The Teign Gorge is located in the north eastern section of Dartmoor National Park close to the ancient stannary town Chagford and the pretty villages Drewsteignton and Dunsford. The National Trust's Castle Drogo is at the mouth of the gorge.

Teign Gorge 

  

The Teign Gorge is located in the north eastern section of Dartmoor National Park close to the ancient stannary town Chagford and the pretty villages Drewsteignton and Dunsford. The National Trust's Castle Drogo is at the mouth of the gorge. The National

Trust's Dunsford Wood and Steps Bridge are to the east.

We've been walking the Teign Gorge on a regular basis for over seven years now and never tire of its natural beauty. It's widely recognised as being one of the most stunning areas in the National Park. We've positioned the Teign Gorge on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its exact location.

Cut by the River Teign that rises at two sources on Dartmoor's high north plateau, the gorge is a wooded, steep sided valley that runs for miles towards the National Park border.

If you are visiting for the first time, explore the area between Castle Drogo and Fingle Bridge. There's ample parking at both attractions. Follow the Hunter's Path along the northern lip of the gorge and return on the Fisherman's Path that follows the course of the River Teign. The views from the Hunter's Path around Sharp Tor (Teign Gorge/North East Dartmoor) are particularly impressive. You'll see Chagford and the high moors around Hangingstone Hill to the west.

Within the gorge, we'd recommend visiting Castle Drogo, Fingle Bridge with its pub and Sharp Tor. Across the valley from Castle Drogo is the superb Whiddon Deer Park. Cranbrook Castle Hillfort offers immense views of Dartmoor National Park and large areas of Devon. Paths have been opened up on the southern side of the gorge under the name Deer Stalkers Paths.

Given the high number of attractions within the Teign Gorge, plan a weekend break to Chagford to explore the area. There's a top walk along the gorge from Chagford. In Spring and Autumn, it's particularly stunning.

If this is your type of thing, try also the Dart Gorge and Lustleigh Cleave, Tavy Cleave and the wooded valleys around Burrator Reservoir.

In early August 2013, the National Trust and Woodland Trust announced that they had acquired, and were set to restore, a stretch of woodland in the middle of the Teign Gorge between the National Trust's Castle Drogo Estate and the National Trust's woodland around Steps Bridge. This woodland is known as Fingle Woods (National Trust/Woodland Trust). The acquisition means that the entire length of the gorge is now managed by the National Trust and Woodland Trust. A statement from the National Trust explained: 'Together we'll be able to create almost 30 miles (48km) of footpaths for visitors who will be able to see and enjoy the woodlands and get a real feel for the enormity of the place. The woodlands now belong to us jointly and we are ready to start the restoration process for the benefit of wildlife and people over the next 50 years. It also now allows us to manage a 10km long landscape of woodland in the Teign Gorge on Dartmoor'.

Holne,

Mel Pool, Holne, Dartmoor National Park

Wild swimming is popular in Dartmoor National Park. Mel Pool is one of the most beautiful, and remote, places in which you can enjoy it. A stretch of cascades and calm pools of water on the River Dart in the stunning Dart Gorge, it's relatively difficult to get to although nothing too challenging for a fit person.

We've positioned the Mel Pool area on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.

The Dart Gorge is an amazing steep-sided gorge cut by the River Dart as it flows from the north moor down to Dartmouth. Mel Tor is a rocky outcrop on the north lip of the gorge. Bench Tor is another rocky outcrop on a spur of land on the south side of the gorge. Between Mel Tor and Bench Tor, all the way down at the bottom of the gorge, is Mel Pool where the Dart bends through particularly wild woodland and runs towards another wild swimming area called Sharrah Pool. Heavily wooded gorge walls tower above you and amplify the sound of water as it flows east.

To visit, follow the road that runs from Ashburton to Holne. Continue past Holne to Venford Reservoir on the edge of the south moor. There are two car parks on either side of the reservoir. Start from the car park to the east. From that car park, walk north west to the corner of the railings that surround the reservoir dam and water works. Drop down to a disused road. This runs round the spur of land on which Bench Tor is located. Follow the disused road for a few minutes and you'll see a track to your left that cuts down through bracken. It runs alongside Venford Brook as it drops to the edge of the River Dart. A path runs east. Follow the river downstream. You'll pass cascades, a waterfall and other pools of water in which you can swim. Somtimes you walk by the river. Sometimes you leave the bank and walk above the river. Mel Pool is located on the bend of the river as marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. There are giant slabs of granite and stretches of calm water.

Note that you can follow the river on foot down to Sharrah Pool. It's very difficult walking on narrow tracks and across slippery rocks. There are some steep climbs and drops so be very careful. Don't try this route if you are not a confident walker or reasonably fit. That said, we've done this with young kids so, in the scheme of things, it's not that difficult.