Guide to Dartmoor Public Transport

During the summer there are a number of useful bus services across Dartmoor, especially using the Dartmoor Sunday Rover ticket. Most notably the Transmoor Link bus, but also the Dartmoor Line train service from Exeter to Okehampton and the Tamar Valley Line train service from Plymouth to Gunnislake. These services run on Sundays from 26^th May (including any bank holodays) and 15^th September in 2013; see Sunday Rover Summer Flyer 2013 (PDF). There is a reduced Winter service, without the transmoor bus, which can be used with a Sunday Rover ticket, see Sunday Rover Winter Flyer 2012-13 (PDF).

There are other services that are available all year round, including a much reduced bus service. The best options out of season, or on week days, are probably the train to Ivybridge and the X38 bus which goes through South Brent and Ivybridge. There is also a daily bus service from Exeter to Moretonhampstead, Exeter to Newton Abbot (via Bovey Tracey) and Exeter to Okehampton (Western Greyhound 510 & 599). The Okehampton buses leave early from Exeter and you can get off at Sticklepath or Ramsley for a more direct route on to the moor.

The Tavistock Community Transport Association provide a weekday service around Tavistock and a once a month bus to Exeter, Truro and Plymouth on the first, second and third Saturdays of the month respectively. They advise booking in advance, see Tavistock Country Bus.

Dartmoor transport - please help to keep this guide accurate!

Transport to Dartmoor is seasonal and subject to change. Often seasonal timetables are not published until late into the previous season. The best effort is made to ensure the details below are accurate but with services provided by at least 5 bus companies maintaining this page is a difficulty. It is not helped by the fact that the smaller bus companies keep moving their PDF timetables around so links can go rapidly out of date. Any feedback with suggested corrections or additions to improve this listing is most welcome!

Contact email: info@dartmoorwalks.org.uk

The information below was last checked for accuracy on 18/1/13. Check with TravelineSW before travelling!

Useful Public Transport Links

Bus times can be checked on Traveline SW and train times on National Rail Enquiries.

Devon County Council provide an excellent guide to public transport, see Journey Devon - Your Guide to Public Transport. It includes Devon transport: Interactive bus map. With this interactive guide you can zoom in to see the area you are interested in and then click on the route number which then gives you the option to get the relevant timetable.

See also:

• Dartmoor National Park Authority: Getting Around Dartmoor.

Dartmoor Sunday Rover

Travel on any of the services listed below on a Sunday. An adult day ticket costs £7.50, child £5.00 & family £16.00. For more information see: Journey Devon - Dartmoor Sunday Rover and First Buses: Dartmoor Sunday Rover Ticket. The transmoor bus only runs in the summer, see Sunday Rover Summer Flyer 2013 (PDF). You can download the Sunday Rover Winter Flyer 2012-13 (PDF).

The summer (2013) service includes:

• All Stagecoach South West buses
• First bus services 48, X80/X81, 86, 90, 93, 187 and Coast LinX X53 between Exeter and Weymouth.
• Western Greyhound services 510, 572 , 576, 593 and 599.
• Dartline 82.
• Beacon Bus service 118.
• First Great Western Tamar Valley Line trains between Plymouth and Gunnislake; Tarka Line trains between Barnstaple, Exeter and Digby & Sowton; Dartmoor Line trains between St James Park and Okehampton.

The last winter (2012-13) service included:

• All Stagecoach buses in Devon.
• First services X80, 86, 90.
• First Great Western Tamar Valley line trains between Plymouth and Gunnislake; Tarka Line trains between Barnstaple, Exeter and Digby & Sowton.
• Western Greyhound services 510, 573, 592, 599.
• Beacon Bus service 118.

Transmoor Link (First Bus Service 82)

The Transmoor Link service goes across Dartmoor between Exeter and Plymouth. Stops include; Moretonhampstead, Warren House Inn, Postbridge, Two Bridges, Princetown, Sharpitor Car Park, Dousland (Burrator Inn). This service is a summer Sundays only service typically starting on the last Sunday in May or first Sunday in June. This service was a First service but in 2012 it was run by Country Bus (subsidised by Devon County Council). Information about the service can be found on the Dartmoor National Park website, see Transmoor Link (Bus Service 82).

The 2012 timetables can be seen as follows:

• Transmoor Link: Exeter to Moretonhampstead
• Transmoor Link: Plymouth to Moretonhampstead

Dartmoor Railway (Okehampton to Meldon Quarry)

The Dartmoor Railway is the name given to the 15.5 mile long line that runs across the northern edge of Dartmoor between Meldon Quarry in the West and Coleford Junction near Yeoford, in the East. The route operates between Meldon Quarry and Sampford Courtenay via Okehampton. During the summer there is a regular weekend service from Okehampton to Meldon Quarry.

Exeter to Okehampton (Western Greyhound Bus 510 and 599)

It is possible to leave Exeter early on a week day using using this service and get off at Sticklepath or the minor stop Ramsley for direct access on to the northern moor.

Western Greyhound Exeter - Newquay (via Okehampton) Bus 510 (Mondays to Saturdays), use TravelineSW to see all the minor stops.

Western Greyhound Bude - Exeter (via Okehampton) Bus 599 (Mondays to Saturdays & Sunday service), use TravelineSW to see all the minor stops.

Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Dunsford (Country Bus 359)

Country Bus 359 Timetable (Mondays to Saturdays: from 11/04/2011).

Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Drewsteington & Chagford (Dartline 173)

Dartline Coaches 173 Timetable (Mondays to Saturdays: from 11/04/2011).

Exeter to Newton Abbot via Bovey Tracey (Stagecoach 39)

Stagecoach Buses Service 39 (Mondays to Saturdays & Sundays: from 23/05/2011).

Haytor Hoppa: Newton Abbot to Widecombe circular via Bovey Tracey (Country Bus 271)

Country Bus 271 Timetable (Saturdays only: Saturday Only 7th April to 27th Oct 2012). See also Dartmoor National Park Authority: Haytor Hoppa

Exeter to Plymouth via South Brent & Ivybridge (Stagecoach X38)

Exeter, Drumbridges, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, South Brent, Ivybridge, Plymouth (Mondays to Saturdays, also Sundays: from 11^th April 2011). Stagecoach X38 Timetable.

Paignton to Plymouth Via Totnes - South Brent - Ivybridge (First Bus X80)

First Bus X80 Timetable.

Train to Ivybridge (First Great Western Trains)

Regular trains daily all year from Exeter to Torbay and Plymouth 31 Train Timetable.

Plymouth to Princetown via change at Yelverton (First 86 & Beacon Bus 98)

Use the Plymouth to Tavistock First Bus Service 86/84/83/86A/83A (daily) and change at Yelverton (roundabout) for the Beacon Bus Tavistock to Yelverton via Princetown service Beacon Bus 98 Timetable (Monday to Saturday).

Tavistock to Yelverton Via Princetown, Postbridge (Holsworthy / Beacon Bus 98)

Holsworthy / Beacon Bus 98 Timetable (Mondays to Saturday).