Renowned for its rugged moorland landscapes, rolling hills, and ancient woodlands, Dartmoor is not only a haven for hikers and nature enthusiasts but also a sanctuary for a variety of fascinating wildlife.
Dartmoor offers a remarkable tapestry of biodiversity waiting to be discovered. So grab your binoculars, lace up your boots, and prepare to be enchanted by the diverse array of wildlife that calls Dartmoor home.
Common Wildlife on Dartmoor
Dartmoor is one of the best places in the country to spot a wide variety of wildlife, from elusive mammals and rare birds to fascinating reptiles and insects.
Mammals on Dartmoor
Dartmoor’s open spaces and wooded valleys are home to several mammals, though many are shy and most active at dawn or dusk.
- Deer – Fallow, red, and roe deer can be seen in quieter wooded areas like Fernworthy Forest, Fingle Woods, or Bellever Forest.
- Otters – Along Dartmoor’s rivers such as the River Dart, Teign, or Tavy.
- Badgers – Common but elusive – badgers mostly come out at night from hidden setts in woodland or hedgerows.
- Foxes – Foxes are more adaptable and may even be seen during the day in quieter areas.
- Dartmoor Ponies – Not wild in the strictest sense, but iconic nonetheless. You can spot them all over the moor, notably around Haytor, Princetown, and Postbridge.
- Sheep & Cattle – There are plenty of grazing animals on the moors.
- Hazel Dormouse – Nocturnal and rare, they have habitats in woodland around Dartmoor.
- Bats – Most UK bat species have been spotted here, but it’s especially important for colonies of rare species; the barbastelle, and the greater and lesser horseshoe bats.
Birds on Dartmoor
Birdwatchers are spoiled for choice here, with a mix of birds of prey, woodland birds, and rarer spots.
Birds of Prey
- Buzzards, kestrels, and sparrowhawks are common.
- Look out for peregrine falcons around cliffs and tors like Hound Tor or Haytor Rocks.
- Hobby and Merlin are rarer but can be seen in open moorland areas.
Woodland and Moorland Birds
- Cuckoos are a seasonal sighting in spring.
- Redstarts, pied flycatchers, and wood warblers can be spotted in oak woods like Yarner Wood (a top birdwatching site).
- Skylarks and meadow pipits fill the air with song in open moorland.
Rarer Bird Species
- Dartmoor is one of the few places where you might see the ring ouzel.
- Keep ears and eyes peeled for nightjars at dusk in heathland areas.
Reptiles and Amphibians on Dartmoor
- Adders – Adders are the UK’s only venomous snake. They’re shy and only bite if threatened, so give them space. You may find them in heathland and open moor areas with sunny spots and nearby cover.
- Grass Snakes – Less commonly seen but possible near water bodies. Non-venomous and harmless
- Slow Worms – Often mistaken for snakes, these are legless lizards, often found in grassy and sunny areas.
- Common Lizard – Basks in the warm sun around heathlands, moorlands and grasslands.
- Frogs, Toads and Newts – Look near pools, bogs, and rivers. Dartmoor’s many wet areas make it a great spot for amphibians in spring and early summer.
Insects and Butterflies
Wildflowers and heathland support a range of pollinators.
- Butterflies – Look for marsh fritillary butterfly, pearl-bordered fritillary, high brown fritillary and green hairstreak.
- Moths – Keep an eye out for narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth, Heckford’s pygmy moth.
- Dragonflies – Common around ponds and rivers – try Emsworthy Mire or Bovey Valley Woodlands.
- Bees – Lots of bee species thrive on Dartmoor, including heath bumblebees and bilberry bumblebees.
Fish and River Life on Dartmoor
Dartmoor’s rivers are some of the cleanest and most pristine in the UK. They’re not only beautiful to walk beside, paddle in, or picnic by, they’re also teeming with aquatic life.
- Salmon and Trout – Dartmoor rivers such as the Teign, Tavy, Dart, and Okement are known for their brown trout and seasonal runs of Atlantic salmon and sea trout.
- Freshwater Species – Minnows, loach, and bullheads (a protected species) also inhabit Dartmoor streams.
- Eels – Migrating upstream through Dartmoor’s rivers.
Best Locations to See Wildlife on Dartmoor
Fingle Woods
Located in the Teign Valley, Fingle Woods is a beautiful woodland area co-managed by the Woodland Trust and National Trust. It provides a habitat for a variety of wildlife, with 36 species of breeding birds and 12 bat species recorded here. Along the river, see if you can catch sight of kingfishers and otters. In the trees, look out for woodpeckers, thrush, goldcrest, redstart or pied flycatchers. Other creatures, including fallow deer, badgers, hazel dormice and rare butterflies, also call this area home.
Meldon Reservoir
This reservoir near Okehampton attracts a range of waterbirds, including herons. It is also a great spot for fishing, with plenty of brown trout in the water. Keep an eye out for grass snakes and adders while in the area. As with many waterside locations, you’ll also likely see dragonflies and damsel flies near the reservoir.
Wistman’s Wood
This ancient woodland is famous for its twisted oak trees covered in moss and lichen. It provides a habitat for a variety of woodland birds throughout the year. In the spring and summer, you can spot the spotted flycatcher and restart in the wood area, or stonechat and wheatear in the open moorland surroundings. In the winter, look out for skylarks, meadow pipits and merlins. You may even spot a short-eared owl here! Apart from a small area of wood that is fenced off, the valley is often inhabited by grazing cattle, sheep and Dartmoor ponies.
Bellever Forest
Located near Postbridge, Bellever Forest is known for its diverse wildlife. The forest was once part of an ancient woodland, with the East Dart River running through it. The mixed woodland is home to roe deer, a range of woodland birds and the rare pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly. Bellever Forest is a place where you can commonly find Dartmoor ponies too.
Haytor Rocks
Haytor is one of Dartmoor’s most iconic tors and offers breathtaking views. It is also home to a variety of bird species, including, Dartford warblers, skylarks, meadow pipits, wheatear and stonechats. Buzzards can be seen flying overhead, and ravens often congregate in groups in this area. In the early morning sun, you might spot a reptile, like the common lizard, basking on the rocks of Haytor. Here you might also see a range of rare fritillary butterflies.
Burrator Reservoir
Situated on the southwestern edge of Dartmoor, Burrator Reservoir is a haven for birdwatchers. You can spot various species of waterfowl, including goosanders, dippers and tufted ducks. In the surrounding woodland, you may also spy great spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches, robins, great tits, blue tits and horseshoe bats. Within the reservoir swim rainbow trout, which keen fishers can attempt to catch.
Remember that wildlife sightings can vary depending on the time of year and weather conditions. It’s always a good idea to check with local visitor centres for up-to-date information and guidance on the best places to see wildlife on Dartmoor.
If you want to explore all that Dartmoor has to offer, then Mill End Hotel in Chagford could be the perfect base for your adventures. Our hotel on Dartmoor is close to Fingle Woods, where an incredible array of wildlife can be found.