Region
Dartmoor
Base in Princetown; spend 2–3 days walking tors, spotting Dartmoor ponies and visiting nearby villages.
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Key facts · United Kingdom
- Currency
- Pound sterling (GBP, £)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- G · 230 V
- Time zone
- GMT, BST from late March to late October
Rules in force · 10Non-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.
- Devon ↗A car is the difference between seeing Devon and seeing its stations; many lanes are single-track with passing places.
- Devon ↗Exeter St Davids is the long-distance rail hub; Tiverton Parkway serves the M5 corridor.
Dartmoor is a moorland landscape centred on Dartmoor National Park, famous for granite tors, free‑roaming ponies and historic villages. Use Princetown as a walking base and explore the surrounding tors and settlements on foot or by local bus.
Where to sleep
- PrincetownCity guide
Park entrance town, good for walkers, has museum and transport hub.
Best May–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 2 nights
- Princetown 2, day‑trips to Widecombe, Haytor and Dartmeet
- 3 nights
- Princetown 3, add Lustleigh and Ashburton
- Weather on the moor can shift quickly; pack waterproof gear and check forecasts before heading out.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widecombe-in-the-Moor | Princetown | 45 min | check | Bus service runs hourly; walk from stop ~10 min. |
| Haytor | Princetown | 30 min | check | Bus 172 to Haytor; short climb to tor. |
| Dartmeet | Princetown | 50 min | check | Combine bus to Postbridge then walk. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding is limited on the moor; most walkers carry a day‑pack.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go1 partSeasons
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princetown | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | × |
| Devon (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok | ok | go | ok | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter (train station) | Princetown | Train to Newton Abbot (1 h), then bus 172 to Princetown | ~1 h 45 min door‑to‑door | Check weekend bus timetable. |
| London | Exeter St Davids | Great Western Railway (direct) | ~2 h 30 min | Book in advance for best fares. |
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next
Dartmoor: what we know, and what is coming
1 of 1 places open
On this page
- 1 places with their role: where to sleep, what to do as a day trip
- How to split 2 or 3 nights
- 3 day trips with door-to-door time
- Seasons month by month, from the cities’ own tables
- What to do with the big bag between beds
Coming as the guide grows
- Climate strip by zone, with the storm and haze months
- Regional passes and cards, with a buy / skip verdict
- Regional food: what, where and when it works
Meanwhile
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids1 partIn numbers
Region in numbers
- Where to sleep
- 1 base
- Day trips
- 3, 30 min to 50 min
- Nights suggested
- 2–3 nights
- Ways in
- 2 listed
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Dartmoor
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