Welcome to my travel guide for the area surrounding Venford Reservoir
Tucked away in the wilds of Dartmoor, this beautiful reservoir is a nice place to stop off whilst exploring! Bench Tor and Venford Falls are both within easy reach of the reservoir.
What it’s all about…
Venford is a fairly small but beautiful reservoir originally built to supply water to the seaside town of Paignton. It provides a welcome sheltered spot on wild and windy days as well as being a great spot to explore Bench Tor, The Dart Gorge and Venford Falls nearby.
What to do while you’re there…
Head across the bridge that overlooks the dam for some lovely views of the lake. There is a circular walk around the perimeter of the reservoir which is just under a mile long and relatively flat. The reflection of the surrounding trees on the water on a clear day makes for some very picturesque views!
Bench Tor can also be found nearby, head from the parking area (details below) across the Dam and walk up to the left away from the road. Continue climbing up the slope and you’ll see the rocks ahead of you before too long. It is less than a mile from the Dam to the rocks and it’s a truly lovely walk. This area is a lovely spot for experiencing the wildness of Dartmoor with sheep and ponies in plentiful supply!
Once you reach the rocks the views of the gorge below are breathtaking. You can either head back the way you came, explore down into the gorge below or walk from the Tor down into the woods beneath the dam to find the hidden beauty of Venford waterfalls. The area surrounding Venford Reservoir is full of wildlife and makes up part of the Dart Valley Nature Reserve.
How to get there…
The nearest postcode for Venford Reservoir is PL20 6SE, the reservoir can be found along the Castles in the Dart Valley road.
There is parking available opposite the reservoir, the car park has toilet facilities and is open 24 hours a day. There is no height or time limit restrictions and it’s free of charge.
As with many roads around Dartmoor the access roads to Venford are very narrow in places. If you are travelling in a van or larger vehicle you will need to approach from the North via Hexworthy, there is only one narrow bridge from this direction which I managed fine in my Mercedes Sprinter! The road from the South is not suitable for larger vehicles.
Nearest places to grab a bite…
The Forest Inn can be found around 5 minutes drive away in the village of Hexworthy offering a range of home cooked food. Or alternatively if you’re fancying a treat, the Badgers Holt Tearooms in Dartmeet offer high tea for £17 per person down by the river.
Where to stay…
If you would like to explore this stunning area for long:
Wild camping – It is possible to wild camp on many areas on Dartmoor with a tent but unfortunately you’re unable to park up overnight in a campervan. However there is a very affordable campsite nearby (see below). If you wish to wild camp you need to make sure that all your equipment can fit in your backpack and you pitch your tent at least 100m away from any roads. Please don’t forget to treat the area with care and leave no trace. Full details on wild camping guidelines can be found on the Dartmoor website.
Campsite goers – Westoke Farm can be found between Holne Village and the reservoir and offer basic field camping for tents, caravans and campervans with a portaloo at the very reasonable price of £4 per adult per night! They also provide water at their farmhouse nearby.
Hotels and B&B’s – The Forest Inn mentioned earlier offer overnight accommodation from £60 and are dog friendly.
Other places nearby…
There is so much to explore on Dartmoor! Combestone Tor and some stunning sections of the river Dart are all easily accessible from this spot.
1 thought on “Dartmoor – Venford Reservoir & Bench Tor”