Dartmoor Stone Gate Devon

Dartmoor Stone Gate, Devon

We looked at Dartmoor stone walls earlier and some of these walls have gates and stiles allowing public access.

Stone gate in Dartmoor, Devon

Some of the stones for the gates have been ingeniously cut to allow the wooden gate to fit smoothly. The wooden gate has long gone but the ancient marks in the stone can still be seen.

Lichen on a stone gate in Dartmoor, Devon

The tops of the stone walls are covered in some of the 1700 species of lichen found in the British Isles.

Access – Getting to Dartmoor

Dartmoor can be easily reached from the M5 motorway in Devon via the A30 or the A38. Journey times from both Exeter and Plymouth to the moor is about 30 minutes by car.

If using public transport there are buses from Exeter to Newton Abbot and from there into Dartmoor. From Totnes, the Stagecoach Gold bus connects to Ivybridge or South Brent. The Dartmoor Explorer service is one bus a day from Exeter and Plymouth across Dartmoor in both directions. Its main stops are at Dunsford, Moretonhampstead, the Warren House Inn, Postbridge, Princetown, Tavistock, Yelverton and Plymouth.

In addition, a daily train service between Okehampton and Exeter was recommenced in 2021.

There are several places to stay on the moor in hotels, inns, B&Bs, and guesthouses. Some recommendations include the Bedford Hotel, the Tavistock House Hotel, or the Two Bridges Hotel. The Lydgate House Hotel is another fine accommodation.

See a listing of accommodation options in Dartmoor.