Week-long Dartmoor Outdoor Festival

The Dartmoor Outdoor Festival returns next week with a packed programme of walks, talks, workshops, films, music and outdoor adventures celebrating the beauty of the national park.

The 2025 festival begins with a free Family Fun Day at Haytor Visitor Centre on Friday 29 August from 10.30am to 3pm, offering interactive activities, guided walks, and a chance to explore Dartmoor’s unique wildlife, history and tors.

Running until Friday 5 September, the week-long celebration includes something for everyone – from accessible walks and gorge scrambling to rock climbing, forest tai chi, a film night and a ceilidh.

Bookings are now open for all events, although organisers say some activities are already sold out and others are nearing capacity.

Festival co-directors Richard Matthews and Hannah Durdin, who took over the event in 2024, said:
“We are very excited about this year’s festival – the level of interest from people booking onto the activities, the enthusiasm of the session leaders and the support from our sponsors.

At the heart of our festival is the desire to promote sustainable recreation and we are encouraging everyone to access Dartmoor responsibly. We are delighted that this national park will host such a variety of sessions, enabling people to fully appreciate all the benefits of being outdoors.”

First held in 2016 as the Dartmoor Walking Festival, the rebranded Dartmoor Outdoor Festival is aimed at people of all ages, particularly families and young people. It offers activities for every level of ability, from complete beginners to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.

The festival is supported by lead partners Dartmoor National Park Authority and Dartmoor Preservation Association, alongside a number of local organisations. Over the years it has also raised thousands of pounds for Devon Air Ambulance.

Dartmoor Outdoor Festival 2025
Friday 29 August – Friday 5 September
Across Dartmoor National Park
Book events at: www.dartmooroutdoorfestival.co.uk/programme