London to Dartmoor by train. It’s easier than you think.
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All you need to know about visiting Dartmoor National Park by train.
Designated as a National Park in 1951, Dartmoor offers 368 square miles of beautiful and varied landscape. Most people associate the UK’s fourth National Park with wide open moorland and rocky granite tors, but Dartmoor is also popular for its wooded river valleys, fascinating history and of course, those gorgeous Dartmoor ponies.
Many visitors come to Dartmoor to experience its wilder side; enjoying hikes and wild camping, away from people and at one with nature. Arriving by car, these visitors might be surprised to hear that Dartmoor’s open spaces are also easy to access in comfort by train.
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Car-free for nature
Most of us who love the outdoors want to look after it. One of the ways we can do that is to choose public transport instead of the car. As far as nature is concerned, car-free travel isn’t just about reducing carbon emissions; airborne nitrogen pollution can damage mosses, wildflowers and lichens, all of which contribute to Dartmoor’s beautiful landscapes.
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Two Dartmoor train stations
Dartmoor National Park currently has two train stations. Ivybridge station and Okehampton station are both temptingly close to walking trails that can take you directly onto open moorland as well as more gentle routes. You’ll need a good pair of shoes or boots, and a willingness to walk uphill from either station, but the rewards will be closer than you think. In just four hours, you can be out of London and hiking in some of the best landscapes Devon has to offer.
Ivybridge station
Useful information about Ivybridge station
· This is a small out-of-town station with two platforms
· Ivybridge station has no ticket office or ticket machine
· There is no toilet at the station or nearby
· The nearest shops are in Ivybridge (15-minute walk)
· The platforms are short; on long trains you may need to change coaches to alight
· Ivybridge offers step-free access, but ramps are steeper than present guidelines
Ivybridge station is happily situated on the main London to Penzance line between Totnes and Plymouth. It’s a small station so not all trains stop there but in recent years, perhaps because of its proximity to Dartmoor, it has gained passengers. The station sits just below Western Beacon, Dartmoor’s most southerly hill and is the best station for the Two Moors Way long distance trail.
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Walks from Ivybridge station – Western Beacon
Reaching the summit of Western Beacon will require a steady uphill walk of about an hour, but at the top, the sea views are lovely and there are Bronze Age cairns (burial mounds) to explore. On the ridge north of Western Beacon you’ll also find the Butterdon Hill trig pillar, boundary stones and intriguing Spurrell’s Cross; one of Dartmoor’s many famous stone crosses. This walk will take you off the main track so we would recommend some careful navigation and a map and compass for backup.
Walking route for Ivybridge station to Western Beacon
Walks from Ivybridge station – the Puffing Billy Track
Another lovely walk from Ivybridge station is to follow the route of the Puffing Billy track towards the middle of the moor. Rather fittingly if you’ve arrived by train, this track is all that remains of Red Lake Railway, which once served the clay works on this part of the moor. Today the Puffing Billy makes a great walking and cycling track. You can follow it as far as you like but if you have time, a 6-mile walk from the station will bring you to a small lake. Known as Left Lake and occasionally frequented by wild swimmers, this is a disused clay pit, which has filled with water from nearby Leftlake Mires.
Walking route for Ivybridge station to Left Lake and the Puffing Billy Track
Cycling from Ivybridge station
There are bike stands at Ivybridge station but why would you want to leave your bike behind when there’s such a great gravel track to explore? If off-road is your thing, the Puffing Billy track is a public bridleway and popular with cyclists, especially at the weekend. If you prefer road cycling, Ivybridge station is also a great place to start the 90-mile Dartmoor Way Cycle Route that circumnavigates Dartmoor, visiting lesser-known villages and hamlets around its edge. You can bring your bike or road legal e-bike on the train free of charge with GWR and CrossCountry but bike spaces are limited, and early booking is advised.
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Okehampton station
Useful information about Okehampton station
· This is a small out-of-town station with two platforms
· Okehampton station has no ticket office, but it does have a ticket machine
· It is home to a Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre and community shop
· Okehampton town is a 15-minute walk from the station
· The station cafe is popular with visitors and locals
· Okehampton station offers step-free access from the station entrance to the platform
Okehampton station was re-opened in 2021 as part of the continuing renovation of the Dartmoor Line. This small station with a big heart is a 37-minute ride from Exeter St David’s station, which is on the main London to Penzance route. Right next to the line, you’ll find plenty to occupy you but don’t forget that Okehampton station’s best feature is its proximity to Dartmoor.
Walks from Okehampton station – High Willhays
At 621 metres above sea level, High Willhays might look slightly smaller than its near neighbour Yes Tor, but this rocky outcrop is Dartmoor’s highest point, and taller than any UK hill south of the Brecon Beacons. The walking route up to High Willhays from Okehampton station is mostly on tracks but these North Dartmoor paths are famously confusing, so we recommend navigation experience and equipment. It’s only seven kilometres to the summit but with 408 metres of elevation, you’ll be noticing the hill.
Walking route for Okehampton station to High Willhays
Walks from Okehampton station – Meldon Viaduct
The Dartmoor Line didn’t originally end at Okehampton station; it used to climb up to Meldon Quarry and today you can walk or cycle there along the route of the disused railway. The Granite Way runs for 11 miles all the way to Lydford, but spectacular Meldon Viaduct is just over an hour’s walk from the station and has only the gentlest of uphill slopes. Don’t forget to leave yourself time to enjoy the views.
Walking route for Okehampton station - Meldon Viaduct
Cycling from Okehampton station
As well as being a walking route, the Granite Way is a traffic-free cycling route that’s
perfect for family rides. For those interested in something a bit more adventurous, perhaps
a bit of gravel biking or moorland bike packing, there are gravel tracks offering a variety of
challenge across the North Moor. These tracks are sometimes used by the Army for
training, and you will need to check the MOD live firing schedules (see ‘military activity’
below). Bike hire is available from Adventure Okehampton right next to the station.
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It’s not often you find an outdoor activity centre right next to a train station, but Okehampton has exactly that. Whether you want to go climbing on Dartmoor tors, learn to navigate its hills or abseil off nearby Meldon Viaduct, Adventure Okehampton has got you covered with adventure opportunities to suit the whole family.
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Accommodation at Okehampton railway station
There’s so much to do and see from Okehampton station that one day might not be long enough. There are wild camping opportunities from Okehampton station (see our Dartmoor wild camping advice below) but if that’s not your thing, why not stay the night in a converted railway goods shed at YHA Okehampton or bring your tent and camp in their wooded field?
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Hiking trails from Dartmoor’s train stations
The Two Moors Way is a popular long distance walking trail that joins together Devon’s north and south coasts. Although Ivybridge isn’t on the coast, the original Two Moors Way starts just along the road from Ivybridge railway station. From here the route is 102 miles across two National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, ending at Lynmouth on the North Devon coast. The Two Moors Way is mostly waymarked, but it does have open moorland sections, which will require some careful navigation.
The Dartmoor Way Walking Route
Not as well-known as the Two Moors Way, the Dartmoor Way Walking Route is a 108-mile circular hiking trail that passes through the lovely towns and villages around the edge of Dartmoor. If you prefer bridleways and footpaths to open moorland, this is a beautiful route that gives you a glimpse of Dartmoor life you don’t always get on the higher moor. The official start point for the Dartmoor Way Walking Route is in Ivybridge town but if you’re arriving by train, you can join it just along the road from the station in the same place as the Two Moors Way. You can also join the Dartmoor Way Walking Route from Okehampton train station.
The Templer Way
Although the start of the Templer Way at Haytor on Dartmoor isn’t accessible by train, during the warmer months you can reach it via the Haytor Hoppa bus from Newton Abbot railway station. It’s a fascinating hiking trail that demonstrates the route stone once took from the quarries at Haytor to the sea at Teignmouth. Following the Templer Way’s stone tramway and canal system on this mostly downhill route, you can choose to catch your train home at either Newton Abbot or Teignmouth stations. Either way, you’ll be treated to amazing sea views along Devon’s famous Riviera Line.
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Wild camping on Dartmoor
It is possible to wild camp from either Ivybridge or Okehampton stations. You’ll need to be prepared to walk a few kilometres with your camping kit but both stations offer access to permitted camping areas. We recommend you check the Dartmoor wild camping map to find out where and how to camp before you set off.
Dartmoor wild camping is a wonderful experience, but you do need to make sure you’re self-sufficient. Even with a small backpacking tent, walking with a full rucksack requires around 3,000 calories a day so you’ll need plenty of food and water (or a water purification system). By leaving no trace and taking all your rubbish (including toilet paper) home, you can help make sure that Dartmoor stays pristine for wild campers into the future.
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Useful tips to help you enjoy yourself on Dartmoor
1. Think about the weather.
Whether it’s a clear or dull day, you’re likely to feel the effects of the weather more keenly when you’re on hills than you are in the valley. By checking the weather forecast and packing a few extra items of clothing and some high energy snacks in a rucksack, you can keep your outing safe and enjoyable.
2. Understand your rights of way.
Much of Dartmoor is designated and marked on Ordnance Survey maps as Open Access Land, which means you can walk across it without gaining the landowner’s permission. If you are crossing private land, you should stick to public footpaths and bridleways; these are clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps.
3. Know where you can cycle
Cycling on Dartmoor’s open moorland or common land is not permitted unless you are following a designated bridleway or permitted route. Dartmoor National Park Authority have some helpful information on cycling on Dartmoor, including route suggestions and an Access and Rights of Way Map.
Okehampton station is near one of Dartmoor’s military ranges. These are usually available to the public but closed when live firing is taking place. They are marked by red and white posts but not fenced. During live firing, red flags or red lamps are used to mark the danger zones. You can find out more about warning signals and how to check firing times on the Dartmoor National Park Authority website.
5. Don’t forget Dartmoor’s towns and villages.
Like all National Parks, Dartmoor is home to communities of people, including farmers. Many of these communities live in the small towns and villages that surround Dartmoor’s open spaces. You can help support them by visiting local cafes and pubs and buying in local shops where you can. Ivybridge and Okehampton are both traditional Devon towns and have plenty to offer if you want a break from outdoor adventures.
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Experience and enjoy
When you arrive at your destination by train, your journey becomes part of your experience. Wherever you’re travelling from, the countryside you’ll see on the way into Devon is beautiful. And even more importantly, by arriving by train you’ll be doing your bit for the environment and helping keep Dartmoor fresh and beautiful for visitors for years to come.
Ready for your Dartmoor adventure?
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Need somewhere to stay?
If Dartmoor has tempted you to extend your trip, booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to guarantee a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s a cosy inn or a bunkhouse near the moor, you’ll find plenty of trusted options through our partner.
FAQs
Can you get to Dartmoor by train?
Yes, Dartmoor is accessible by train via Ivybridge (south side) and Okehampton (north side). Both stations are on the edge of the National Park, with walking routes nearby.
What train line goes to Dartmoor?
The Dartmoor Line runs between Exeter and Okehampton. Ivybridge is on the mainline between London Paddington and Plymouth.
Which is the best train station for Dartmoor National Park?
It depends where you’re heading. Ivybridge gives access to the southern moor, while Okehampton is perfect for exploring the northern hills.
Can I go wild camping in Dartmoor if I travel by train?
Yes – Dartmoor is one of the few UK areas where wild camping is still permitted (in designated areas). You’ll need to walk in with your kit from Ivybridge or Okehampton stations.
Are there hiking trails near Dartmoor train stations?
Absolutely – both Ivybridge and Okehampton have immediate access to walking routes. The Two Moors Way, Granite Way, and many circular hikes start near these stations.
Is it cheaper to take the train to Dartmoor with a Railcard?
Yes – if you’re eligible, using a Railcard can save you up to 1/3 on train tickets. Digital Railcards are available instantly at rail.cards.
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