Route Description:
If there’s one walk that packs in everything Dartmoor has to offer, this might just be it. You get towering tor-top views, deep green woodlands, the rush of water over rocks, and a hidden brook that feels like something out of a storybook. Venford Brook is one of Dartmoor’s best-kept secrets, a stretch of mossy boulders, mini waterfalls, and crystal-clear pools winding through the valley, just waiting to be explored.
It’s a route perfect for families, with plenty of places for kids to climb, paddle, and discover along the way. If you time it right, spring fills the woodland with bluebells and wild garlic, while autumn turns the valley into a riot of golds and oranges. And for those after a bit more adventure, the extended loop around Venford Reservoir adds peaceful waterside views and a longer stretch to roam.
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Quick Key:
If you give this route a go, tag @dartmoorpartner and share your favourite moment. Whether it’s blue skies or classic Dartmoor drizzle, we’d love to see it.
Step-by-Step Routes:
Base Route:
If you give this route a go, tag @dartmoorpartner and share your favourite moment. Whether it’s blue skies or classic Dartmoor drizzle, we’d love to see it.
Extended Route:
If you give this route a go, tag @dartmoorpartner and share your favourite moment. Whether it’s blue skies or classic Dartmoor drizzle, we’d love to see it.
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Bench Tor and Venford Brook
Terrain: Moorland, Woodland
Difficulty: A Challenge
Tip's & Insights:
Signal Coverage:
Mobile signal is hit and miss along this route. You’ll likely get some at Bench Tor and the car park, but don’t count on it down in the valley. If you're planning to stream music, podcasts, or an audiobook for the kids, download it before you set off!
Looking for a swim?
Venford Brook itself has small pools perfect for paddling, but the real hidden gems are along the River Dart nearby. Some of Dartmoor’s best wild swimming spots, like Sharrah Pool, are within easy reach if you fancy a post-hike dip.
A little history nugget:
The Venford Reservoir, just beside this route, was built in the early 1900s to supply water to Paignton. While it may look like a peaceful lake today, the land it covers once held farmsteads and meadows. If you walk the extended route, you can still spot remnants of old boundary walls and gateposts swallowed up by time.
Nearby Pub:
You’re just up the road from The Church House Inn in Holne, a proper old-school Dartmoor pub with a roaring fire, great local ales, and hearty food. It's the perfect way to round off the adventure.
Nearby Amenities:
There’s no coffee van or café right on-site, so come prepared with drinks and snacks if you’re heading off on foot. That said, just a couple of miles down the road you’ll find two gems in the village of Holne.
The Church House Inn is a top choice for a post-walk pint or meal, and Holne Tea Rooms offers lovely homemade cakes and cream teas, though it’s not always open, so it’s worth checking ahead. No public toilets at the reservoir, but the peaceful surroundings more than make up for the lack of facilities.
Respect Dartmoor:
Always stick to paths: Protect the moorland and avoid disturbing wildlife.
Watch your step: Rocks can be slippery and terrain is often uneven!
Keep dogs under close control: Livestock is often present on the moor, keep your dogs controlled at all times.
Take your rubbish!: Please, please take your rubbish home. You'll kill the wildlife if you don't. It's that simple.
Fancy this walk? Tag us on Instagram:
If you give this route a go, tag @dartmoorpartner and share your favourite moment. Whether it’s blue skies or classic Dartmoor drizzle, we’d love to see it.
Terrain:
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Way Types:
Hiking Path: 2.06 km
Forest Path: 1.61 km
Street: < 100 m -
Surfaces:
Unpaved: 3.46 km
Unknown: 247 m