Dartmoor Outdoor Festival promises a week you won’t want to miss

The Dartmoor Outdoor Festival is set to begin later this week, offering a full programme of walks, workshops, talks, film and live music.

The 2025 festival opens on Friday 29 August with a free family fun day at Haytor Visitor Centre, Haytor Vale, from 10.30am to 3pm. Visitors can join guided walks, take part in interactive activities and learn about Dartmoor’s wildlife and history.

The week-long festival runs until Friday 5 September and features accessible walks, gorge scrambling, rock climbing, forest tai chi, a film night and a ceilidh.

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Booking is open for all events, although some sessions are sold out and others nearing capacity.

Co-directors Richard Matthews and Hannah Durdin, who took over the festival 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.”

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The festival, previously known as Dartmoor Walking Festival, has run since 2016. It raises funds for Devon Air Ambulance and is aimed at people of all ages and abilities, particularly local families and young people.

It is supported by lead partners Dartmoor National Park Authority and Dartmoor Preservation Association, along with a number of secondary partners including Moorland Guides Ltd, Adventure Stories and the Wheelchair Access Group.