Two Moors Way

This superb route really is something of a classic for southern England, traversing the spectacular scenery of two National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor. The journey provides great contrasts, from rolling high moorland broken by steep sided granite tors, to lowland valleys with sluggish, willow-choked streams. Between the wilderness of Dartmoor and Exmoor lies central Devon, rich farmland with red and brown soils, small villages, thatched cottages and silent square-towered churches.

From Ivybridge at the southern tip of Dartmoor the route strikes out right across the high heather-clad inner moor, passing granite tors, Bronze Age settlements, medieval crosses and clapper bridges. At Teigncombe the route leaves the moor along the lovely Teign valley to Castle Drogo. The route continues northward across rural mid Devon, with it's fields of pasture, copses and flower-filled hedgerows providing a rich contrast to the moor. About half of the route is through this mid-Devon landscape until Exmoor is reached at Tarr Steps. Now it is back to moorland, but a remarkably different landscape from Dartmoor. The route follows the River Barle and climbs up onto Exmoor with its ponies and red deer. Some lovely parts of Exmoor are explored as the route makes it's way to a dramatic finale at the spectacular Bristol Channel coastline at Lynmouth.

The guide book also includes details of the Erme-Plym Trail which runs from Wembury on Devon's south coast to Ivybridge where it links with the Two Moors Way. By including this Trail in your walk you achieve a complete coast to coast route across Devon.

The Erme-Plym Trail adds 24 km to the distance and is a generally gentle undulating stretch over an attractive pastoral landscape. Views of Dartmoor dominate in the northern skyline. A particular highlight is the crossing of Cofflete Creek, a tributary of the estuary of the River Yealm. After passing through the attractive villages of Brixton and Yealmpton the northbound route reaches the Erme Valley which is followed into Ivybridge.

The guidebook describes the entire route from Wembury in eleven sections which can be used as a daily itinerary as shown below. Some of the shorter adjacent sections could be combined into one day if necessary and fitness and conditions allow.

Wembury - Yealmpton 7.5m
Yealmpton - Ivybridge 9m
Ivybridge - Holne 13.5m
Holne - Widecombe-in-the-Moor 9m
Widecombe - Chagford Bridge 9.5m
Chagford Bridge - Morchard Road 18m
Morchard Road - Witheridge 11m
Witheridge - Knowstone 8.25m
Knowstone - Withypool 12.25m
Withypool - Simonsbath 6.5m
Simonsbath - Lynmouth 11.25m

Accommodation will be off-route on some sections and involve some additional mileage or taxi.

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