Two Moors Way

Two Moors Way Two Moors Way is a long-distance footpath in Devon linking the moorland of Dartmoor with the moorland of Exmoor. The route crosses a sequence of towns, villages and landscapes including Okehampton, Tiverton, Dulverton, and Dunster, threading through West Devon and Mid Devon and connecting with paths such as the Tarka Trail, South West Coast Path, Macmillan Way West, and the Mendip Way. It is used by walkers, ramblers and nature enthusiasts who combine visits to National Trust properties, English Heritage sites and local conservation areas.

Route

The path originally ran from Ilfracombe on the Bristol Channel coast to Woolacombe and inland via Dartington and Exford before later versions extended to Barnstaple and Minehead; contemporary routing typically links Lynton and Dawlish sections via waymarks through North Devon and South Devon. From western termini near Minehead the trail traverses the wooded valleys of the River Exe and the headwaters of the River Taw before climbing onto Exmoor plateaus and descending towards the Brendon Hills and Tiverton area. Across Dartmoor National Park the Way navigates tors such as Haytor and passes historic commons like Princetown moorland and military ranges linked historically to Royal Marines training. The eastern approaches meet route intersections at Crediton, Cullompton, and Exeter, enabling access to railheads at Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple stations and coach links at Taunton and Plymouth.

History

The trail was conceived in the 1970s by members of the British Mountaineering Council and local Ramblers' Association groups responding to growing interest in countryside access after the passage of the Countryside Act 1968 and debates following the Mass Trespass of Kinder Scout. Early promotion involved collaboration with county councils such as Devon County Council and bodies like the Dartmoor National Park Authority and Exmoor National Park Authority. Routes were adjusted after consultations with agencies including the National Farmers' Union and the Peak District National Park Authority for principles but tailored locally. Designation and waymarking evolved alongside initiatives such as the Right to Roam campaigns and partnerships with organizations like the Ramblers' Association and the British Horse Society to manage permissive paths and public rights of way. Publications by authors connected to Ordnance Survey mapping and guidebooks from publishers such as Cicerone Press and Trailblazer helped popularize the Way in the 1980s and 1990s.

Notable Landmarks and Natural Features

Walkers encounter prehistoric and historic features including Bronze Age barrows and Neolithic stone alignments on both moors, medieval remains such as the Tiverton Castle motte, and ecclesiastical sites like St Peter's Church, Tiverton and Dunster Castle (a National Trust property). Geologically the route exposes granite tors on Dartmoor and the sandstones and Devonian slates of Exmoor, with dramatic river valleys carved by tributaries of the River Exe, River Barle, and River Taw. Biodiversity highlights include heather moorland, bog habitats supporting sphagnum mosses, birdlife such as red grouse, skylark, and meadow pipit, and mammals including red deer, badger, and occasional otter sightings along riparian corridors. Cultural landmarks include industrial archaeology at former wool and corn mill sites, vestiges of tin and copper extraction, and village vernacular architecture exemplified in Ashburton, Morebath, and Brendon.

Walking the Trail (Access, Difficulty, and Facilities)

Access points and public transport links include stations at Exeter St Davids, Barnstaple, Taunton, and bus services serving Okehampton and Minehead. Difficulty varies from lowland stages with waymarked lanes near Tiverton and Crediton to upland, boggy sections across Dartmoor and Exmoor that require navigation skills, appropriate footwear and weather awareness comparable to crossing the Yorkshire Dales or Lake District fells. Facilities en route comprise rural hostels such as those in the YHA network, private guesthouses in Dulverton and Chagford, campsites near Postbridge and farm B&Bs around Lifton, with resupply points in market towns including Crediton and Bovey Tracey. Route planning should consider seasonal constraints from grazing regimes managed by organizations like the National Farmers' Union and training periods on military ranges overseen by the Ministry of Defence that can affect permissive access.

Conservation and Management

Conservation of habitats along the Way is coordinated by statutory and non-statutory bodies including Dartmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor National Park Authority, Natural England, and local wildlife trusts such as the Devon Wildlife Trust. Management priorities address heather moorland restoration, peatland preservation, invasive species control, and protection of sensitive archaeology; projects often secure funding from bodies like the Heritage Lottery Fund and partnerships with the Environment Agency. Waymarking and rights-of-way maintenance involve parish councils, volunteer groups affiliated to the Ramblers' Association and the British Horse Society, and coordination with highways teams of Devon County Council. Sustainable tourism initiatives reference best practice from organizations like VisitEngland and Visit Devon to balance recreation with biodiversity targets set by Natural England and national conservation strategies.

Category:Long-distance footpaths in England Category:Footpaths in Devon