A Mini Adventure on Dartmoor
Dartmoor makes me slightly nervous. It’s quite big, a bit bleak and a little scary when the fog descends. Â I remember being in the Cadets, hiking across the vast open expanse of moorland near Okehampton, trying to map read and getting wet feet! Â I’ve been back a number of times during a pre-children rock climbing phase, but I don’t really know my way around many areas.
I see other people’s pictures and posts of gurgling rivers, pretty bridges and beautiful views and think I really need to be a bit braver. Well I haven’t really been yet, but following the Moor Otter Trail was a good start to finding our way to some new areas of Dartmoor.
When I first wrote this in 2017 we followed The Moor Otter Trail which has now finished but these are still great places to visit. I have recently learned that there will be a new Moor Otter Trail in 2021.Â
Our Dartmoor Route
The Devon Guild of Craftsman
Coming from the Exeter direction we headed for Bovey Tracey.  Sat nav helpfully at the ready.  The first stop was the Devon Guild of Craftsmen (free parking) in the centre of Bovey Tracey right by the river. This gallery and studio area hosts lovely art and crafts displays, holds courses, craft fairs and you can also buy the locally made crafts.  This was a new place for us, it was very calm with a cafe on site as well.
Please check the website for opening days, times and facilities.
The house of marbles
Our second stop was The House of Marbles which was a lot busier.  My girls had been before with Grandma but this was also a first for me.  What a great attraction that is free to enter and also free with free parking! Â
Not surprisingly there are many types of marbles on display as well as vintage toys and lots of lovely things to buy. Â It’s surprising child friendly with only a few “don’t touch” moments needed!
We really enjoyed watching the free glass blowing demonstrations. It was amazing how they can make such delicate and intricate ornaments. There’s also marble runs to entertain, a play area and cafe.
Parke National Trust
Our mini adventure next took us to Parke Estate. This is a fabulous National Trust owned site. A huge area of land on the edge of Dartmoor with the River Bovey running through the middle.Â
There are lots of walks including a river walk which takes you all the way back to Bovey Tracey if you have the time. Maps are available with suggested routes and also an orienteering course to download.  Cycling is permitted on the old railway line which now forms a part of a cycle route between Bovey Tracey and Lustleigh.
Well known locally is the all important tea room.
Despite being a NT member for many years I had never heard of this before. Â Free parking for NT members. Â We will be back to have a good look around.
Back in the car (this was a whistle stop tour!) to another new place for me (and one to go back to!) just up the road from Parke. A delightful farm shop and tea room called Ullacombe Farm. There was a lovely play park and one of my favourite otters – the spotty one!
Hay Tor
Just a few miles outside Bovey Tracey, Hay Tor is a an easy to reach part of Dartmoor and also home to the Dartmoor Visitor Centre.Â
The girls couldn’t remember being taken as toddlers.  At least now they can make it all the way under their own steam. We climbed right to the top (no health and safety signs or don’t climb rules –  horray!) It was very windy but with amazing views. It’s a very popular Tor being so accessible so be prepared for crowds on a sunny summers day!
Back in the Dartmoor Visitor Centre we found our last otter of the day just as it was closing at 5pm.
The View from Haytor looking South East
Given more time, our trip around Bovey Tracey and Haytor would certainly have been a full day out. Â It really should have included a cream tea as well, there were enough chances!
In fact we were on the way to Tiverton for a night camping and then caneoing the next day. Â We had a lovely time on the River Tamar. Â Our trip took off from Cotehele Quay (a wonderful National Trust location just across the border into Cornwall). Â You can read about our canoeing trip on my post about Tamar Trails.
So in summary if you are looking for an enjoyable day out or something to add onto a trip to Dartmoor then this route is a really great idea even though the otter trail has now finished.
We have since found an otter at Canonteign Falls, another great place to explore.Â
 Moor Otter Trail
This trail has now finished but a new one is coming for 2021.
The Moor Otter Trail is a great arts project that is raising awareness and money for the protection of the Dartmoor ecosystem and helping to fund the Junior Rangers programme in the South West.
Otters have slowly been returning to Dartmoor and are becoming more established. They are hard to spot in real life, but fortunately these works of art are much easier to find.
Where Can The Otters Be Found Now?
The Otters were auctioned off after the trail finished. There were 100 otters dotted around Dartmoor and a few in nearby towns such as Newton Aboot and Totnes. They stand about 3 feet high on a plinth and each one has been beautifully painted by a local artist. You will find some of them now on display at tourist attractions, pubs, cafes and hotels.
The otters were a great way to help navigate Dartmoor, but even once the project has finished the little route that we took would be just as worthwhile for a day trip.
Hi! I am Clare and I live in glorious East Devon with my family.
I love finding new places to explore in the West Country as well as further afield.
I hope you enjoy reading and taking inspiration from my blog.
I feel the same way about Dartmoor, it is creepy but beautiful at the same time. Love the photos in this post! #Devonbloggers
Thank you. I definitely prefer Dartmoor on a sunny day!
This sounds like a fun idea – especially with children. Sounds like you found many of the otters – great way to raise awareness. We saw a couple when in Dartmoor recently and hadn’t realised there were so many about!
I’ve not spotted any otters yet – these holidays are full on! But I think it’s a great initiative and a really clever way to help people discover new attractions on and around the moor.
There are some in Newton Abbot and Totnes as well so they are quite spread around the area.
Ahh fantastic so this is where all your fab otter pictures have come from. I feel the same about Dartmoor and really want to give this a go. I love the otter with the Umbrellas. Fab post lovely xx
I love that these animal art works are popping up all over the place to get people out and about to explore new places. I’ve never been to Dartmoor but these otters look great. In my city we have bears to find.
#countrykids
(please delete if you find duplicate comments, I had trouble submitting my last one.)
I hadn’t heard of the otter trail but they certainly look very elaborate and located in some fascinating places which look worthy of a visit in their own right. I keep meaning to visit the house of Marbles, looks like checking out the otter at the same time is well worth it. As for the walk what a delight not to have fencing and health and safety signs so that the kids can clamber to the top. This would be essential for my kids. It reminds me of climbing Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor, a favourite of ours close to Coombe Mill.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
What a lovely adventure to have in the outdoors. The otters are super cute and a great way to get kids engaged with outdoors adventures. Hopefully you all had a good nights sleep after your busy adventures #countrykids
I do love trails like this although we’ve never had any in towns or cties near us. Must try and do one somewhere else. #countrykids
Oh wow I love the look of the otter trail – making things more fun and colourful. Sounds like a great walk, have never explored Dartmoor on foot, have only ever driven through the area but want to go back
Just popping over from #CountryKids
Laura x
It sounds like a brilliant way to explore the area, create better understanding and bring tourism to the area too. I love the view from the top #CountryKids
Oh I hadn’t heard about this otter trail, such a great way to raise awareness and I can imagine it really encourages people to get out and explore the places the otters can be found! Brilliant! #countrykids
Aw this is such a fabulous idea. My boys would love searching for otters so i will keep this in mind for a future family day out. Thanks for linking to #MondayEscapes
Wow! You covered a lot of ground in a day. We’ve not seen as many of the otters as I’d hoped over the summer – they need to make it all year round! Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Yes it’s a shame they will be going. Apparently you can bid to buy them, I rather fancy one in my garden!
We love the house of marbles, the children spent ages watching the amazing structure on the wall with the marbles running down it 🙂 The Otters look lovely and anything to help encourage the children to get out walking is a bonus to me 🙂
#adventurecalling
How brilliant that they’ve set up an arts trail to help fund the junior rangers – it’s initiatives like that, that more areas to invest in. I love Dartmoor but it’s is so many years since I last visited, so I’d dearly love to get back down there again soon. Thanks for for joining us on #adventurecalling I hope you can again when we open again tonight.
Love the otters, I keep meaning to do one of these trails, such a great idea to find new places. You managed to cram a lot into your day, the hike up to Haytor was a great way to end on a high. The views are stunning. I’ve never really explored Dartmoor, another place on our never ending wishlist! Thanks for linking up with #AdventureCalling