Public Walks & Talks
Walks, Talks and Experiences are designed to help you Explore, Learn and Enjoy Dartmoor.
We offer a range of activities for differing abilities, locations and interests including navigation, archaeology, geology, flora and fauna, myths and legends, farming, foraging, wild swimming, mindfulness, and more on Dartmoor. We look forward to having you join us!
Please check the information carefully before booking, including what to wear/bring, concessions, and cancellation policy. If the walk or talk you want to book is full, please add yourselves to the waitlist, or consider Private Hire which can be tailored to your interests, ability and location.
Gentle Woodland Walk
Designed for people with ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, or chronic pain, we will walk together at a gentle pace following the River Erme through beautiful woodland. Stopping occasionally to rest along the way, we will participate in a short guided meditation, and receive nature-connection invitations to help soothe body, mind, and spirit.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
Spring Wild Foods Walk
Walking from Okehampton train station, this lovely route takes in a section of the Granite Way as well as beautiful woodland and views. Along the way, we will learn how to ID edible plants, leaves, and flowers as well as how to prepare them for eating. This walk is ideal for foraging beginners.
Dowsing for Earth Energies Walk - Introduction
Join us for an introduction to dowsing for earth energy lines at the fascinating stone row, burial chambers, and settlement near Black Tor.
Sacred Arc - 8 Stone Circles Walk to celebrate Summer Solstice
Walk through an ancient and ritual Dartmoor landscape. 8 prehistoric stone circles form an approximate arc and, plus others reported are possibly part of a much larger circle of stone circles around the high moor. So, taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological approach, we will journey together (sometimes in silence and sometimes sharing our experiences) through this wild and beautiful landscape asking questions of the ancestors, stones, and land along the way.
Cut Hill Pilgrimage
Following in the footsteps of Dartmoor ancestors, we will walk an ancient track to the remote and extraordinary Cut Hill. Here there is a Neolithic stone row, recently excavated site of a burial chamber, and stunning views on a clear day.
Fungi Foray - Introduction (morning session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungi Foray - Introduction (afternoon session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungi - Voyage into the Mycelium (Intermediate)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor. You will already have a basic knowledge of fungi and this intermediate level session will explore in more depth this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Hound of the Baskervilles - Origins & Inspirations (Online Talk) Postponed from 21.11.24 to 03.12.24)
Join Emma to explore some of the possible inspirations and origins for Sherlock Holme’s most famous case, the 'Hound of the Baskervilles'. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle visited Dartmoor, and you can see many of the influences for his novel from real-life people, places and incidents.
Photo credit Jason OfEngland
Fungal Foray - Introduction (afternoon session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (morning session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
Witches on Dartmoor - Samhain Walk
Myths and legends of witches abound on Dartmoor – Old Hannah, Witch Hare, Levera, Vixana, Mary Ann, and more. Some offered helpful ‘blessing for bleedings’ or wart charms. But most stories tell of women who were old and wicked. This twisted truth stems from the medieval witch-hunts, and has been rife for centuries. Instead these indigenous wisdom-keepers were likely community mid-wives and herbalists working with the natural effects of weather changes, moon cycles, and seasonal plants. For Samhain, walk with Dartmoor’s Daughter to one of the locations of a Dartmoor witch legend, and see if we can reimagine these stories, and reawaken our innate human connection with nature, mystery and magic.
Fungi - Voyage into the Mycelium (Intermediate)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. You will already have a basic knowledge of fungi and this intermediate level session will explore in more depth this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (afternoon session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (morning session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (afternoon session) - POSTPONED
Unfortunately, due to high winds this walk has been POSTPONED - Please check your inbox/junk mail for more info.
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (morning session) - POSTPONED
Unfortunately, due to high winds this walk has been POSTPONED - Please check your inbox/junk mail for more info.
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Mariners Way Walk - Dartmoor Walking Festival Fundraising for Devon Air Ambulance
Walk a section of the ancient Mariners Way through beautiful woodland, fields, and old holloways then back up on to the open moor along a tor ridge taking in the stunning 360 degree views on a clear day. We’ll walk through the ruins of Bronze Age hut circles and field systems, and hopefully see flora, fauna and other wonders along the way.
Ancient Stones & Afternoon Tea
Enjoy a fascinating walk on Gidleigh Common exploring prehistoric sites such as chambered cairns, ruined round houses, and a stunning stone circle followed by a delicious cream tea or homemade cake made by volunteers raising money for beautiful Holy Trinity Church. Afterwards, we will stroll back to our cars along an ancient track through fields, woodland, and pretty country lanes.
Wander and Wonder
Feel daily stresses melt away and senses come alive as we walk silently together along ancient tracks, cross sinuous copper-gold coloured streams on high open moorland, journey past old stones and bones, and watch the clouds shapeshifting above us. Every step brings us closer to appreciating the beauty, history, and magic of this living, working landscape.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
Sacred Crescent Walk - 8 Stone Circles to celebrate Summer Solstice
Walk with us through an ancient, ritual landscape on Dartmoor, through the eight stone circles on North East Dartmoor that form an approximate arc.
Dowsing Earth Energies - Guided Walk, Learn & Practice
Join us for an introduction to dowsing for earth energy lines at the extraordinary prehistoric sites on Mardon Down.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
A Family’s Love of Dartmoor over 120 years (Online Talk)
Join Emma for a personal and historical journey illustrated by family photographs from treasured albums, and some side-by-side comparison images from Dartmoor today.
Fungal Field Lab
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor and Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter. You will already have a good working knowledge of fungi and be interested to delve more deeply into an advanced level of learning in a laboratory type setting.
Geology and Bronze Age Walk
Join us for a walk by the China Clay pits of Lee Moor and Trowlesworthy Tors, investigating how the the granite turned into clay and its effect on the nearby tors. Josephine Collingwood, author of ‘Geology of Dartmoor’ will help us to explore curious crystals, kaolinite, veins, quarried oddities and we will also see the ruins of Bronze Age settlements, pillow mounds and a vermin trap - so many unique features of Dartmoor that can all be discovered nearby.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
Ancient Tracks on Dartmoor (Online Talk)
Join Emma for an illustrated online journey through some of the ancient tracks on Dartmoor used by farmers, tinners, monks, merchants, peat cutters, sailors, the dead...and more. Based on a 1986 book of the same name by Eric Hemery, Emma will share some of the history and mystery of these beautiful old ways.
Dartmoor Pixies Walk & Storytelling
In the deep valleys and high moors of the South West of England, the tales of the Pixies have been told for centuries. These spirits are mischievous and marvellous, as they help and hinder their human neighbours. Through magical imagination, these tales help bring us closer to the landscape of Dartmoor with wonder and curiosity. The Pixies guide us through the land and remind us to take care, always be kind and never forget how to play!
Fungi - Voyage into the Mycelium
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. You will already have a basic knowledge of fungi and this intermediate level session will explore in more depth this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Witches on Dartmoor - Samhain Walk
Myths and legends of witches abound on Dartmoor – Old Hannah, Witch Hare, Levera, Vixana, Mary Ann, and more. Some offered helpful ‘blessing for bleedings’ or wart charms. But most stories tell of women who were old and wicked. This twisted truth stems from the medieval witch-hunts, and has been rife for centuries. Instead these indigenous wisdom-keepers were likely community mid-wives and herbalists working with the natural effects of weather changes, moon cycles, and seasonal plants. For Samhain, walk with Dartmoor’s Daughter to one of the locations of a Dartmoor witch legend, and see if we can reimagine these stories, and reawaken our innate human connection with nature, mystery and magic.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (afternoon session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (morning session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher)
Learn map and compass skills in a hands-on and practical workshop. Build confidence to explore new places and walk off the beaten track. We will also discover other ways to feel your way through the landscape e.g.: natural navigation.
Fungal Foray - Introduction (afternoon session)
Explore the fascinating world of fungi with mycologist Dr Christian Taylor, Emma from Dartmoor's Daughter and Daniel Thompson-Mills of Steward Community Woodland. On a walk through the woods, you will learn how to identify fungi and find out all about this marvellous kingdom of nature.
Can’t find the walk you want to do?
Private Hire
Create a bespoke day out with some of our carefully crafted, private guided walks.
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What to Wear/Bring Recommendations
Dartmoor is an upland environment in Devon with two coastlines nearby on the north and south coasts so weather can be unpredictable, change swiftly, and forecasts are not always reliable. For your enjoyment and safety, it is essential that you come prepared with suitable outdoors clothing including:
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Walking boots/shoes - Ideally with sturdy grips on the soles. Gaiters or wellies are recommended for wet ground.
Warm layers - Dartmoor is several degrees colder than lowland environments so thermals, hats and gloves can be important
Waterproof jacket and trousers - Bring them whatever the forecast!
Walking poles - If you have them
Sunscreen
Snacks and drinks
Personal first aid kit
Mobile phone for emergencies - We recommend that you sign up to ‘Emergency SMS’ before a Dartmoor walk www.emergencysms.net
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By pre-arrangement only. We love dogs but not all walks and activities are suitable for doggy companions, so please check before booking by contacting info@dartmoorsdaughter.com
It is imperative that dogs are well behaved and under very close control at all times around people and livestock, or they must be on a lead. Dog owners must abide by Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) Byelaws. See Section 9 and Footnote 6 regarding livestock worrying on Access Land plus requests during Ground Nesting Bird season (1st March – 31st July).
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Dowsing Walk - Dowsing rods (you can purchase from us if necessary).
Navigation Training – OS Map (OL28 Ordnance Survey map of Dartmoor) and a Compass - Silva is recommended and a good source is Dartmoor National Park Visitors Centres or dash4it.co.uk. Any of the following would be fine: Silva Starter 8; Silva Field; Silva Ranger; Silva Expedition 4.
Terms & Conditions
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Due to limited spaces on our walks and experiences, we request that if you need to cancel you do so at least four weeks before by emailing us at info@dartmoorsdaughter.com
Events will go ahead come rain or shine (with certain exceptions mentioned on our Cancellation Policy page). We do not offer refunds. If you cancel more than 4 weeks before the date of the walk or experience we will send you a credit note to use within 1 year minus a £5 admin fee and the original booking fee.
We do not transfer tickets so in this instance you can use your credit note to rebook with us.
We do not offer refunds, transfer of tickets or credit notes for cancellations within 4 weeks of the date of a walk or experience. We recommend in this instance that you try to resell/pass on your ticket yourself. If you manage to resell/pass on please let us know who will be attending in your place.
Please see our cancellation policy for more information.
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Please note, all walks and activities are undertaken at your own risk. Dartmoor’s Daughter accepts no liability for accidents or incidents.
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When you book onto a walk with us, we usually require some information from you for ticketing purposes, and we also ask for you to provide us with any relevant medical information. We will use this information to communicate with you about your walk or event and any payments that are made, and we require any third-party booking platforms to comply with relevant data protection legislation. We will not keep your information for any longer than is required.
Please see our Privacy Notice for more information.
Access for All
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Access to national parks and the natural world is vital for individual and community health and wellbeing. Responsibility and care for our environment stems from learning, exploring and enjoying so we design walks and talks to be as accessible as possible to everyone.
Keep an eye out on our website and in seasonal newsletters for free-to-attend opportunities offered to you due to the kindness of organisational funding.
And Dartmoor’s Daughter is one of many individuals and organisations that offer donation-only walks for the Annual Dartmoor Walking Festival every September.
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Please get in touch if you plan to use public transport to travel, or wish to car share to a walk start point. We will help to put you in touch.
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If you want to join us for a specific walk or talk but have low/no income, please ask us for a concessionary rate info@dartmoorsdaughter.com
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We offer a range of walks and experiences that aim to accommodate a variety of abilities, needs and interests:
Look for the ‘Level’ description on each public group walk. Some are short and gentle, others will be longer and more challenging.
Contact info@dartmoorsdaughter.com to enquire if a specific public group walk is suitable for you or your loved ones/group
Book a private day (or half-day) out that can be tailored to your abilities, needs, interests, timings, and location
Dartmoor offers wonderful opportunities for everyone to get out and about:
Trampers/All Terrain Mobility Scooters available for hire on Dartmoor at Devon Cycle Hire, National Trust (Buckland Abbey, Parke & Lydford Gorge) and Plymouth Bike Hire)