Among the wildest of England’s national parks, Dartmoor is a haven for rare wildlife and is steeped in ancient history. Dartmoor resident Nick Baker leads this foray into its wild secrets.
After our first afternoon spent in the lovely Teign Gorge, we devote a full day to the magnificent River Dart, searching for rare butterflies and other insects in ancient acid grassland, before entering its oak-clad granite valley where dippers, otters and goosanders haunt the tannin-stained water. The following day we visit Dartmoor’s iconic moorland, in search of ring ouzel, stonechat, cuckoo, rare fritillaries and signs of ancient human habitation in this dramatically beautiful landscape.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Afternoon visit to the Teign Gorge
After meeting at our hotel at lunchtime, this afternoon we visit the beautiful Teign Gorge. Oak woodland here is home to wood warbler, redstart, pied flycatcher and the elusive lesser spotted woodpecker. Dipping with nets in the river allows us to investigate the invertebrate life which makes the Teign attractive to predators such as dipper, grey wagtail, goosander and sea trout.
Accommodation: Mill End Hotel / The Three Crowns, 2-nights
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Day 2:
Explore the River Dart
We devote today to the River Dart, walking up from Newbridge to Dartmeet. This is a delightful walk through a range of habitats including the celebrated Dartmoor in-byes, ringed by walls of mossy river stones, and classic acid grassland inhabited by rare butterflies. Later we plunge into the oak woods that clothe the valley sides, keeping an eye out for sea trout and salmon in the river, and goosander and dipper along its edge. Before walking down, we stop for lunch at historic Dartmeet, confluence of the East and West Dart.
In the evening, after dinner, we head out to listen for churring nightjars, reeling grasshopper warblers and drumming snipe, and to look for the many bats which inhabit Dartmoor.
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Day 3:
Explore Dartmoor’s upland moors
Once we have emptied last night’s moth trap, and identified its contents, today we head up onto Dartmoor’s rugged and dramatic moors, in search of such beauties as breeding ring ouzel, wheatear and stonechat. We will also keep our eyes open for rare oil beetles and fritillary butterflies, plus countless other small Dartmoor delights. We may have time to visit ancient standing stones or Wistman’s Wood, a unique and atmospheric relict of upland oak woodland. Later in the afternoon we return to Chagford where the tour ends.
