The Two Moors Way is a 117 mile (188 km) long-distance walk from Wembury on the southern coast of Devon, through Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks, ending in Lynmouth on Devon's northern coast. Except for a couple of challenging sections, the trail is well-marked and the walking is easy.
Understand
Most hikers choose to walk from the south to the north, and hike about 15 miles a day, completing the walk in about 7–9 days.
There are many villages and inns along the route. Many inns will transfer your luggage onto your next stop (there are also a number of companies that will do this plus more).
Prepare
You'll want a sturdy set of hiking shoes, some rain gear, and a few layers of clothing—temperatures and weather conditions can shift rapidly on the moors.
While the trail is generally well-marked, you don't want to rely solely on that in the sections of remote countryside; carrying a compass and a map (and the skills to use them) is advised.
Get in
There are two options for beginning the trail in the south. The first is the original trailhead, inland at Ivybridge. Your other option, a newer trail extension, begins in Wembury and adds 15 miles (24 km), but gives you coast-to-coast bragging rights.
Ivybridge's train station is served by Great Western Railway, and connects with both Plymouth and Exeter, which has service from London Paddington station.
Wembury lacks a train station, but has a regular bus service from Plymouth.
Walk
- 1 Wembury (mile 0).
- 2 Yealmpton (mile 7).
- 3 Ivybridge (mile 16).
- 4 Holne (mile 31). Walking north from Ivybridge, you'll soon enter Dartmoor National Park.
- 5 Hameldown (mile 38). Unlike the other waypoints, there's no facilities here; you can detour 1.5 miles to Widecombe in the Moor.
- 6 Chagford (mile 48).
- 7 Drewsteignton (mile 52). After Drewsteignton, you exit Dartmoor NP and begin a more remote stretch of woodland between Dartmoor and Exmoor.
- 8 Morchard Bishop (mile 68).
- 9 Witheridge (mile 76).
- 10 Knowstone (mile 84).
- 11 Hawkridge (mile 92). A couple miles south of Hawkridge, you enter Exmoor NP
- 12 Withypool (mile 98).
- 13 Simonsbath (mile 105).
- 14 Lynmouth (mile 117).
Sleep
Most of the villages on the trail have multiple B&Bs and pubs.
- 1 Widecombe in the Moor. B&Bs in this village about 1.5 miles off trail from Hameldown.
Stay safe
The usual precautions of wilderness backpacking apply. Since you're likely sleeping in B&Bs along the way, you don't need to carry as many supplies and gear as when sleeping in the wild—however a sufficient supply of water and food for the day should always be carried, and you should restock on first opportunity.You should carry a few layers of warm and waterproof clothes with you, as well as a travel guide, map, and compass.A mobile phone is a good idea, but in remote areas there might be no coverage, so be warned.
Go next
There's no train service from Lynton and Lynmouth, where the trail ends. But you can catch the 309 or 310 buses to Barnstaple, which has train service onward to Exeter and bus connections to many other spots around Devon.