Guide to Dartmoor Public Transport
The premise of this website was to give a guide to visiting interesting prehistoric sites using public transport. The Transmoor Bus made the central moor accessible for those without cars in the summer months until it was axed in 2016. It is still possible to get to Postbridge and Princetown via Yelverton and or Tavistock with connecting services from Plymouth to Yelverton but the glorious days of the summer weekend Transmoor Bus from Exeter to Plymouth are sadly no longer with us. When the resident of Exeter poses the question "How do I get to Princetown?" the answer is "Well, if I wanted to get to Princetown I wouldn't start from there!"
For those wishing to get to the central moor from Exeter it is now almost impossible to do without camping overnight and walking long distances. Drivers do tend to pick up hitch-hikers on the moor so for those inclined to hike it might be worth getting a bus to Moretonhampstead and starting from there. Of course central and local government can get away with these cuts in public transport if people don't complain! There are many good B&Bs and campsites around the moor and wild camping is permitted. Chances are if you want to explore the central moor and you are not based in Plymouth or Tavistock you will now need to stay overnight. The two pubs in Princetown have bunk house facilities and the Plume of Feathers has camping facilities at the rear of the pub. Anyway - what follows is what is left of public transport services ...
In the summer there is the Dartmoor Line train service from Exeter to Okehampton. In 2017 this service started on Sunday 21st May. Also there is the Tamar Valley Line train service from Plymouth to Gunnislake. These services run from towards the end of May until the middle of September.
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. The Plymouth Citibus 46 service allows access from Plymouth up through Tavistock to Okehampton. There is also a daily bus service from Exeter to Moretonhampstead, Exeter to Newton Abbot (via Bovey Tracey) and Exeter to Okehampton. 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 Exeter-Okehampton bus can be combined with the Plymouth Citibus to get access to the west of the moor (e.g. Dartmoor Inn) on a weekday from Exeter.
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 and Tavistock Country Bus Saturday Service.
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 proving very difficult. 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 08/01/18. 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 Travel Devon. 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.
The very useful Devon County Council area bus timetables are available online via: Devon Area Bus Timetable Booklets. The 2017 timetables are due on 28th May 2017
See also: Dartmoor National Park Authority: Travel Information.
Dartmoor Sunday Rover
Travel on any of a number of services on a Summer Sunday. This no longer exists as the services have been axed.
Transmoor Link (Country Bus Service 82)
The Transmoor Link service goes across Dartmoor between Exeter and Tavistock. Stops include; Moretonhampstead, Warren House Inn, Postbridge, Two Bridges, Princetown, Sharpitor Car Park, Dousland (Burrator Inn). This no longer exists as the services have been axed.
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 (Stagecoach 5 and 6/6A)
It is possible with the 6A service to leave Exeter early on a week day and get off at Sticklepath, South Zeal or the minor stop Ramsley for direct access on to the northern moor.
Stagecoach Exeter - Hatherleigh - Okehampton 5A (Mondays to Saturdays), use TravelineSW to see all the minor stops.
Stagecoach Bude - Exeter (via Okehampton) 6 (Mondays to Sundays including bank holidays), use TravelineSW to see all the minor stops.
Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Dunsford (Country Bus 359)
Country Bus 359 Timetable (Mondays to Saturdays).
Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Drewsteington & Chagford (Dartline 173)
Dartline Coaches 173 Timetable (Mondays to Saturdays: from 26/03/2017).
Exeter to Newton Abbot via Bovey Tracey (Stagecoach 39)
Stagecoach Buses Service 39 (Mondays to Saturdays & Sundays: Valid from 29/10/2017).
Haytor Hoppa: Newton Abbot to Widecombe circular via Bovey Tracey (Country Bus 271)
Country Bus 271 Timetable (Saturday Only 27th May to 16th Sep 2017). See also Dartmoor National Park Authority: Haytor Hoppa
Exeter to Plymouth via Buckfastleigh, South Brent & Ivybridge (Stagecoach X38)
Exeter, Drumbridges, Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, South Brent, Ivybridge, Plymouth (Mondays to Saturdays, also Sundays: From 20th September 2015). Stagecoach X38 Timetable. (valid from 3rd January 2017)
Torquay to Plymouth Via Totnes - South Brent - Ivybridge (Stagecoach GOLD)
Stagecoach GOLD Timetable. (From 6th September 2015).
Train to Ivybridge (First Great Western Trains)
Regular trains daily all year from Exeter to Torbay and Plymouth Trains in Devon: Including through trains to London Paddington, Bristol and Penzance and bus connections (valid from 1 Jan 2018 until 19 May 2018).
Train Plymouth to Gunnislake (The Tamar Valley Line)
Summer service Plymouth to Gunnislake Trains in Devon: Including through trains to London Paddington, Bristol and Penzance and bus connections (valid from 1 Jan 2018 until 19 May 2018).
Plymouth to Tavistock (Stagecoach 1/X1)
Plymouth to Tavistock (Stagecoach 1/X1) (week days and weekend, Timetable valid from 26/11/2017).
Tavistock to Okehampton (Dartline 118)
Tavistock to Okehampton (Dartline 118) (Mon-Fri and Saturdays, Timetable valid from 03/09/2017 ).
Tavistock to Yelverton Via Princetown, Postbridge (Target Travel 98)
Holsworthy / Beacon Bus 98 Timetable (Mondays to Saturday).
Plymouth to Princetown via change at Yelverton (Plymouth Stagecoach 1/X1 & Target Travel 98)
Use the Plymouth to Tavistock Stagecoach 1/X1 (daily, see above) and change at Yelverton (roundabout) for the Target Travel 98 Tavistock to Yelverton via Princetown service Beacon Bus 98 Timetable (Monday to Saturday).
Tavistock Country Bus alternate Saturday Service
Timetables for the following services are availabe on the Tavistock Country Bus website.
123 tavistock - horrabridge - princetown - postbridge - moretonhampstead - exeter
First Saturday in the month - March to December
119 Tavistock - gunnislake - callington - liskeard - bodmin - st austell - truro
Second Saturday in the month - March to December
118 tavistock - HATHERLEIGH - ROSEMOOR - TORRINGTON - BIDEFORD - BARNSTAPLE
Third Saturday in the month - April to September
111 tavistock - yelverton - lee moor - cornwood - ivybridge - totnes - paignton - torquay
Fourth Saturday in the month - April to September
112 TAVISTOCK - princetown - ashburton - newton abbot - dawlish
Fifth Saturday in the month - April to September
Page last updated 08/01/18