as a site of domesticity, labour, farming, and much more for at least 10,000 years. The first inhabitants of the moor settled here to live, farm, and take advantage of resources like tin, iron, silver, and granite. The impact of human history on the landscape has created a unique environment which is now protected as a national park, ensuring that generations to come can explore and learn.

If you’re planning on hiking around Dartmoor, don’t forget to book an Advance ticket via our website or the CrossCountry app. If you need more information, you can contact us here.