

Europe
5 days
4 nights
6 people
Moderate
History
Explore the myths and legends of Dartmoor National Park’s vast expanse of windswept landscapes. Stroll medieval villages, sprawling moors, and Bronze Age ruins to uncover the enduring tales they’ve inspired. Scamper among twisted trees and shaggy sheep and explore a medieval water supply. Along the way, hunker down in cozy pubs to chat with friendly locals and special guests to discover what makes this quiet corner of southwest England so unique.
Meet up with your guide and fellow travelers in the early afternoon to explore historic Exeter's unique mix of ancient and modern details. Set out on an exploration of the St. Nicholas Priory, the oldest building in Exeter. We get a taste of the history of this ancient building with a guided tour. Once the sun goes down, join your guide for a twilight tour of ghostly and legendary sites. You'll stop at a pub or two; of course, every pub has at least one ghost or legend in Exeter.
Meet up with your guide and fellow travelers in the early afternoon to explore historic Exeter's unique mix of ancient and modern details. Set out on an exploration of the St. Nicholas Priory, the oldest building in Exeter. We get a taste of the history of this ancient building with a guided tour. Once the sun goes down, join your guide for a twilight tour of ghostly and legendary sites. You'll stop at a pub or two; of course, every pub has at least one ghost or legend in Exeter.
Queens Court Hotel (or similar), Exeter
Dinner
Queens Court Hotel (or similar), Exeter
Dinner
Journey westward through the verdant Teign Valley and the small town of Moretonhampstead and up to the open moor. Today is a day of stone circles and open moors, songs and stories. We'll meet a local folk singer who will sing us tales of love, loss and the land beneath our feet. Towards the end of the day we settle into our hotel, a country house with beautiful grounds and scenic views on the banks of the river Teign. Set right in the heartland of Dartmoor National Park, this will be our homebase for the next few days. In the evening, if the weather is clear, you'll have the option of a local night hike.
Journey westward through the verdant Teign Valley and the small town of Moretonhampstead and up to the open moor. Today is a day of stone circles and open moors, songs and stories. We'll meet a local folk singer who will sing us tales of love, loss and the land beneath our feet. Towards the end of the day we settle into our hotel, a country house with beautiful grounds and scenic views on the banks of the river Teign. Set right in the heartland of Dartmoor National Park, this will be our homebase for the next few days. In the evening, if the weather is clear, you'll have the option of a local night hike.
Mill End Hotel, Chagford (Dartmoor)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mill End Hotel, Chagford (Dartmoor)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Chart the course of the River Dart, which flows across our country estate. Follow its winding path down to where it leaves the moor, stopping to appreciate this unique landscape's sights, sounds, and scents. You'll pass Bronze Age settlements, lonely graves, and locations that inspired "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sherlock Holmes. Lunch will be at the Rugglestone in Widecombe, one of the jewels of the moor. Once a simple one-room pub for working folk from the farms, the Rugglestone is now slightly larger but still retains a charm that is totally unique. Dinner will be in a Chagford Inn known for its history and fine food.
Chart the course of the River Dart, which flows across our country estate. Follow its winding path down to where it leaves the moor, stopping to appreciate this unique landscape's sights, sounds, and scents. You'll pass Bronze Age settlements, lonely graves, and locations that inspired "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sherlock Holmes. Lunch will be at the Rugglestone in Widecombe, one of the jewels of the moor. Once a simple one-room pub for working folk from the farms, the Rugglestone is now slightly larger but still retains a charm that is totally unique. Dinner will be in a Chagford Inn known for its history and fine food.
Mill End Hotel, Chagford (Dartmoor)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mill End Hotel, Chagford (Dartmoor)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, lace up your hiking shoes for a two-mile hike through fairytale-esque Wistman's Wood, one of the last remaining tracts of Dartmoor's ancient gnarled oak forest. Wander in the quiet stillness of these trees and witness a legendary example of nature and landscape. Lunch will be at the Two Bridges hotel on the banks of the West Dart . For the afternoon, you can choose to explore the town of Chagford's cafes and galleries or visit Bronze Age dwellings whose outlook have been unchanged for millennia. We will take our final dinner together in Fine Inn a few miles form the hotel, steeped in local lore and a love of local food and good company.
Today, lace up your hiking shoes for a two-mile hike through fairytale-esque Wistman's Wood, one of the last remaining tracts of Dartmoor's ancient gnarled oak forest. Wander in the quiet stillness of these trees and witness a legendary example of nature and landscape. Lunch will be at the Two Bridges hotel on the banks of the West Dart . For the afternoon, you can choose to explore the town of Chagford's cafes and galleries or visit Bronze Age dwellings whose outlook have been unchanged for millennia. We will take our final dinner together in Fine Inn a few miles form the hotel, steeped in local lore and a love of local food and good company.
Mill End Hotel, Chagford (Dartmoor)
Breakfast, Dinner
Mill End Hotel, Chagford (Dartmoor)
Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, return to Exeter for one final highlight: a tour of the city's magnificent medieval cathedral. Enjoy one last lunch and a parting pint in a riverside pub, then catch the train back to London or extend your time in Exeter.
Breakfast, Lunch
There are no departures for this trip at the moment. Fill out the form below to be notified when we add new dates.
The listed price of the trip is per person based on double occupancy.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:
Shared Room (subject to the latest Covid-19 guidelines): You'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $175. After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:
Shared Room (subject to the latest Covid-19 guidelines): You'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $175. After booking your trip, please request a private room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll add the option to your booking and final balance.
Travelers should be comfortable walking 3 to 5 miles over the course of each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. We’ll be spending a good amount of time outside and in rural areas, walking up and down stairs, in the forest, and on dirt and cobblestone paths.
Since we will be hiking in remote park areas on some days, it's imperative that all participants adhere to the activity level described above. Failing to do so may result in alterations in hikes which will impact the group experience.
Travelers should be comfortable walking 3 to 5 miles over the course of each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. We’ll be spending a good amount of time outside and in rural areas, walking up and down stairs, in the forest, and on dirt and cobblestone paths.
Since we will be hiking in remote park areas on some days, it's imperative that all participants adhere to the activity level described above. Failing to do so may result in alterations in hikes which will impact the group experience.
Our trip begins in Exeter, England. You should plan to arrive in Exeter by 2pm on Day 1. There are frequent trains from London Heathrow (LHR) or London city center into Exeter which take approximately 2- 3 hours.
We'll end in Exeter on Day 5 around 1 or 2 p.m. There are multiple trains departing from Exeter to London in the afternoon. We do recommend spending some additional time in Exeter and the nearby towns, as there's much to see!
To ensure a smooth start and end to the trip, we will require you to share with us your estimated arrival and departure times into Exeter.
Our trip begins in Exeter, England. You should plan to arrive in Exeter by 2pm on Day 1. There are frequent trains from London Heathrow (LHR) or London city center into Exeter which take approximately 2- 3 hours.
We'll end in Exeter on Day 5 around 1 or 2 p.m. There are multiple trains departing from Exeter to London in the afternoon. We do recommend spending some additional time in Exeter and the nearby towns, as there's much to see!
To ensure a smooth start and end to the trip, we will require you to share with us your estimated arrival and departure times into Exeter.
Call us at +1 646-961-4857
Send us a
Most if not all dietary restrictions can be accommodated, though certain restaurants may have a limited menu. If you have a severe allergy, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
Visa requirements for the U.K. vary depending on traveler citizenship. Please check requirements for travel to England and any countries passed through in transit. A passport is required for international travel. We recommend your passport expire at least six months after your return home.
Trip Leader
Keith Lambeth
Keith is at his happiest in complex and remote terrain. His knowledge of Dartmoor has been described as encyclopedic, but his eclectic interests stretch far further afield. A born experimenter, Keith's wide spectrum of past experiences include time as a monastic, to champion worm-charmer; motorcycle messenger to mountain rescue team leader. A storyteller who delights in the obscure and occasionally the macabre. Keith draws on decades of mountain travel, living history reenactment, and a passion for aural tradition to interpret the landscape. He threads legends, archaeology, and landscape into a narrative that explains the way the land appears and is used to this very day.
Have a question for us about Southern England: Lore of Dartmoor? We're here to help!
Call us at +1 646-961-4857
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Have a question for us about Southern England: Lore of Dartmoor? We're here to help!
Call us at +1 833-919-9154
Check out our FAQ
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Have a question for us? We're here to help!
Call us at +1 833-919-9154
Check out our FAQ
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.