Dartmoor - All About Dartmoor National Park

Covering an area of 954 sq km (368 sq miles), Dartmoor contains the largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England. By virtue of its outstanding natural beauty it is one of the National Parks of England and Wales. The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, made provision for the designation of National Parks in England and Wales. Between 1951 and 1957 ten National Parks were confirmed. In 1989 another area, the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, was given National Park status. In 1999 the Government announced that two new National Parks in England were to be created. The New Forest National Park was designated in 2005 and the South Downs National Park was created in 2009.

Unlike many National Parks in other countries, for example the USA, the National Parks in England, Wales and Scotland are not owned by the state. The term National means that they have been identified as being of importance to our national heritage and as such are worthy of special protection and attention. Within each National Park there are many landowners, including public bodies and private individuals. National Parks are places where people live and work.

A large part of Dartmoor (65%) is made up of granite, an igneous rock which was intruded some 295 million years ago. This great granite core is surrounded by sedimentary rocks including limestones, shales and sandstones belonging to the Carboniferous and Devonian periods. Those nearest the granite intrusion were altered (metamorphosed) by intense heat and pressure and chemical reactions.

The climate of Dartmoor, dominated by the south-westerly winds, is cool and wet. The high moorlands of the north west and southern central areas where the altitude exceeds 450m (1,500ft) have the most severe climatic conditions.

Swirling mists, granite tors, wide open spaces, attractive towns and villages, deep bogs, ponies, a grim-looking prison, Sherlock Holmes - many images come to mind when thinking of Dartmoor. Today, the distinctive qualities of Dartmoor attract many millions of day visits each year. However, Dartmoor has not always been so popular. Two hundred and fifty years ago it was regarded as a wild, savage and even uninteresting place. An early traveller on Dartmoor, the Rev J Swete, wrote at the end of the 18th century that it was 'a wild waste where the eye found not a point to rest on. There was nothing picturesque nor, though wild and rugged, was there anything romantic'. However, by 1842 Samuel Rowe was describing Dartmoor as 'a scene of unsurpassing loveliness'.

By the beginning of the 20th century visiting the moor had become a popular pastime. Hotels and guest houses were built in Chagford, Yelverton and elsewhere.From about the 1920s coach trips became increasingly popular and several locations, including Haytor, Dartmeet, Becky Falls and Lydford Gorge, became established destination points for visitors.Since the 1950s the motor car has enabled many more people to explore the National Park.

The 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act paved the way for the creation of National Parks in England and Wales. Dartmoor - the largest open space in southern England and containing a wealth of antiquities - became a National Park in 1951. The 1995 Environment Act defines the purposes of such designation as:-
- to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks;
- to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities (of the Parks) by the public.

The 1995 Act also places on the National Park Authorities a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of their local communities. All recreation and tourism developments have to be considered and measured up against their environmental effects and their impact on the local community.

Recreation and tourism play an important part in the life of the National Parks of England, Wales and Scotland. Visitors help the rural economy through their spending and many jobs are provided in a range of services. Visitors also help to maintain some services in many National Park communities. Yet, recreation and tourism activities can bring problems such as erosion and traffic congestion. Therefore, recreation and tourism in the National Parks have to be managed to sustain the high quality of the natural and cultural environment whilst allowing visitors to enjoy and appreciate these qualities.

The Dartmoor National Park Authority helps to promote sustainable use of the National Park in a number of ways:-

Ranger Service
The Rangers are the eyes and ears of the National Park Authority. They try to ensure visitors' enjoyment and monitor the effects of recreation on the landscape and the local community. They deal with open access land and public rights of way and can use the appropriate laws and bylaws to support their work.

Information Service
Much effort is put into researching and providing a high standard of information and interpretation for all visitors. The more the public understand and appreciate the area, the more likely they are to behave in a sensitive way and to support National Park purposes. An information network provides the main basis of this service and includes Information Centres, Village Information Points and signboards. This promotion, in places, is carried out in partnership with local councils and the community. Information Centres (see middle pages) are carefully located in and around the National Park. Four of these are operated by the National Park Authority. These sell a variety of publications as well as answering many enquiries. The High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown, opens all year round; the other Centres are open from April to the end of October (minimum period).

There is an extensive guided walks programme for those that want more local knowledge and who may lack confidence with their own map reading. In 2002/3, the National Park Authority organised 386 walks. These were attended by 2,995 walkers.
The Dartmoor Visitor, a free newspaper produced by Dartmoor National Park Authority, provides the visitor with all the information they need to know to enjoy their stay.

Visitor Management
This involves many aspects of National Park work. Planners, for example, help to control any new tourism developments as well as making plans to cope with present and future recreational pressures. Strategies for recreation and traffic management help guide day to day decisions and long term planning. A 40 mile per hour speed limit on moorland roads has been imposed for the safety of grazing livestock and ponies on Dartmoor and for the safety of other road users as cyclists and horse riders.

Crucial work is carried out by talking with recreational interest groups such as the ramblers or horseriders, or more specialist groups such as the British Canoe Union or the South Devon Hang Gliding Club. In this way any possible conflicts can be sorted out before problems arise. Various codes of conduct/ guidance for recreational activities have been produced by the National Park Authority and others.

Different parts of Dartmoor are exposed to different visitor pressures. Considerable National Park Authority effort and resources go into managing heavily used sites and areas. It is important that the Authority maintains the visitor capacity of these areas without spoiling their character. This is done through carefully designed physical works, such as riverside work, banking along roads and car parks, building toilet blocks, waymarking public rights of way, and maintaining paths, etc.

In recent years the effect of increasing visitor numbers to Dartmoor has become evident. Scars developed across open moorland, riverbanks were crumbling and archaeological sites were being damaged. The National Park Authority addressed these problems through the Moor Care Campaign. This approach provides the basis for repairs to damaged areas, as well as promoting appropriate messages to users of Dartmoor in order to help them maximise their enjoyment and minimise their impact on the environment. Visitors are being encouraged to leave the car behind and travel to Dartmoor by public transport. Once here, they can explore the area by foot, bicycle or bus.