{"id":69847,"date":"2026-05-29T12:56:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T11:56:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=69847"},"modified":"2026-05-29T12:57:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T11:57:01","slug":"two-moors-way-celebrates-50-years-officially-extends-south-devon-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/two-moors-way-celebrates-50-years-officially-extends-south-devon-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Moors Way celebrates 50 years,\u00a0and officially extends to the South Devon coast\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s 50 years today since one of the region’s most loved long-distance walking trails, the Two Moors Way, was first launched. The outstanding trail links the\u00a0South\u00a0West\u2019s\u00a0two National Parks, Exmoor and Dartmoor.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The anniversary is being celebrated at\u00a0Morchard\u00a0Bishop, the halfway point on the route,\u00a0with\u00a0partners, volunteers and walkers coming\u00a0together to\u00a0honour\u00a0its past and look ahead to its future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First opened in 1976, the Two Moors Way\u00a0originally ran from\u00a0Ivybridge\u00a0on\u00a0the southern border of Dartmoor National Park, traversing Dartmoor, and the Mid\u00a0Devon\u00a0countryside, before\u00a0crossing\u00a0Exmoor and\u00a0finishing\u00a0on the coast at Lynmouth, more than 100 miles later.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, partners have confirmed a significant milestone for the route\u2019s future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Two Moors Way is officially being extended to\u00a0fully\u00a0incorporate the\u00a0Erme\u2013Plym\u00a0Trail between\u00a0Ivybridge\u00a0and Wembury, establishing Wembury on the South Devon coast as the southern\u00a0end\u00a0of the route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0Erme\u2013Plym\u00a0Trail will continue to exist as a named trail\u00a0in its own right, but\u00a0is now formally\u00a0recognised\u00a0as part of the continuous Two Moors Way journey from coast to coast\u00a0\u2013 117 miles and almost 16,000 feet of ascent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This change reflects how many walkers already experience the coast-to-coast route in practice and reinforces Devon\u2019s unique position as the only county in\u00a0the country\u00a0to host\u00a0two coastlines and two National Parks, making the Two Moors Way a truly distinctive trail.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For five decades, the Two Moors Way has enabled thousands of people to experience the physical and mental health benefits of walking, while connecting communities, historic\u00a0landscapes\u00a0and thriving market towns across Devon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The route has become a flagship example of how carefully managed access to nature can support wellbeing, local\u00a0businesses\u00a0and a deeper connection to place.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity at Devon County Council said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cDevon\u2019s rights of way network is extraordinary and the Two Moors Way is one of its crown jewels. The route showcases the very best of Devon\u2019s natural and cultural heritage from wild moorland and wooded valleys to farmed landscapes and dramatic coastlines at both ends of the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Leader of the Green and Independent Group and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Bio-diversity<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

John Howell,\u00a0a volunteer\u00a0with the\u00a0Two Moors Way\u00a0Association\u00a0for over 25 years\u00a0and the current\u00a0Chairman\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cFor 50 years, the Two Moors Way has been shaped by volunteers, walkers and partners who care deeply about this landscape. Today is a celebration of that shared commitment \u2013 and of a route that continues to inspire people to slow down, walk and really experience\u00a0the beauty of\u00a0Devon,\u00a0from its coasts to its countryside.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Dan James, Enterprise and Communications Manager at\u00a0Exmoor National Park Authority, said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe Two Moors Way shows the power of National Parks working together to create something bigger than the sum of their parts. It helps people connect with nature, supports\u00a0local communities, and\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0why protected landscapes matter\u00a0\u2013 not just for conservation, but for wellbeing and enjoyment \u2013 while supporting our rural economy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Richard Drysdale, Director\u00a0for Conservation and Communities at\u00a0Dartmoor\u00a0National Park\u00a0Authority\u00a0said:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cLong-distance\u00a0routes like the Two Moors Way encourage deeper engagement with our landscapes. They invite people to spend time, notice detail, and build a lasting relationship with\u00a0such special\u00a0places. Reaching this 50\u00a0year milestone,\u00a0and extending the route,\u00a0is something to be proud of.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

As the Two Moors Way enters its next 50 years, partners are committed to continued collaboration, route\u00a0care\u00a0and promotion, ensuring the trail\u00a0remains\u00a0welcoming,\u00a0well managed\u00a0and accessible for future generations of walkers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A\u00a0third\u00a0edition of the official guide to the route by Sue Viccars (who is also Information Officer for the Two Moors Way Association) is due to be published later this summer by\u00a0Cicerone\u202fPress.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further information about the Two Moors Way, further anniversary walks in 2026 and all the information you need to plan an adventure walking the route can be found at www.twomoorsway.org<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":69848,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[24,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dcc-homepage","category-environment-and-climate-change"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":69848,"title":"Resizing pics for News Centre (51)","alt":"A signpost on Dartmoor indicating a walking route across the moor","description":"","caption":"credit Sue Viccars","url":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51.jpg","width":1200,"height":675,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-400x270.jpg","thumbnail_width":400,"thumbnail_height":270,"medium":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-600x338.jpg","medium_width":600,"medium_height":338,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-768x432.jpg","medium_large_width":768,"medium_large_height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-800x450.jpg","large_width":800,"large_height":450,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51.jpg","1536x1536_width":1200,"1536x1536_height":675,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51.jpg","2048x2048_width":1200,"2048x2048_height":675,"thumbnail_featured":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-770x450.jpg","thumbnail_featured_width":770,"thumbnail_featured_height":450,"thumbnail_sidebar":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-200x135.jpg","thumbnail_sidebar_width":200,"thumbnail_sidebar_height":135,"banner-block":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-440x440.jpg","banner-block_width":440,"banner-block_height":440,"small-banner":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-640x360.jpg","small-banner_width":640,"small-banner_height":360,"medium-banner":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-1024x576.jpg","medium-banner_width":1024,"medium-banner_height":576,"small-thumb":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-640x480.jpg","small-thumb_width":640,"small-thumb_height":480,"medium-thumb":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-320x240.jpg","medium-thumb_width":320,"medium-thumb_height":240,"large-thumb":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-420x315.jpg","large-thumb_width":420,"large-thumb_height":315,"slideshow-preview":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-300x200.jpg","slideshow-preview_width":300,"slideshow-preview_height":200,"slideshow":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2026\/05\/Resizing-pics-for-News-Centre-51-800x533.jpg","slideshow_width":800,"slideshow_height":533}},"category_priority":25,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":true,"date":"2028-05-29 12:41:44","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69847"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69853,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69847\/revisions\/69853"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}