Dartmoor

Dartmoor rangers to carry on wearing video cameras

Rangers working on Dartmoor are to carry on using body-worn video cameras in response to anti-social and hostile behaviour by some visitors.

One ranger was able to use footage from a miniature camera to prove that he hadn’t knocked down a member of the public with his Land Rover.

A two-year trial of the cameras which began in February 2022 has been a success, and rangers say they feel safer as a result.

Now members of the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) are poised to give the go-ahead for the cameras to stay in use.

When they were first...

Moorcote, Moretonhampstead

Fabulous home comes to market in Devon moorland getaway

Situated in an ideal position with easy access to Dartmoor, the city of Exeter, main transport links and Devon’s spectacular coastline, the thriving moorland town of Moretonhampstead is one of Devon’s best kept secrets.

With a vibrant and arty community, the town itself offers something for all ages with an array of community activities on offer ranging from toddler groups to walking clubs and retirees’ coffee mornings. There is also a fantastic selection of cafés and eateries in the town, as well as excellent essentials shops including a butcher, grocer, pharmacy and more.

The...

Barbecues banned on Dartmoor to cut risk of wildfire

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 08/09/2022 - 8:14pm

Dartmoor National Park Authority has today introduced a temporary ban on open fires and barbecues on all common land within the National Park. The ban has been introduced in response to the prolonged dry weather and the risk wildfires can pose to people and animals, as well as damage to property and the natural environment. People who plan to spend time in the National Park are urged to be extremely vigilant to the increased risk of fires. A wildfire can start rapidly from things like a disposable barbecue, a cigarette or a match thrown out of a car window, or empty glass bottles left in...

Love Moor Life: Protect wildlife and animals

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:58pm

With March marking the start of spring, dog owners are being urged to protect new-born livestock and breeding birds by keeping their dogs on leads while out walking. With miles of footpaths, bridleways and open access land, Dartmoor is the perfect place for people to enjoy with their canine pets. But livestock worrying is a major concern; already there has been an unusually high number of dog attacks for this time of year. During the breeding season (1 March – 31 July) Dartmoor is a particularly busy place. Ground nesting birds such as meadow pipits, skylarks and snipe love Dartmoor’s...

Broadband network upgraded on Dartmoor and Exmoor

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/28/2022 - 9:16pm

A series of upgrades are being made to the superfast broadband network on Dartmoor and Exmoor.

Internet service provider Airband completed its network in the two National Parks, on behalf of Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS), over three years ago.

This network provides access to superfast broadband (speeds of up to 30Mbps) to around 7,000 homes and businesses, making it possible for customers to download a film in under three minutes.

Airband has now commissioned a number of new upgrades to ensure that customers on the moors continue to get the best possible...

New cairn for charity thanks to kind hearted builders

The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust at Parke near Bovey Tracy has a brand new car park donation cairn, thanks to the huge generosity of local builders, suppliers and the continuing loyal support of the charity’s many friends.

Earlier this year, the cairn was destroyed and the car park donations, which are used to purchase hay for the charity’s ponies, stolen.

But kind hearted businesses stepped forward to supply materials and their time to rebuild the cairn. Kenmart, Olympus Building Supplies and Stone Face Construction all proved the heroes of the hour with the former...

Woodland tidied up thanks to enthusiastic volunteers

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 01/24/2022 - 5:10pm

A Dartmoor woodland has been given a tidy-up thanks to a team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. Working with Dartmoor National Park’s Rangers Ella Briens and Ethan Parsons and Dartmoor Headwaters Project Officer Kerry Smith, the group spent a Sunday morning removing tree guards from a native woodland in the Dean Burn valley near Buckfastleigh. Seventeen volunteers joined Ella, Ethan and Kerry for the volunteer event on January 9 and the collective hard work was a success because they collected up hundreds of tree-guards – filling five big dumpy bags. It’s hoped the tree-guards can...

Devon Barn Conversion

Devon’s Finest Country Homes

With Dartmoor on the doorstep, a magnificent coastline dotted with some of the UK’s finest beaches, Devon is fast becoming a UK hotspot for high end property.

Desperate plea to moor visitors to help halt the spread of strangles

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sat, 07/31/2021 - 1:59am

Visitors to Dartmoor are being urged to stay away from its native ponies to help stop the spread of a vicious new strain of strangles.

Ponies are already suffering from the highly contagious infection, and now the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust is putting a firewall around the 450 hectare site it leases from Forestry England at Bellever to try and protect its herd of 27 ponies. It hopes this will prevent the infection from spreading further to other herds on the moors.

The site is very popular with visitors but with ponies at Haytor and Widecombe already infected it is...

Hairy Hands FM Graphic

Dartmoor Hairy Hands Legend brought to life by BBC audio project

An interactive audio experience, Hairy Hands FM, brings to life a Dartmoor legend.

Since the 1920s, drivers in Devon have claimed mysterious ‘Hairy Hands’ have seized control of the steering wheel and caused a high number of road accidents on the B3212.

Hairy Hands FM, part of the BBC New Creatives scheme for young artists, brings these sightings to life through unnerving binaural sound and a radio host to help the listener defeat the hairy hands.

“Hairy Hands FM is an immersive audio experience with interactive elements where you get chased around your home by the...

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