Moretonhampstead Walks
This small Devon town is often described as the gateway to the Dartmoor National Park making it a fine place to start a walk. The market town also houses a number of historic buildings including the old Alms Houses and the Parish Church of St Andrew, which dates back to the 15th century.
This walk from the town visits some of the area highlights including Fingle Bridge, Castle Drogo and Cranbrook Castle.
The walk starts in the town centre and follows the Dartmoor Way north to Butterdown Down and Cranbrook where you can branch off to the right to climb Cranbrook Castle hillfort.
The route continues north through Charles Wood to the iconic Fingle Bridge. This old packhorse bridge dates back to the 16th/17th century and is Grade II listed.
From here you head north towards Prestonbury Castle before turning west to Piddledown Common and the splendid Castle Drogo. This National Trust run area includes fine parkland and gardens to explore.
You then pick up a riverside path heading east along the River Teign through Hannicombe Wood. The route then retraces its steps to return to the village.
Postcode
TQ13 8LN - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsMoretonhampstead Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Moretonhampstead Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Moretonhampstead OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Moretonhampstead Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Moretonhampstead
- Dartmoor Ramble - A wonderful circular walk around the fascinating Dartmoor National Park with plenty of lovely riverside walking and some challenging climbs.
The walk starts near the car park at Bellever and first follows the East Dart River through Postbridge and on to Sittaford Tor where you will pass the historical Grey Wethers Stone Circle - Fingle Bridge to Clifford and Steps Bridge Walk - A woodland walk along the River Teign from Fingle Bridge to Steps Bridge via Clifford Bridge
- Fingle Bridge and Woods - Explore the delightful woods around Fingle Bridge and visit the Iron Age Hill Fort of Wooston Castle on this woodland walk in Dartmoor
- Castle Drogo - Explore the delightful gardens and wider estate surrounding this country house in Drewsteignton, Devon.This is one of the classic circular walks in Dartmoor taking you from Castle Drogo to Fingle Bridge along the wonderful Hunters Path
- Dartmoor Way - This epic long distance circular walk takes you on a tour of the wonderful Dartmoor National Park.On the circular route you will pass Okehampton, Chagford, Moretonhampstead, Buckfastleigh, Princetown, Foggintor Quarry and Tavistock as you make your way around this circular route
- River Teign Walk - This walk explores the beautiful Teign Valley, following the River Teign from its source on Dartmoor to Shaldon on the Devon coast
- Lustleigh Cleave - The village of Lustleigh is in a nice position for exploring a lovely part of the Dartmoor National Park
- Kennick Reservoir - This walk visits Kennick Reservoir and its surrounding woodlands, in the Dartmoor National Park
- Trenchford and Tottiford Reservoir - Enjoy an easy walk around these two pretty reservoirs in the Dartmoor National Park
- Becky Falls - This is a circular walk in the Dartmoor's Bovey Valley visiting the beautiful Becky Falls and other local landmarks, beauty spots and villages
- Mardon Down - Climb to Mardon Down on Dartmoor and enjoy wonderful far reaching views over the surrounding area
- Grimspound - This circular walk on Dartmoor, visits the fascinating Bronze Age Settlement of Grimspound
- Bovey Tracey - The town of Bovey Tracey sits in a fine walking location on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park
- Scorhill Stone Circle - This walk visits the Scorhill Stone Circle and the Wallabrook Clapper Bridge in the Teign Valley of Dartmoor.
- Wray Valley Trail - This shared cycling and walking trail runs along a dismantled railway line from Moretonhampstead to Bovey Tracey in Devon.
- North Bovey - This attractive Devon based village is located on the south-eastern side of the Dartmoor National Park, just south of Moretonhampstead.
- Bowermans Nose - This popular circular walk climbs to Bowerman's Nose in the Dartmoor National Park
- Bovey Castle - This walk visits Bovey Castle, a Grade II listed mansion in the Dartmoor National Park.
Pubs/Cafes
Back in the village head to the Union Inn for some post walk refreshment. It is the oldest tavern in the town, with a history stretching back several centuries. They serve good quality food and have a lovely garden and terrace area for the warmer months. You can find them on Ford Street at postcode TQ13 8LN for your sat navs.
On the route you could stop off at the splendid Fingle Bridge Inn which is in a great location right next to the river. You can sit outside in the large garden area which overlooks the woods and the river, which is just a few feet away from the tables. On a fine day it's the perfect place to relax with a cream tea after your exercise. Inside there's a cosy interior with a stone hearth and wood ceiling beams. You can find the inn right next to the old bridge at postcode EX6 6PW for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The hills and woodland trails on the route make for a fine dog walk. The Union Inn and the Fingle Bridge Inn mentioned above are both dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To the south east there's more excellent woodland trails around Lustleigh Cleave. There's also some great waterside trails around the nearby Kennick Reservoir, Trenchford and Tottiford Reservoir.
The lovely Becky Falls are also close to the town, and considered one of the National Park's premier beauty spots.
The Wray Valley Trail starts in the village. The shared cycling and walking route runs along a disused railway line to Lustleigh and Bovey Tracey.
To the south west is neighbouring North Bovey where you'll find a 14th century church, a notable 13th century pub, the fine Bovey Castle hotel and views of the River Bovey.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Dartmoor Walks page.
Photos
Moretonhampstead. Popular with tourists, but it has a vibrant local community, a superb butcher and 4 interesting pubs. Looking east along Court Street in this photo.
The refurbished tollhouse on the Bovey Tracey - Moretonhampstead road.
Standing stone, on Butterdon Down
Moretonhampstead, on Cranbrook Castle
Fingle Bridge. There has probably been a crossing point over the River Teign here since time immemorial as it is on the route that links Moretonhampstead with Drewsteignton and the north side of the river. The old narrow packhorse bridge with its triangular refuges has certainly been in existence since the 17th century. This is the upstream face viewed looking downstream with the roof of The Fingle Bridge Inn just visible over the top of the bridge parapet.
Castle Drogo. The northeast wing of the castle. The granite building was constructed between 1911-30.
River Teign near Fingle Bridge. About 500 metres upstream of the bridge, with Hannicombe Wood on the right.
Hannicombe Wood. This view across the Teign Valley shows the variety of shades of green in the deciduous and coniferous woods in early spring.