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Avon Dam

5 miles (8 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk takes you from Shipley Bridge to the Avon Dam reservoir along the River Avon. The walk begins at the car park at Shipley Bridge about 2 miles south of the reservoir. You then pick up a well surfaced trail along the river to the Dam before continuing around the northern side of the reservoir. The walk passes Brent Moor, Dockwell Ridge, Gripper's Hill and Dean Moor. It's a lovely riverside walk with weirs, brooks and great views of the surrounding Dartmoor countryside.
The Two Moors Way runs past the northern end of the reservoir so you could pick this up to continue your walk.

Postcode

TQ10 9EL - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Avon Dam OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Avon Dam Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The circular South Brent Walk visits the site from the village to the south. It will take you along the River Avon to the dam before returning along the old tramway to the west. The walk is a good option if you would like a longer route through the area. Historic South Brent is also worth exploring with a Norman church and a fine local pub dating back to medieval times.
A few miles to the north there's more lovely waterside walks around Venford Reservoir. There's also a nice viewpoint at Bench Tor with fine views over the River Dart Valley.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Brockhill ford1

Ford over the Brockhill stream on the Abbot's Way just north of the Avon Dam on South Dartmoor.

Avon Dam (1761)

Avon Dam

Avon Dam Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 991132

Avon Dam Reservoir seen from the top of Huntingdon Warren.

The Tail of the Avon Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 3646607

The Tail of the Avon Reservoir

Avon Dam and Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 523454

A close-up view of the dam from the western side.

Looking towards Avon Dam Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 1353768

From the north east

Rainbow over the Avon Dam Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 2840624

Rainbow over the lake

Settlement, Hickaton Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1470568

Settlement, Hickaton Hill. The remains of a hut within a complex of four prehistoric enclosures crossed by the Harford Leat. This site lies just north of the reservoir.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Avon Dam.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Avon Dam.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)