Challenge 29: Discover the River Dart

Points available: 4

About the challenge

Find the River Dart on a map and choose three different parts of the river to visit. Try to find somewhere high up on Dartmoor- you could explore the river around Postbridge as it comes off the high moor. Next visit the river as it winds its way off Dartmoor-you could visit the wooded river valley around Newbridge or Hembury Woods.  As the river heads towards the sea it becomes very different- beyond Totnes the river is tidal revealing another side to it.

Helpful tips

Look for differences in the sorts of plants that grow at each spot you choose and record them using photographs or sketches to create a portrait of the river

If you are a confident walker you could explore the river higher up on the moor.

You could also choose one of Dartmoor’s other rivers to explore such as the Okemont, the Avon, the Teign or the Plym

More information

The River Dart gives its name to Dart-moor and starts high up on the moor. If you look at a walking map for Dartmoor and trace the river up onto the high moor you can see that it actually starts as two rivers, the West and the East Dart. In the centre of the moor at Cranmere Pool, a very boggy and difficult to reach spot, the East Dart begins then winds its way down to Postbridge and to on to Dartmeet where the two rivers meet up and become the River Dart. From there it winds its way down to Newbridge and then off the moor before reaching the sea at Dartmouth.

Follow the tale of a drop of water from source to sea in this short film  made by South Devon AONB