Dartmoor Tour: Wild Moors, Ancient Tors & Granite Quarries

Walk among wild ponies across windswept moors and climb granite tors that inspired Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.

A full-day guided tour of Dartmoor departing from Paignton with hotel pickup and dropoff, combining driving and walking to explore the moors, ancient settlements, quarries and tors. The tour includes an air-conditioned Mercedes, binoculars, water and ponchos. Lunch is not included but the guide reserves a table at a traditional pub. Minimum age is 12. Moderate fitness is required for the walks and tor climbs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Dartmoor's natural and historic sites

• Pickup from accommodation
• Visit English Market town gateway
• Explore moorland habitat and prison history
• Walk to and around largest Dartmoor quarry
• Ascend Hay Tor for panoramic views
• Reserve table at traditional cosy pub
• Drop off at accommodation

The Experience

You'll be picked up at your accommodation within a 15-mile radius of Paignton in a luxury air-conditioned Mercedes, then driven to Chagford, the market town known as Dartmoor's gateway. From there the day unfolds between the vehicle and on foot: you'll walk the moorland where wild ponies and highland cattle graze, visit Haytor Quarry (the largest of Dartmoor's three main quarries), and climb Hay Tor itself, one of the moor's 150-plus granite tors. The 360-degree view from the top connects the landscape that inspired two of Britain's most famous crime writers.

The tour balances comfort with immersion. You travel in an air-conditioned seat with binoculars, chilled water and ponchos provided, but the real texture of Dartmoor comes from walking it: the quarry approach is as rewarding as the quarry itself, and the ascent to Hay Tor is the natural conclusion to the day. A live English-speaking guide leads throughout, and the group stays small enough that the experience doesn't feel rushed.

Lunch happens at a traditional country pub where the guide reserves a table. You choose what to eat and settle your own bill. The tour runs eight hours total, so plan for a full day of moorland immersion rather than a quick highlight run.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned Mercedes 7-seater with hotel pickup and dropoff within 15 miles of Paignton.
• binoculars, chilled water and ponchos.
• live English-speaking guide for the full eight hours.
• parking fees at all stops.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by DEVON&MOOR walking and driving tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to walk Dartmoor itself rather than view it from a vehicle: the combination of driving and on-foot exploration means you'll stand among the wild ponies, climb a granite tor and see the quarry up close, not just pass them by. The eight-hour commitment and moderate walking pace suit travelers who can spend a full day and have reasonable fitness for moorland terrain.

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Top questions

What is Hay Tor and why is it the highlight of a Dartmoor tour?

Hay Tor is one of Dartmoor's most famous and accessible granite tors, and probably the most recognizable. The walk to the summit takes moderate effort, and the 360-degree view from the top shows the full sweep of the moor and the landscape that inspired Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie to set their novels here.

Will I see wild animals on this tour?

Yes. Wild ponies and highland cattle live on the open moorland, and you'll walk among them during the day. Binoculars are provided so you can observe them more closely.

What happens at Haytor Quarry?

Haytor Quarry is the largest and most spectacular of Dartmoor's three main quarries. The walk to and from it is part of the experience. The quarry itself is known for its strange beauty and the myths and legends connected to it, and the stillness of the place is part of what makes the visit memorable.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included, but the guide will reserve a table for you at a traditional country pub. You choose your own meal and pay the bill directly.

How much walking is involved, and what fitness level do I need?

The tour combines driving and walking, with the main walks being the quarry approach and the climb to Hay Tor. Moderate physical fitness is required. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or those who are pregnant.

What's included in the price besides the vehicle and guide?

Binoculars, chilled water, ponchos, parking fees and the air-conditioned Mercedes are all included. Hotel pickup and dropoff within 15 miles of Paignton are also covered.