Dartmoor Access and Preservation Partnership
- Jack Dicker
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
Working together for Dartmoor
A new partnership for access, preservation, and shared adventure.
We’re incredibly proud to announce a new partnership between Dartmoor Partner, the Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA), and Moorland Guides.
Three organisations, each with our own focus. But, all with the same goal: to make Dartmoor more accessible, while preserving and protecting the land that makes it so special for all our generations.
This collaboration is about coming together with care, admiration, and purpose. We offer different services, activities, and purposes, yes, but we deeply value one another’s work. Together, we form a strong, united approach to making Dartmoor available to more people in more ways.
Dartmoor Access and Preservation and why this partnership matters
After launching Dartmoor Partner, it became clear that there were others doing powerful work to support Dartmoor and support others in reaching, exploring, and understanding Dartmoor from different angles. The DPA and Moorland Guides stood out straight away because although we all serve different audiences and offer different types of experiences, we share a common, solid belief:
That Dartmoor should be open, welcoming, and protected.
By working together, we’re building a more complete picture of Dartmoor, combining practical access, guided depth, and long-standing preservation learning. We’ve also each developed clear approaches to support people in different ways, whether that’s offering hand-built family-friendly walks, encouraging environmental policies and sharing knowledge, or leading educational moorland tours. This isn’t just about shared values. It’s a strategic collaboration that gives more people the chance to discover, understand, and care for Dartmoor in the right way.
Who’s involved?
Dartmoor Partner
We help families explore Dartmoor through easy, child-friendly walks that have been tried and tested in real life by us. Our focus is on accessibility and confidence, making Dartmoor feel welcoming, achievable, and exciting for families.
We’re also passionate about outdoor learning for children. We believe that time in nature can shape development, inspire imagination, and open doors in a child’s life. These early experiences matter, and we’re here to help families create them. We can do this by offering simple ways to connect, explore, and grow together on Dartmoor. Nothing complicated, just simple ways to get kids outdoors.
Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA)
Founded in 1883, the DPA is one of the UK’s oldest environmental charities, but their work is far from old-fashioned. Today, the DPA is an active, modern charity working community-wide to support Dartmoor through conservation, campaigning, education, and land management. They champion public access while promoting responsible enjoyment of the moor, working alongside commoners, landowners, and organisations across Dartmoor.
Through clear, accessible content and on-the-ground initiatives, the DPA helps people understand how to protect Dartmoor’s beauty and heritage. Their commitment to Leave No Trace principles plays a key role in supporting responsible access for all.
Moorland Guides
Moorland Guides is a collective of qualified, experienced walk leaders who’ve been helping people explore Dartmoor since 2012. Their aim is to make the moor accessible for everyone, whether you're after a relaxed ramble or a deep dive into the area’s history and ecology. With themed walks, navigation skills, and private tours, they offer something for every kind of explorer.
With themed walks, navigation skills, and private tours, they offer something for every kind of explorer.
Shared purpose, different strengths
Each of us brings something different:
Dartmoor Partner supports families and younger generations
DPA provides modern preservation expertise and practical guidance to support responsible access for all who love the moor
Moorland Guides provides professional indepth guided tours and experiences
Together, we provide a complete offering: access, care, learning, and connection.
This partnership gives us the opportunity to connect our audiences through practical routes, guided experiences, and deeper education around Dartmoor. A Dartmoor Partner member might begin with a short, easy walk with their little ones getting to know the lay of the land. As their confidence grows, they might seek more depth to Dartmoor through a guided experience with Moorland Guides, learning new skills and insights. Along the way, they’ll encounter preservation messages and practical care tips from DPA, helping them explore Dartmoor while learning about how to walk gently, protect habitats, and follow Leave No Trace principles.
Dartmoor Partner can be a helpful bridge for families looking to explore Dartmoor together, while DPA’s experience and content support those journeys with deeper insight. It’s about creating ways for more people to access the moor responsibly and feel confident doing so. It’s a cycle we all contribute to: learning the land, loving it, and teaching others to do the same.
That’s the beauty of this collaboration. It creates a cycle of learning, sharing, and protecting. And perhaps, over time, that journey leads to something even more lasting. A Dartmoor Partner member might one day become a DPA member themselves, carrying that sense of care forward, supporting Dartmoor not just through action but also through advocacy and community. If that sounds like you, you can join the DPA here.
Why access and preservation go hand-in-hand
More access doesn’t have to mean more risk. When people understand a place, they care for it. When they care, they protect.
We believe in helping people walk with knowledge, not just confidence. That’s why Dartmoor Partner provides preservation messages and practical tips in every route, and why our collaboration with the DPA helps ensure we share that responsibility carefully. It’s also our responsibility to pass that knowledge down through our families and through generations so that Dartmoor remains cared for long after we’ve walked its paths.
Preserving Dartmoor means more than simply keeping it pretty. It means protecting ancient sites, safeguarding delicate wildlife habitats, and ensuring open access for generations to come. Because if we don’t do this and if we don’t take active steps to preserve and educate, then we risk losing the very freedoms that allow us to enjoy Dartmoor in the first place. The DPA has long worked to defend these rights, whether that is through land stewardship, education, or campaigning to prevent inappropriate development.
We want every person who visits Dartmoor to feel part of that. To walk softly. To notice more. To pick up litter, close gates, follow paths, and understand the significance of what they see. Even the everyday moments matter, like how and where you take a toilet break. DPA’s 3 Ps’ guidance on wild toileting is a simple but important read for anyone heading out. Because if we all take small steps to care, those small steps go a long way.
We know access is becoming more restricted in places. We want to give people the reasons and the tools to help change that by showing up with care and leaving things better than we found them.
What you can expect
This partnership is just getting started!
Each of us brings something special to the table and we’ve been sharing insights, stories, and resources that reflect that. If you'd like to dive deeper, here’s one from each of us that gives a flavour of what we’re about:
How to start exploring Dartmoor as a family (even if you’ve never been) - a Dartmoor Partner guide for families just beginning their moorland adventure.
Access support and action on Dartmoor - shared by the DPA, highlighting critical work around public access and land use policy.
Dartmoor Outdoor Festival overview - from Moorland Guides, showcasing one of their biggest annual contributions to Dartmoor’s walking community. It’s a fantastic way to explore the moor, meet local guides, and take part in walks that suit all interests and abilities.
So, here’s what’s underway:
Shared blog content and walking resources
Combined giveaways, meetups, and events
Group walks, together
Appearances at Dartmoor Festival this September
Ongoing collaboration across social media
Expect to see joint campaigns and storytelling that showcase the best of Dartmoor, together.
How to get involved
Whether you’re just starting to explore Dartmoor or you’ve loved it for decades, here’s how each of us can support your next adventure:
Moorland Guides – Book a private guide or join a themed walk to deepen your knowledge of Dartmoor’s stories, skills, and wild spaces.
Dartmoor Partner – Gain access to 35 hand-picked family-friendly routes, built for confidence, connection, and child-friendly adventure.
Join the DPA – Become a member and help preserve Dartmoor’s access, history, and beauty for future generations.
And remember: to get the full benefit of each organisation’s strengths, make sure you follow all three of us on social media.
Comentarios