The largest area of genuinely wild running in southern England, and the one where navigation matters most.
Dartmoor is not a trail network. Away from the valley paths there are few tracks, the tors look alike, and large parts of the northern moor are blanket bog. It is also, on the right day, some of the finest open running in Britain.
The routes below range from easy river trails to committing high-moor crossings, so you can match the day to your experience rather than your ambition.
The routes, compared
| Route | Distance & ascent | What it's like |
|---|---|---|
| Haytor and the eastern tors | 8–14 km / 300–450 m | Firm, granite tors, clear lines. The best introduction to Dartmoor |
| Dartmeet and the river trails | 10–16 km / modest | Sheltered valley running, good in poor weather |
| Yes Tor and High Willhays | 14–20 km / 500–700 m | The highest ground in southern England, open and exposed |
| Northern moor crossing | 20 km+ / 600 m+ | Bog, no paths, serious navigation. Guided or experienced only |
Navigation is the skill Dartmoor tests
On the high moor there are stretches with no path, no wall and no obvious feature, and the tors that look distinctive on a map look identical in mist. Bearings and pacing matter here more than anywhere else in the south. If you want to learn this properly, start with our navigation guide for trail runners.
Ground conditions and access
The eastern tors run firm on granite and short grass. The northern moor holds water year-round and after a wet spell becomes genuinely slow. Parts of the northern moor also fall within a military firing range with published firing times — check them before running, and treat a red flag as an absolute stop.
Running Dartmoor guided
Dartmoor is the region where a guide changes the day most: you get the good lines, you cross the moor rather than skirting it, and navigation stops being your problem. We run half days on the eastern tors and full days on the high northern moor.
- A guide on every run, with route planning and navigation
- Pace grouping, so nobody is dropped and nobody is held back
- Safety kit carried by the guide, plus first-aid cover
- A personalised kit list before you travel
- Technique and pacing coaching on trail, at no extra cost
- Accommodation and transfers bundled in if you want them
Frequently asked questions
What are the best running routes on Dartmoor?
Haytor and the eastern tors for firm, clear running; Yes Tor and High Willhays for the high open moor; the river valleys around Dartmeet when the weather is poor.
Is Dartmoor hard to navigate when running?
Yes, harder than most UK moorland. Large areas have no paths and the tors are hard to tell apart in mist. Carry a map and compass and know how to use both.
Can you run across the northern moor?
You can, but it is blanket bog for long stretches and part of it lies within a firing range with published times. It is a guided day for most runners.
When is the best time to run on Dartmoor?
Late spring to early autumn for the firmest ground. The eastern tors run well year-round; the northern moor rarely dries out.
Where to go next
- Trail running on Dartmoor
- Navigation for trail runners
- South West Coast Path running
- Guided trail running
Want to run this with a guide?
We guide runners of every level on trails across the UK and Europe — routes planned, navigation handled, pace matched to you.