Shipley Bridge to Avon Dam – Dartmoor Miles Without Stiles

Disabled Ramblers Category Level 1.

One of the easier routes, this Tour is paved throughout and is very easy to follow in terms of navigation, with only a very gentle incline. Starting from the car park at Shipley Bridge, where you can also find public toilets and a van serving hot drinks, snacks and lunches on better weather days, you’ll explore up the Avon River to Avon Dam.

The paved road is technically a bridleway, though shut off to traffic (except access to the dam). The valley is also very sheltered, as you start by ascending through the trees before it becomes more open as you reach the dam.

There are beautiful waterfalls as you head up along the river, and you can often see wild pigs grazing here as well as dippers and grey wagtails on the water.

Closing in on the dam, you stick to the paved road as the rocky bridleway of the Dartmoor Way heads up to the right to reach the top of the dam. Cross over the River Avon to reach the bottom of the dam.

In good weather, but after rainfall when the reservoir is full, it’s an awesome sight to see the overflow tumbling down the front of the dam.

To head back, simply turn around and retrace the way you came back to Shipley Bridge.