Abbot's Way

Abbot's Way is a 21.7-mile one-way walk from Buckfast Abbey to the ruins of Tavistock Abbey. It crosses southern Dartmoor from lower farmland and river valleys onto open high moor, then through Princetown and Merrivale before the finish in Tavistock. This is a point-to-point day, not a circuit; arrange a return journey from Tavistock before setting out. The mapped recreational route links these abbey sites today; whether it follows the medieval abbots’ path is disputed. Allow about 10–12 hours for the distance, climbs and stops.

From Buckfast the way runs through Hockmoor, Lambs Down and Deans Moor to Avon Dam Reservoir, follows the reservoir’s north side, then keeps with the River Avon. Beyond Plym Ford it climbs past the Wheel Katherine mine remains and South Hessary Tor to Princetown. The village is a practical refreshment stop, with pubs and cafés. Past North Hessary Tor, Merrivale adds Bronze Age stone monuments and a former granite quarry. Whitchurch Common and Moortown lead to the River Tavy crossing and Tavistock Abbey’s surviving ruins.

The mapped line reaches about 508 m (1,670 ft); the full cumulative ascent has not been established. The high moor is exposed and can be boggy, and one route report describes stretches where the visible path sits away from the map. Poor visibility makes navigation harder, so use an offline map and allow time to check it against the ground. Dogs may come, but on Countryside and Rights of Way access land they need a fixed lead no longer than 2 m from 1 March to 31 July. Keep close control on rights of way and use a lead near livestock.