Two Moors Way
Encyclopedia
The Two Moors Way is a long-distance path that runs from Ivybridge
in South Devon
to Lynmouth
on the coast of North Devon, crossing parts of both Dartmoor
and Exmoor
(and passing into Somerset
) along the way. The total length of the trail is about 103 miles (166 km), and some sections are difficult in poor weather.
Although there is one most widely used route, passing through (from south to north): Hexworthy
, Postbridge, Chagford
, Hittisleigh
, Morchard Bishop
, Witheridge
, Hawkridge, Knowstone
, Withypool
and Simonsbath
, during some parts of the Way alternative routes are possible, one of these passing through Holne rather than Hexworthy and Postbridge.
Allow for about 15 miles per day on the trail – though well-marked and mostly maintained, the going can be slow over the moor.
Ivybridge
Ivybridge is a small town and civil parish in the South Hams, in Devon, England. It lies about east of Plymouth. It is at the southern extremity of Dartmoor, a National Park of England and Wales and lies along the A38 "Devon Expressway" road...
in South Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
to Lynmouth
Lynmouth
Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
on the coast of North Devon, crossing parts of both Dartmoor
Dartmoor
Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...
and Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
(and passing into Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
) along the way. The total length of the trail is about 103 miles (166 km), and some sections are difficult in poor weather.
Although there is one most widely used route, passing through (from south to north): Hexworthy
Hexworthy
Hexworthy is a hamlet on Dartmoor, in Devon, England. It lies on the West Dart River a mile upstream from Dartmeet. Historically in the parish of Lydford, since 1987 it has been in the civil parish of Dartmoor Forest....
, Postbridge, Chagford
Chagford
Chagford is a small town and civil parish on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, in Devon, England, close to the River Teign. It is located off the A382, about 4 miles west of Moretonhampstead. The name Chagford is derived from the word chag, meaning gorse or broom, and the ford suffix indicates its...
, Hittisleigh
Hittisleigh
Hittisleigh is a small rural parish and village just north-east of Dartmoor in Devon. Once part of the ancient district of the Wonford Hundred, it is now administered by Mid Devon District Council and part of the Central Devon constituency. The name Hittisleigh may be derived from Hyttin's leah...
, Morchard Bishop
Morchard Bishop
Morchard Bishop is a village and civil parish in Mid Devon in the English county of Devon. It has a population of 975, and contains a primary school, two churches, and a playing field with tennis court. Notable past residents include Ernest Bevin....
, Witheridge
Witheridge
Witheridge is a village and civil parish in the North Devon district of Devon, England. In 2001 the population of the parish was 1162. Its name is derived from the Old English for "Weather Ridge", probably as a result of its exposed location on the top of a hill, which means it and surrounding...
, Hawkridge, Knowstone
Knowstone
Knowstone is a village and civil parish situated in the North Devon district of Devon, England, halfway between the Mid Devon town of Tiverton, Devon and the North Devon town of South Molton.The hamlet of East Knowstone lies due east of the village....
, Withypool
Withypool
Withypool is a small village in Somerset, England, near the centre of Exmoor National Park and close to the border with Devon. The word Withy means Willow...
and Simonsbath
Simonsbath
Simonsbath is a village high on Exmoor in the English county of Somerset. It is the principal settlement in the Exmoor civil parish, which is the largest and most sparsely populated civil parish on Exmoor, covering nearly but with a population, at the time of the 2001 census, of 203 in 78...
, during some parts of the Way alternative routes are possible, one of these passing through Holne rather than Hexworthy and Postbridge.
Allow for about 15 miles per day on the trail – though well-marked and mostly maintained, the going can be slow over the moor.
Intersecting paths
The Way intersects several other walking trails running through the moorlands:- Coincides with the Tarka TrailTarka TrailThe Tarka Trail is a series of footpaths and cyclepaths around north Devon, England that follow the route taken by Tarka the Otter in the book of that name. It is a figure-of-eight route, based on Barnstaple, and covers some of path....
for part of the way through Exmoor - Intersects with:
- South West Coast PathSouth West Coast PathThe South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
- Macmillan Way WestMacmillan Way WestThe Macmillan Way West is a long distance footpath in Somerset and Devon, England. It runs for from Castle Cary in Somerset to Barnstaple in Devon. It is one of the Macmillan Ways and connects with the main Macmillan Way at Castle Cary....
- Little Dart Ridge and Valley WalkLittle Dart RiverThe Little Dart River is a tributary of the River Taw in Devon, England. It joins the Taw a mile west of Chulmleigh.The Little Dart rises near Rackenford...
- Taw-Teign Link
- Dartmoor WayDartmoor WayThe Dartmoor Way is a long-distance footpath and cycle route centred on the Dartmoor National Park in southern Devon, England. It is a circular route of approximately 140km that encompasses upland and moorland walking, deep Devon lanes, and also passes through towns and villages such as...
- Erme Valley Trail
- South West Coast Path