Dartmoor Walk
The Avon Dam Reservoir from Shipley Bridge
Walk Route Description
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A pleasant valley following the River Avon with a gentle climb up to the shores of the Avon Dam Reservoir make this a relaxing walk that is ideal for pushchairs and the less mobile. The change from woodland to open moorland is quite dramatic and you get the experience of being in wild Dartmoor as you sit beside the reservoir.
This easy walk starts from the car parking area at Shipley Bridge (grid ref. SX680629). To get here you need to use the lanes (narrow in places) that lead from South Brent or the junction of the A38/A385 just to the east of the village.
After parking follow the River Avon upstream on a tarmac road. The walking is pleasant and you soon make good progress. Pass beside a metal gate and shortly after notice the remains of Brent Moor House on your left. After a number of uses since WW2 the building was eventually demolished in 1968. Crossing a bridge the landscape becomes wilder.
After another 600 metres you get your first view of the dam. You will soon see a track veering right off the tarmac lane. This takes you up to the shores of the reservoir. If you want to stay on tarmac then continue ahead to the base of the dam. However for a little more effort the rougher route up the stony track is better. You get a good view across the reservoir and also down into the valley where you have just walked.
To return to the start all you need do is follow the outward route in the opposite direction.
Maps 
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL20 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY MAP |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL20 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY MAP |
| Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY MAP |
| Anquet OS Explorer OL28 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY MAP |
| Ordnance Survey Landranger 202 | Sheet Map | 1:50k | BUY MAP |
| Anquet OS Landranger 202 | Digital Map | 1:50k | BUY MAP |
It is recommended you take a map. The preferred scale is 1:25k. | |||
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Recommended Reading
Walking on Dartmoor
This guidebook contains route descriptions for 42 day walks in the Dartmoor National Park and its surrounding area. The walks all vary in length from 2 to 12 miles long and each route is graded by difficulty from easy to moderate or hard. Most of the walks are circular with a few longer routes that are linear and involve ascents of tors.
More information
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