A DARTMOOR walking route will soon be ‘brought back to life’ and extended thanks to generous funding.

The Dartmoor Way has been in existence since the late 1990s as a circular walking route encompassing the perimeter of the national park and maximising the number of towns that people visit along the way but had recently become an unused and unloved route.

The Dartmoor Way steering group had been seeking funding to invest in the walking route in order to put it back on the map — and has now achieved its fundraising target of more than £80,000.

Organisations which have supported the project and provided large donations include the Dartmoor National Park Authority, several sections from the Ramblers Association, and Awards for All.

A Dartmoor Way cycling route was created in 2013 and the soon-to-be refurbished Dartmoor Way is hoped to compliment that route.

The new way will circle Dartmoor, travelling along quiet footpaths and bridleways and little used byways, linking many of the towns and villages on the edge of the moor. Using existing rights of way, it will include the High Moor Walking Link, crossing the moor from Tavistock through to Buckfast, enabling two smaller circles of either the north or southern moors to be completed. The route will link up with the Two Moors Way where the paths cross at Ivybridge and Drewsteignton with all the possibilities of a variety of walking route combinations.

Michael Owen, Dartmoor Way project manager, said: ‘Differing in nature to The Two Moors Way which crosses Dartmoor in a north to south direction and traverses quite a sizeable amount of open moorland, the Dartmoor Way explores in depth, the beautiful and diverse “in country” that abuts the higher ground between the open moor and Devon farmland.

‘This part of Dartmoor is often overlooked in favour of the high moor or the coastal areas. This shouldn’t be the case as there are wonderful wooded valleys with sparkling streams that tumble off the moor to explore, deep drove roads and bridleways that have been used for generations by farmers, travellers and local residents journeying between settlements to retrace and charming villages and moorland towns that have welcoming hospitality to savour and enjoy.

‘The Dartmoor Way will be the route that will enable this wonderful Dartmoor resource to be fully explored.’

A substantial amount of research has been undertaken to determine the condition of the path network and identify any improvement works necessary, as well as surveying the new southern boundary way in order to extend the route.

Volunteer wardens, rangers and ramblers will collaborate in order to rejuvenate the waymarking of the new Dartmoor Way Walking Route. The works will include repairing and replacing existing signposts, installing new ones and fitting Dartmoor Way markers. The work will be followed by the creation of a revised website for both the cycling and walking routes, as well as publicity to benefit the local business community.

Andrew Watson, head of recreation, access and estates said: ‘The funding raised will rebrand and refresh the route. It is giving people an opportunity to experience the lovely towns and villages and will boost businesses and tourism on the edge of Dartmoor.’

Mr Owen added: ‘The new route is aimed to be complete mid-October this year, with the official launch due for spring 2020.’

The route will be suitable for walking at most times of the year.