River Dart Country Park

River Dart Country Park is a 90-acre family attraction, campsite and holiday park near Ashburton, within Dartmoor National Park. It offers a managed, ticketed day out built around outdoor play, a lake and tree trails, so it feels quite different from the open moorland around it. Come when your group wants several activities in one place; the site suits a family day out as well as an overnight stay.

Day admission includes the family-park activities, among them adventure playgrounds, low ropes, climbing pods, a mini zip wire, slides, an observation tower and the Pirate Ship at the lake. Younger visitors get a toddlers’ beach and a separate play area. There is also an agility trail, a bike trail and tree and eco trails, which offer a slower change of pace between the larger play features. Dare Devil activities and Dartmoor Bike Park are separate extras that need advance booking, so check them before building the day around them.

The grounds cover 90 acres, so this is more than a single playground stop. The tree trail uses information boards and an app map to introduce the trees around the site, while the eco trail has its own boards. The Pirate Ship and water-side play are the liveliest areas; the campsite and holiday park also make it possible to stay on site and spread the visit over more than one day.

The Old Sawmill Café Bar serves hot and cold snacks and meals. A second, seasonal outlet called Oasis offers snacks, drinks and ice cream, and the park shop carries groceries and camping supplies. Day-visitor car parking is included with admission and arranged in three tiers. Toilets are opposite the café and near Pirate Ship Lake, with accessible toilets and baby-changing facilities. Paths are wide, level or gently sloping where practical, though natural areas can be uneven and some activities will not suit every visitor. Dogs are welcome around the park but must stay off the sandy beach. Day admission runs on selected dates, so check the calendar before setting out.