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Dartmoor Real Ale Trail

The Dartmoor Real Ale Trail – on the trail of a good pint!

Dartmoor Accommodation is excited to launch its ‘Dartmoor Real Ale Trail’ featuring over 35 pubs on and around the moor. The brainchild of owners, Lisa Jenkins and Julian Tarrant-Boyce, the Dartmoor Real Ale Trail lists the pubs, their ales and amenities and also features a fun and informative map of the area.

Dartmoor Real Ale Trail Map

“You could say Julian and I have done ‘extensive’ research into the local hostelries in the area! But seriously, we know from people using our website that there is a thirst for information about good beer pubs in the area. Often tucked away off the beaten track, these can be hard to find so we felt a map, or Ale Trail, would be great way of solving this problem.”

About

The Dartmoor Real Ale Trail

Not only is Dartmoor stunning to look at, walk across and ride through... it is also blessed with a great many excellent pubs and inns serving real ale! From the dramatic high tors in the north, to the softer more rolling landscape in the south, this Real Ale Trail will help you seek out the delights of traditional real ales and good hostelries in this beautiful area.

What’s on it…

Over 35 pubs and inns listing how many real ales they keep, plus contact details and a comprehensive list of facilities available including:

Ale accreditations, Food serving times, Accessibility, Free wi-fi, Dog friendliness and more.

How to use the trail...

A self-guided trail, the Dartmoor Real Ale Trail is intended to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and definitely not all in one day! While sat navs are helpful they are not infallible, so a decent road map would be useful in this (very) rural area where lanes are narrow, and hills steep. Please observe the speed limit on Dartmoor and look out for livestock on the roads.

It is always advisable to check with venues about opening times – sometimes hotels may be closed for private functions. Pub details may change without notice so it is advisable to check details before heading out on the trail.

And finally – don’t drink and drive!

Share your Real Ale Trail pictures with us on Social Media using the hashtag #dartmooraletrail

Buy a print copy of our map and have it posted to you, here!

Dartmoor Real Ale Trail Map

1 map posted 2nd class: £1.50 (UK shipping only)

Fill in your email address here to download our map in PDF format

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Real Ale Trail

  • The Post Inn
    The Post Inn, a traditional 16th century village inn and pub is situated just off the A30 at Whiddon Down, Devon, 20 miles from Exeter and 7 miles from Okehampton. It offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere and boasts an excellent range of real ales and ciders. Our lovely pub grub is prepared to the highest standards and will really whet your appetite (and you won’t go hungry). A perfect place to relax and unwind for locals and visitors to our beautiful county of Devon.
  • Horse and Groom Bittaford
    The Horse & Groom Bittaford is a Free-House Traditional Village Pub on Dartmoor National Park. Surrounded by Beautiful views from inside & outside in the Beer gardens. Home cooked Traditional pub food with a twist is available everyday. For all your Real Ale lovers the pub has new ales EVERY week.
  • The Old Thatch Inn
    Situated 2 minutes from the A30 and 10 mins from the Historic city of Exeter and on the very boundary of Dartmoor National Park, The Old Thatch offers something for everyone. Whether you want to sit in our sun trap beer garden for a refreshing tipple on a warm summers’ day or in front of our stunning double sided log burner in winter, we’re always happy to see you. With award winning food and a wide selection of drinks to choose from,The Old Thatch Inn is the perfect place to relax.
  • The Monks Retreat
    The Monks Retreat dates back to 1450 and has log fires as well as all the charm and character you would expect from such an old building and we have recently put a Green Oak framed extension on the side of the Pub to enable us to cater for up to sixty people. The Monks is the heart of the village and you can expect a warm welcome from the many villagers who frequent the Pub on a regular basis.to enjoy our local real Ales, fine wines and home cooked food.
  • The Mary Tavy Inn
    A traditional roadside inn where families, visitors and locals are welcome. The popular bar area accommodates pool, darts, TV, a large fire and up to five real ales. This is complemented by a spacious restaurant and garden with views to Dartmoor. Music nights, charity events, a Sunday carvery and a bank holiday beer festival feature in the pubs calendar. The pub closes on Mondays and weekend afternoons in the winter.
  • The Cromwell Arms
    Centrally located 17th-century town pub with easy access to Dartmoor and only yards from the bus stops. Up to five real ales are in constant rotation from St Austell, with seasonal brews well represented. There are two drinking areas around a central bar, with an adjoining dining area and separate restaurant, both of which permit children. To the rear an enclosed wisteria-covered smokers’ retreat leads to an excellent garden next to the car park Additionally there are 14 letting rooms. The Cromwell Arms was St Austell Brewery’s Beer Pub of the Year 2013/14.
  • Roots & Vines
    A great family run business supplying high quality, locally sourced produce from our West Street shop in Tavistock which includes a large selection of the local ales (gins and wines too)
  • The Oak
    The Oak is an award winning local community inn specialising in good quality real ales and outstanding food. There is a separate dining room, covered courtyard area and a first floor function room in addition to the main bar.
  • The Explorer
    Traditional Pub With Real Ales and a Separate Games Room for Darts, Pool, Air Hockey.(coming soon Snooker & Pinball) A state of the art Jukebox too! Relaxing surroundings & Friendly service. Just how pubs should be!
  • The New Inn Restaurant & Bar
    The New Inn is extremely popular, particularly during summer, so it might be worth booking a table if you’re planning a visit! Situated on the edge of Dartmoor and owned and run by Master Chef Malcolm Whybrow, wife Karen and Mathew Buscombe Michelin trained chef from the New Angel bringing his expertise in pastry and puddings. The New Inn restaurant & bar is everything you would expect from an old country inn, with its log fires in the Winter, local ales, a relaxed ambiance full of style, comfort and charm with its smart refurbished interior and candlelit tables. It is also very dog friendly as the owner and chef both have dogs themselves, so you can be sure of their hospitality, and there’s a fairly large garden area if your pet fancies a stroll while you stop for a drink and some food.
  • The Royal Oak Inn
    The Royal Oak Inn in the Dartmoor village of Meavy. - It's all here: cask ales, scrumpy cider, even its own Meavy Oak Ale. Great pub grub, hugely atmospheric, and loved by families, cyclists walkers and their dogs. A lovely old-fashioned Dartmoor pub, on the village green (still with its 'royal oak'), where ponies trot by in summer and beauty and birdsong surround you. It's often busy with locals and walkers but if you're lucky you'll find a pew in the ancient slab-floored bar, or outside on one of the picnic benches on the cobbled courtyard overlooking the village green. Ales including a monthly guest are local and cask-conditioned; they even have their own Meavy Oak Ale, brewed by Dartmoor brewery in Princetown; there's scrumpy aplenty and ten wines by the glass. The food is the best of pub grub: Wednesday night is Pie Night, Friday is Fish and Chips Night, beef and lamb comes from Dartmoor farms and the tartare sauce is homemade. Piped music and cribbage, muddy boots and muddy paws a seriously good bolthole for families and hikers. Join us for the annual Meavy Oak fair on 20th of June or the Cider and Ale festival on the August bank holiday weekend.
  • The Old Inn
    Nestled in the heart of the village with spectacular view over Hameldown, the Old Inn offers everything you may expect from a moorland pub. From log fires in the winter and beautiful moorland garden for al fresco dining throughout the year with free roaming ducks and chickens to keep you amused.
  • The Gym Bar at The Edgemoor Hotel
    The Gym Bar at the Edgemoor Hotel has a huge array of drinks for you to choose from. Heather, one of the owners, loves gin and as a result, has collected the widest variety of gins in probably the whole of Devon. There is also a huge range of the finest wine, beers and soft drinks for you to slurp whilst sat by the fire or playing chess with your friends. Not forgetting the wonderful garden grounds; grab a bottle of wine and share it on a bench in the garden or catch the last of the evening sun down by the on-site pottery.
  • The Oxenham Arms Hotel and Restuarant
    Home of the Neolithic South Zeal menhir, this 13th-century former Benedictine monastery is said to be the oldest heritage pub in Devon and Cornwall. Steeped in history, the largely untouched interior has to be seen. Two beers are brewed specially for the pub, which are served alongside two changing guest ales, together with a local cider. AA Rosette Restaurant.
  • The White Hart Hotel
    The White Hart Hotel is a traditional old posting house at the centre of the small moorland town of Moretonhampstead set within the spectacular Dartmoor National Park. The White Hart is a free house and we stock a good range of locally brewed ales. Our back bar is traditional, cosy and inviting – with a real fire in winter – and popular with locals and guests alike.
  • The Miners Arms
    The Miners Arms is a unique 17th century pub and restaurant at the foot of Dartmoor, serving the best in local food and real ales. Beautifully positioned in the secluded hamlet of Hemerdon near Plympton, The Miners Arms gives you the perfect moorland pub setting with fabulous views looking out over Plymouth Sound. Aside from their wonderful food, they take pride in being a real ale pub, and offer some fine drops to bend one’s elbow! Serving five real ales, they mix things up by taking in two guest ales each month. Their established three are a prime choice of Bass Pale Ale, local Jail Ale, and their own exclusive ‘Tungsten Tipple’.
  • The Royal Oak - Dunsford
    The Royal Oak Inn is a traditional village pub in the heart of a beautiful Devonshire village. It is a family-run place with a warm, friendly atmosphere and something for everyone - real ales from all over Britain, a pets corner and a children's play area. Dogs on leads are welcome and there are plenty of parking spaces available. The kitchen serves generous portions of delicious home- cooked meals with regular well known specials. The Royal Oak has a walled courtyard and a large beer garden with stunning views across Dunsford and the Teign valley.
  • White Hart Inn Bridestowe
    Known to have been an inn during the 17th Century, it was originally a Devon Long house, parts of which are medieval. Important persons hung their banners or standards outside the inns where they took temporary lodgings - the White Hart sign, with a collar of gold, became a favourite badge of King Richard II.
  • The Burrator Inn
    Substantial pub on the road between Yelverton and Princetown, close to the picturesque Burrator Reservoir. It has several rooms including a separate dining room, plus a pool table and two dartboards. Home-made food and pies use ingredients from local suppliers are served throughout the day. There is ample parking and a large enclosed beer garden incorporating a children’s play area. A beer festival is held annually in September; a Sunday quiz night, live music and other entertainment feature regularly.
  • The Albert Inn
    The home of Brigetown Brewery. It is a pub with a darts team, a weekly quiz, people resolving their crosswords, people talking, joking, arguing and putting the world to rights. Our own ales brewed on the premises, traditional homemade pies, curries, Sunday roasts etc.
  • The Globe Inn
    Serving home-cooked and locally sourced food, The Globe Inn is popular with locals and visitors alike. It offers an exciting, regularly changed menu, a choice of Devon real ales and a comprehensive wine list. Food is served throughout the Inn, so you can choose where to eat – enjoy the banter in the bar, relax in the lounge bar or take your time in the dining room.
  • The Nobody Inn
    Award-winning 16th century country Inn serving delicious food, over 200 different wines, 250 whiskies and lots of local cheeses. Winning numerous awards for their drinks bible including The Trencherman's Guides "Best bar list 2017" & The British Pub awards regional winner!
  • Bearslake Inn - Dartmoor Restaurant and Inn
    Set in a charming Devon longhouse dating back to the 13th century, this inn is located between Dartmoor’s Okehampton and Tavistock in the hamlet of Lake. It offers cosy accommodation and traditional cuisine. The Bearslake Inn specialises in West country-style meals with locally sourced produce. Enjoy a la carte meals in the Stable Restaurant or lunches in the 16th century Dartmoor Room.
  • Two Bridges Hotel
    Owned by Dartmoor Brewery they take their beers very seriously, highly recommended to try the local Jail Ale. Total of 3 Real Ale pumps. You will find the Two Bridges perched on the banks of the beautiful West Dart River, with jaw dropping countryside and bracing walks in every direction, Inside you will discover a warm Devon welcome and a bustling bar with lots of open fires.
  • The White Thorn Inn
    Run by renowned local musician Michael ‘Mad Dog’ Mathieson, the White Thorn Inn is a newly refurbished haven in the tranquil Dartmoor village of Shaugh Prior. Expect a friendly welcome, a selection of fast-selling, top-notch real ale, cider and Guinness, a cosy fire and plenty of craic. There’s a big focus on quality live music, with bands playing every Saturday night and spontaneous acoustic sessions whenever musical friends are passing through. Dogs, children and horses are all very welcome
  • The Peter Tavy
    The Peter Tavy Inn is a charming 15th century pub in the pretty village of Peter Tavy on the western flanks of Dartmoor. The village feels remote but is easily reached, being just a mile off the A386 two miles north of Tavistock on the Okehampton Road.
  • The Cridford Inn
    Possibly the oldest inn in the UK dating back to 825AD,The Cridford Inn is a charming old Devon longhouse that has kept is character. A free-house serving some of the finest food available in Devon. Locally sourced and fairly priced - this inn deserves a visit - you will not want to leave!
  • Drake Manor Inn
    Cosy and friendly pub, dating from the 16th century, in a pleasant village on the edge of Dartmoor. It attracts a regular clientele who are happy to be assisted with the daily crossword. The inviting traditional interior features an intimate meeting area, a public bar and a restaurant area in which to sample the good food. The garden, with a stream, is an enjoyable suntrap.
  • The Chagford Inn
    Welcome, pull up a stool at the bar, or relax on our comfy sofa. Situated in the Dartmoor National Park, the Chagford Inn prides itself on the quality of its ales, beers and wines. It also provides one of the most imaginative menus to be found in Devon. We have a good range of beers, we always have at least two real ales on tap plus three Continental lager beers. We also sell Meantime London Pale Ale, which is unusual in this part of the world, and proving popular!
  • The East Dart Hotel
    The East Dart Hotel is a famous and historic Dartmoor coaching Inn with origins dating back to 1861. Family run business just steps away from the famous clapper bridge at Postbridge.
  • The Rugglestone Inn
    The Rugglestone Inn is a unique, unspoilt Dartmoor inn delightfully located in the picturesque village of Widecombe in the Moor. Originally a cottage the grade II listed building was converted to an inn back in 1832 and named after a local logan stone. It is surrounded by peaceful moorland, adjacent to a pretty stream and just a few minutes walk from the centre of the village.
  • The Bedford Hotel
    Owned by Dartmoor Brewery they take their beers very seriously, highly recommended to try the local Jail Ale. Total of 2 Real Ale pumps. The Bedford Hotel, in the heart of the award-winning Devon market town of Tavistock, gateway to Dartmoor National Park. Your haven of comfort in the heart of town. Step inside, and you’ll find a warm welcome, comfortable rooms to rest the night, fine restaurant dining, an informal and busy bar, all in beautifully historic surroundings.
  • The Elephants Nest
    A remote 16th century free house on the lower slopes of Dartmoor, the main bar has lots of beer pump clips on the beams, and the log burner provides a warm welcome. Two other rooms have an assortment of wooden dining chairs around a mix of tables, and throughout there are bare stone walls, flagstones, horsebrasses and three wood burning stoves. The pretty garden (with an area reserved for adults only) looks across dry-stone walls to pastures and rougher moorland above. Renowned for their food.
  • Dartmoor Halfway Inn
    Recently refurbished The Dartmoor Halfway Inn is situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park (A383), a few miles west of Newton Abbot. An idyllic site, surrounded by green fields and woodland, with the River Lemon flowing alongside.
  • The Who'd Have Thought It Inn
    The Who'd Have Thought It Inn in Milton Combe, is a cosy Devon Free-hold pub on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. We take great pride in serving fresh seasonal food, regularly changing real ales and quaffable wines in a picture post card setting, a stones throw from the National Trusts Buckland Abbey. We welcome dogs and offer the perfect place to relax in the garden to the sound of the babbling brook or warm your cockles by the log fires in the colder months. The Whody is back in the care of owners Paul and Jacquie Lisney and pub dog Hector following an extensive but sympathetic refurbishment, we look forward to welcoming you.
  • The Forest Inn
    An idyllic Country Inn is situated at Hexworthy in the heart of Dartmoor and surrounded by glorious scenery, which makes us the ideal choice for walkers and nature lovers looking for good food, rooms and hospitality. We specialise in home made food using seasonal, locally sourced produce wherever possible. There is an emphasis on local beers and ciders, you have the opportunity to quench your thirst after the efforts of the day with a drink at the bar or relaxing on the Chesterfield in the lounge area, complete with log fire for winter evenings.
  • Tally Ho
    A very warm welcome awaits you at the Tally Ho, a pub that has been part of village life for around 500 years. Built as a Devon Church House, the pub has been a meeting place for friends and neighbours, as well as hosting a steady stream of visitors from far and wide, who enjoy the traditional atmosphere of the pub and surrounding village.
  • The Kings Arms, South Zeal
    Set in the northern foothills of Dartmoor on the Trafalgar Way, this thatched 14th century village local, once a cider house, is the hub of the village community. The Kings Arms is a freehouse, allowing them to offer a good variety of real ales and ciders. Their regular ales are Dartmoor Brewery’s Dartmoor IPA and Legend; and their local cider is Devon Mist from Sandford Orchards. Guest Beers come from around Devom, Cornwall and Somerset and include beers from Teignworthy, Cotleigh, Hunters, Forge and Blacktor breweries to name but a few. Good food is served daily. The pub is a good meeting place, particularly during the Dartmoor Folk Festival in August.
  • The Tradesmans Arms
    Enjoy the unique experience of being able to walk straight from the front door onto Dartmoor National Park, returning to find a warm atmosphere created by our wood burning stove and friendly welcoming staff. Alternatively relax in our beer garden overlooking the stunning Little Combe Valley. The Tradesmans Arms is also on the path of the Two Moors Way.
  • Prince Hall Hotel
    A country house hotel and restaurant serving a good selection of local bottled ales. Centrally located and an excellent base for exploring the moor, renowned for its food and probably being one of the most dog friendly hotels on the Moor.
  • The Seven Stars
    The Seven Stars is situated in the centre of the charming West Devon village of South Tawton this unique public house offers a selection of fine local food and real ales. With a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere the Seven Stars is a real home from home with a roaring log fire, arm chairs and friendly atmosphere - the perfect tonic after a long walk or cycle on the nearby Tarka trail which passes our door on its way across Dartmoor.
  • The Drewe Arms
    A traditional thatched pub set in the picturesque village of Drewsteignton, Devon. Located on the edge of the Moor, and just a few miles from the A30, it offers the perfect country retreat and is an ideal base to explore this beautiful, unspoilt and rugged part of the country.
  • Dartmoor Bar at The Moorland Garden Hotel
    The Dartmoor Bar and Lounge has a relaxed atmosphere, where dogs are also welcome. The bar is open daily for morning coffee, cream teas, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Unwind by the fire (in the colder months) on the comfy sofas with a newspaper or a good book, meet a friend for a catch up over tea or enjoy a glass of wine after a hard day at the office. Our Dartmoor Bar is open to non-residents too, so if you happen to be passing-by, do call in.
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