New mobility scooters help improve access to Dartmoor beauty spots

Two all-terrain mobility scooters are now available to hire from the National Park Visitor Centre at Postbridge, making it easier for people with limited mobility to explore part of Dartmoor.

The ‘Tramper’ vehicles give users access to a 2.5-mile Miles Without Stiles route through Bellever Forest, with views of Bellever Tor and the historic Powder Mills site.

Dartmoor National Park Authority introduced the service in partnership with Countryside Mobility, an initiative of the charity Disability Together, following a successful trial last summer when one Tramper was available for hire.

Named Bowerman and Crockern, the scooters take their names from figures in Dartmoor folklore.

Bowerman is named after the legendary huntsman said to have been turned to stone, while Crockern is named after the ancient spirit of the moor described by Victorian folklorist Sabine Baring-Gould.

A "Dartmoor for All" event at Postbridge celebrated the arrival of the second Tramper, giving visitors the chance to try the scooters, join a guided walk through Bellever Forest and meet representatives from partner organisations.

Tim Russell, Recreation and Access Projects Officer at Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "The addition of the two Trampers, made possible through Defra funding, is an important contribution to our award-winning work, making places easier to access.

"Access to green spaces and nature is vital in maintaining our mental health and well-being, and our National Parks are ideal places to provide this facility.

Neil Warren, Strategic Manager for Countryside Mobility at Disability Together, said: "We're delighted at the commitment shown by the team at Dartmoor National Park Authority and the addition of a second Tramper.

“It's been so encouraging to read the positive feedback from locals and visitors who have used the service in the first year and to see it go from strength to strength."

The National Park Authority's Miles Without Stiles programme received the Countryside Management Association's Gordon Miller Award in 2022 for improving access.

In 2025, the National Park Visitor Centre at Postbridge won Silver in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category at the Devon Tourism Awards.

People wishing to hire Bowerman or Crockern are encouraged to book in advance through the Postbridge Visitor Centre.

New users can arrange Countryside Mobility membership and receive an introduction to using the scooters before setting out.

Route maps are provided and the visitor centre is free to visit.