Shipley Bridge, near South Brent, Devon

Shipley Bridge to Avon Dam

route · Waterside walk

Place photograph

6.4

Wildland

Half day

Time

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Cost

Peaceful

Feel

RiversideValleyRemote countrysideWalkersFamiliesYoung children

Why it's Wildland

6.4

From Shipley Bridge, a broad path follows the River Avon past small waterfalls and through a sheltered valley before opening onto the moor and reaching Avon Dam.

This is more than a straightforward reservoir walk: the riverside approach passes small waterfalls beneath trees, then makes a gradual transition from sheltered valley to open Dartmoor. The surfaced route to the dam is a practical way to experience that changing landscape.

Peaceful · Wild

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Shipley Bridge, near South Brent, Devon

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The experience

Follow the broad surfaced route upstream from Shipley Bridge, taking in the small waterfalls and wooded river section before continuing across the open moor to Avon Dam. The official Miles Without Stiles route provides shorter turn-back options at picnic-table locations.

Things to do

Follow the River Avon upstream

Walk the surfaced route from Shipley Bridge through the treed riverside section and onward towards the dam.

Pause at the small waterfalls

The official route description notes a series of small waterfalls in the treed area near the start.

Continue to Avon Dam

Go beyond the picnic-table points to the base of Avon Dam, then return to Shipley Bridge by the same route.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · Allow time to walk to a picnic-table point and return; exact duration is not stated in the official route details.

The short riverside wander

01
Start at Shipley Bridge car park.
02
Follow the surfaced route beside the River Avon.
03
Turn back at one of the picnic-table locations described by Dartmoor National Park.

Half day · The official accessible-route page gives 2km to the base of the dam. A separate supplied source describes the dam-and-return walk as 3 miles and easy.

Follow the river to Avon Dam

01
Begin at Shipley Bridge car park.
02
Follow the River Avon upstream, passing the small waterfalls in the treed section.
03
Continue out onto open moorland to the base of Avon Dam, then return by the same route.

Verified history

Visit Dartmoor reports that remains of 19th-century naphtha works stand in the Shipley Bridge car park; the works were later used for processing china clay from Bala Brook. The same source describes Huntingdon Cross as a former Abbot’s Way marker that was also used in the mid-16th century by Sir William Petre to mark the boundary of his Brent estate. These details concern the longer Avon Dam and Zeal Tor Tramway walk, rather than the short accessible route alone.

Hidden details

Industrial remains at the start — Visit Dartmoor identifies the structure in the car park as the remains of 19th-century naphtha works, later used to process china clay from Bala Brook.

Huntingdon Cross on the longer walk — On the extended route, Huntingdon Cross is described as an Abbot’s Way marker later used by Sir William Petre as a boundary marker for his Brent estate.

When to go

· Not specified in the supplied sources.

The supplied sources do not give seasonal advice.

Check the weather and route conditions before setting out; no specific weather guidance is provided in the supplied sources.

The route

stiles: Not stated in the supplied route excerpt; check the official route details.
surface: Wide tarmac road on the official Miles Without Stiles route.
distance: The official accessible route gives 1km and 1.75km to picnic-table locations and 2km to the base of the dam. A separate source describes the dam-and-return walk as 3 miles; these figures may use different endpoints or measures.
duration: A supplied Facebook excerpt says approximately 2 miles (3.2km) each way and 1–1.5 hours to walk to the dam, with the same time to return. Check against the official route information before relying on this estimate.
difficulty: Gentle gradient on the official Miles Without Stiles route; the longer circuit is described by Visit Dartmoor as medium difficulty.
route shape: Out and back to Avon Dam; shorter turn-back options at picnic-table locations.
start point: Shipley Bridge car park, SX681629.
parking start: Shipley Bridge car park; pay and display according to Dartmoor National Park.
shorter alternative: Walk to either picnic-table location and return; Dartmoor National Park lists distances of 1km and 1.75km to these points.

Small waterfalls beside the River Avon in the treed section
Two picnic-table locations on the route
The transition from sheltered valley to open moorland
Avon Dam

Worth pairing with

South Brent

Visit Dartmoor identifies South Brent as the nearest place for refreshments. No particular venue is named in the supplied sources.

Avon Dam and Zeal Tor Tramway walk

For a substantially longer outing, Visit Dartmoor describes a seven-mile circuit around the reservoir taking in an ancient trackway and two crosses. This is a separate, longer walk and should not be confused with the accessible route to the dam and back.

What to look for

Notice the shift from the treed riverside and its small waterfalls to the more open moorland. On the longer Avon Dam and Zeal Tor Tramway walk, look for the remains of the 19th-century naphtha works at Shipley Bridge and Huntingdon Cross.

The story

Industrial remains at Shipley Bridge; an extended walk can visit the Abbot’s Way and Huntingdon Cross.

Best time to go

Check conditions before setting out; the supplied sources do not identify a best season.

No season or time of day is specified in the supplied sources. Check the forecast and route conditions before setting out.

How long to spend

Half day

Perfect for

Walkers · Families · Young children

Route at a glance

Duration

Half day

Terrain

Riverside, Valley

Parking / start

Shipley Bridge car park, SX681629; pay and display according to Dartmoor National Park. Check current arrangements before visiting.

Before you go

Google Maps

Address

South Brent TQ10 9ED

Practical information

Opening & access

Dartmoor National Park describes this as a Miles Without Stiles route. The car park is pay and display. Check current access and parking arrangements before travelling.

Check before visiting

Parking

Shipley Bridge car park, SX681629; pay and display according to Dartmoor National Park. Check current arrangements before visiting.

Check before visiting

Toilets

Dartmoor National Park lists disabled public toilets beside the car park; no RADAR key is needed. Check availability before visiting.

Check before visiting

Food & drink

Check before visiting. Visit Dartmoor lists South Brent as the nearest place for refreshments.

Check before visiting

Dogs

Check before visiting and follow current signage.

Check before visiting

Accessibility

Dartmoor National Park describes the route as a gentle-gradient, wide tarmac road in a sheltered valley and categorises it as suitable for all. Its route information gives distances of 1km and 1.75km to picnic tables and 2km to the base of the dam. Check the official route details for current conditions and any limitations.

Check before visiting

Cost

Paid parking; check current charges.

Check before visiting

Water

River Avon and Avon Dam reservoir. No swimming or paddling permission is established by the supplied sources.