Bellever Forest

Bellever Forest is a Forestry England working timber forest and recreation site on Dartmoor, reached from Bellever village above the East Dart. Conifers, open heath, riverside picnic spots and prehistoric remains make this a more varied outing than a woodland-only walk. It suits a short river visit just as well as a longer circuit, so pick the route that fits your day rather than trying to cover the whole forest.

From the village car park, the short Easy Access trail follows a surfaced path down to the East Dart, with benches along the way and by the river. It’s the easiest choice for a picnic or a gentle stop. For a fuller walk, Dartmoor’s 4 km Miles Without Stiles loop circles Lakehead Hill through old conifers, joins the Lych Way, passes a stone row and crosses open heath with Bellever Tor in view. The route is listed as suitable for most, but rough grass and unsurfaced stretches mean it isn’t smooth underfoot all the way. Routes can be wet underfoot.

Bellever is still a working timber forest, but its archaeology gives the walk a much older story. Dartmoor National Park counts more than 30 hut circles in the forest, evidence of Bronze Age settlement. The stone row on the loop is another piece of that wider landscape. The route changes character as the trees give way to open grassland and the tor appears across the heath.

Use the Bellever village car park as your starting point; the forest entrance is a short way into the village. There is no visitor centre at Bellever; nearby Postbridge has the national park visitor centre. Parking is paid, and toilets, including an accessible toilet, are at the car park. There are picnic tables nearby and riverside places to sit. A coffee-van concession is listed at the car park, but the picnic spots are the safer lunch plan. Dogs are allowed, but BBQs and fires aren’t, and overnight stays aren’t allowed in the forest. Forestry work can change routes, so check the current trail notices before a longer walk.