What to see
We’re highlighting some of the best things to see along the route of the Two Moors walk to make your experience even more enjoyable!
INTERESTING SPOTS
There are many things to do, places to see and settlements to explore along the route. Explore the interactive map below for a taster of some of the highlights. Click on an icon for further details or click the tab icon in the top left corner to see a list of all highlighted locations. You can choose which categories to show using the tick boxes.
Wembury
The start of the Coast to Coast route, Wembury Beach is owned by the National Trust and is one of the best spots in the country for rock pooling! There are shops in the village and places to eat if necessary before getting on your way.
Yealmpton
A small town close to the city of Plymouth with a range of facilities and a curious church.
Ivybridge
The largest town along the route, the start of the original Two Moors Way and one of the four gateways to Dartmoor. The original ‘Ivy Bridge’ across the River Erme still stands today, and the town offers a range of facilities including a mainline railway station.
Holne
This is a delightful moorland village. A community has existed here since at least the 11th century and today the village offers a church, an inn and a community shop.
Widecombe in the Moor
Just over a mile off of the route, this is a scenic and convenient stopping point while tackling the moorlands of Dartmoor offering tea rooms, shops and pubs along with places to stay.
Chagford
A former Stannary town, Chagford is rich in history and today offers a number of services including shops, cafes, pubs and more.
Drewsteignton
The last village on the route within Dartmoor National Park, located above the Teign Valley. A shop, pub and church are all found within the village which features a picturesque square.
Hittisleigh
Typical of many of the small villages within the Mid Devon section of the route Hittisleigh has a population of just over 100.
Morchard Bishop
Situated almost halfway between the start and finish of the Two Moors Way the village has a pub, a church, a community shop and even a blacksmith!
Witheridge
While by no means large Witheridge is one of the larger settlements along the Mid Devon section of the route, with a population of over 1000. Its name is derived from the Old English for ‘Weather Ridge’, given its location on an exposed hilltop.
Knowstone
A small village with a popular pub. The surrounding area is known for its rich habitat of Culm grassland – the largest area of this type of grassland in the world.
West Anstey
A small hamlet hosting a 12th-century medieval church. The southern boundary of Exmoor National Park is reached just north of the settlement.
Hawkridge
One of Exmoor’s remotest and oldest villages, situated on a high ridge between the Dane’s Brook and the River Barle.
Withypool
A small village with tea rooms, village shop and a pub clustered around an historic six-arch bridge across the River Barle.
Exford
A mile or two off the route Exford is often referred to as the ‘Heart of Exmoor’ and boasts two pubs/hotels, a youth hostel, tea rooms and a village shop, many located around the picturesque village green.
Simonsbath
A typical high moorland village with a pub and hotel. Simonsbath is at the centre of the former Royal hunting forest on Exmoor. It has many heritage features including a Victorian water-powered sawmill.
Lynton & Lynmouth
A Victorian resort consisting of the twin settlements of Lynmouth by the coast and Lynton nestling some 500ft above connected via a Victorian water-powered cliff railway. Lynmouth marks the end of the Two Moors Way where it meets the Coleridge Way and South West Coast Path opposite the Lynmouth Pavilion National Park Centre on the esplanade. A range of shops, eating places and places to stay make this a great place to rest a while at the end of the walk!
Places of interest
Butterdon Hill stone row
Dartmoor has the largest concentrations of stone rows of any area in Britain and there are over seventy known on the moor today. The Dartmoor section of the Two Moors Way offers the opportunity to pass alongside a number of these. The stone row running north from Butterdon Hill to the Longstone crosses the route and is one of the longest; however, the world’s longest can be seen at Stall Moor (3.1km) to the northwest.
New Bridge and the River Dart
A popular spot with visitors to southern Dartmoor – the riverbank is a real draw for picknickers in fine weather. The medieval bridge crosses the Dart below Holne and Poundsgate. In season you'll find an ice cream van in the car park here.
Dr Blackall’s Drive
Above the Dart Valley you follow the scenic carriageway laid out in the 1870s by Dr Blackall. As well as spectacular views, you are greeted with the vibrant colours of Western gorse, purple ling and the oak woodland in the valley below.
Hameldown Ridge
From this high point (529m) you get commanding views across Dartmoor and, hopefully, for much of the route to Exmoor! The ridge passes several cairns and barrows (burial mounds) and a short detour east will take you to the RAF memorial to four airmen, who crashed at this spot in 1941 while returning from France.
Grimspound
One of the best-preserved Bronze Age enclosures on Dartmoor,covering nearly four acres and containing the remains of 16 hut circles and eight stone buildings.
The Warren House Inn
Having explored Grimspound (walking S-N) a short detour will take you to the historic Warren House Inn to slake your thirst before setting off across Chagford Common. It is said that one of the fires in the pub has not gone out since 1845, and many travellers have sought refuge in this isolated spot.
Castle Drogo
From Chagford – one of four Stannary towns where tin had to be assayed in medieval times – the route follows the beautiful River Teign. Past Dogmarsh Bridge the National Trust estate of Castle Drogo is entered. Follow the Fisherman’s and then Hunter’s paths below the imposing granite structure of Castle Drogo, England’s ‘youngest’ castle. If you have time this Lutyens designed castle, which is undergoing a multi-million pound restoration project, is well worth a visit.
St Andrew’s Church, Hittisleigh
A remote little hilltop settlement with a simple 15th-century church. Don’t miss the glorious views back to Dartmoor’s northernmost tors from the graveyard.
Clannaborough
One of the few A roads in this Mid Devon section is crossed here, just past the little pinnacle church at Clannaborough Barton – ‘a parish with no village'.
Washford Pyne
Walkers will be pleased to stop for a break at this remote little church, as evidenced by those who have signed the Visitors’ Book! Nearby Washford Wood is flooded with bluebells in late May.
Bradford Moor
Northeast of Witheridge the path encounters a wonderful extensive wildflower meadow, awash with early purple and marsh orchids, sorrel, ox-eye daisies and ragged robin in early summer.
Tarr Steps
An ancient clapper bridge, reputed to be the longest in the country, the exact origins are a little unknown – it was first mentioned in Tudor times but may well be much older. This is a great place, with a nearby pub, to sit and relax by the river before continuing your walk.
Cow Castle
A spectacular Iron Age hillfort – if you fancy a steep climb it offers great views up and down the river valley. At this point the path begins to enter some of Exmoor’s most wild scenery.
Wheal Eliza
An abandoned copper and iron mine. While mining activity on the site may date back to the 1500s it was last used in the 19th century when the Knight family attempted to commercialise much of the area around Simonsbath, ultimately failing. There are a few remnants of the mining activity left on site,from the footings of buildings to the pit for the waterwheel.
Exmoor Forest
Exmoor’s treeless forest! The forest of Exmoor, or Exmore, was one of the 67 Royal Forests designated as a hunting ground for the king and probably dates back to Saxon times. In its earliest form the forest probably stretched from Porlock to Bray and from Martinhoe to Dulverton. It was sold off by the Crown in 1819.
Exe Head
A high moorland plateau from where the River Exe rises. Despite being within 10 miles of the coast at Lynmouth the river winds its way south for over 50 miles to Exmouth on the South Devon coast.
Hoaroak Tree
The Hoaroak tree stands near the bottom of a steep-sided valley and is the latest in a long line of historic trees used to mark the boundary of the former Royal Forest of Exmoor.
Myrtleberry
An Iron Age hillfort commanding views out over the Bristol Channel, marking the start of the descent of the Two Moors Way down to the coastline below and the route’s end at Lynmouth.