The Two Moors Way

Just walked part of the two Moors Way so five days walking, all very enjoyable and well organised. We chose to travel by car which we left at the start at Morchard Road. For anyone who doesn’t want to walk it all in one trip this arrangement worked really well. Bus from Lynmouth to Barnstaple connected well with a half hour train journey back to the start. Highlights for me were the last two sections from Simonsbath and staying in a different place each night.

We loved the Two Moors Way despite some variable weather. The luggage transfers and accommodation all worked perfectly and with the directions provided, the Cicerone guidebook and a gps we had only a few minor, involuntary deviations from the path, all easily corrected. The highlights were the walks across the two Moors - both spectacular.

The highlight of the holiday was how quiet the walk was. We never saw many people on the trail and only met 4 people doing the same walk..
My tip to others would be to be prepared. take appropriate maps. download the ordnance survey app to your phone. Know how to use a compass. The days across the moors are not well signed, you need to have a good idea of direction especially in poor weather.
The accommodation varied a lot from ancient properties with very welcoming hosts to letting ourselves in to a near empty property. All in all it is about the people you walk with and the people you meet at the b&b's and in the evenings.
Look out for path diversions , we came across one on the way into Witheridge, where we spent an extra 30 minutes negotiating a field of cows. i have reported the lack of signage to Devon county council.
Two of us travelled to the start and finish by train which worked very well. My sister travelled from Cumbria by car and was able to leave her car for the week! in the pub car park in Ivybridge.
A beautiful walk across the rural county of Devon and into Somerset.

Accommodations were really good. Very nice people supporting every walker in all of their needs. Baggage was transferred every day on time and without any issue.
The Erme-Plym trail and the two moors way are 2 beautiful trails which make the Coast to coast walk. The weather was perfect to walk.
The different routes have been challenging but good to do.
Encounter walking did a good job to plan the routes, plan the accommodations and make available all documentation and information needed. Therefore I was really good prepared and could finish the routes.
Really have enjoyed the walk and have very many good remembrences.

We had a great walk in beautiful countryside. The walk was not too strenuous. The route was not well signposted and only seemed to have good sign posting in major centres which made us lose our way a number of times. An app offered by the company for map reading would have been handy. Overall, very good experience with them especially for efficiency and good communication. The accommodation was very good with good food in most places. I would recommend this walk to others.

Stunning walking countryside - particularly on the moors themselves.
Details from Encounter were very good and very helpful.

We walked the second half of the Two Moors Way (we walked Plymouth to Morchard Road in 2023) and a couple of days along the South West Coast Path to Minehead. The walk was scenic and varied and the two days along the coast added further variety and some drama. Accommodation throughout was excellent and our hosts were always welcoming and helpful. Baggage transfers were seamless. We were reasonably early in the season, so some of the shops, tea rooms etc were closed, which was slightly disappointing, but probably to be expected. There seemed to be some significant re-routing going on on the SWCP at the detailed level which rendered instructions (and guide books) slightly out-of-date, but this was no real problem. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable experience, excellently set up by Encounter. Thanks.

Getting Encounter to organise everything allowed us to focus on the walks each day. We enjoyed the variety of accommodation types booked, and the friendly hosts. The itinerary produced was comprehensive, and allowed us to plan where we might eat in advance. Thank you Encounter for your local knowledge and excellent planning. We will definitely use your company again.

Spending each day walking with dear friends through idyllic landscapes is an experience that is hard to top. Many thanks to Encounter Walking Hols for the arrangements, careful choice of accommodation, and the support. We had a marvellous few days!

We spent 5 walking days doing the northern half of the Dartmoor Way with a high moor section. The countryside was a mix of lanes, woodland, farmland and open moor. Every day was varied and beautiful with a few strenuos sections, but well worth it. The itinery notes were very helpful. It would be useful to have the guide book route section highlighted for each day's walk on the itinery (some were, some weren't). The guide books are very handy and detailed. We did one day's walk in reverse to the guide which was slightly confusing. Our first day was further than the expected 14 miles (16.4) which was a bit dispiriting towards the end of the day! All the accommodation was good. The Inns were varied in quality but perfectly fine for our needs and budget. Everyone we met was very welcoming. Evening meals were good pub grub and breakfasts hearty. We thoroughly enjoyed our walking holiday with our dog. Dartmoor is a spectacular part of Devon to explore. We recommend booking through Encounter to tailor the holiday to your needs and make the trip run smoothly. Thank you. We hope to book another trip again next summer!

The email contact with Encounter Walking was excellent, advice and booklets were very helpful . Everything was planed to the last detail. The website is well-structured and easy to use. The signs and waymarks are very poor you should safe how to use a map, Kompass, GPS and it is very important to have enough drinking water with you and on the most of the way was no phone signal. We loved every part of it. A great and fantastic week of walking sometimes a bit challenging . It was our second walking holiday organized by Encounter Walking, well organized including a lot of knowledge and experience.

A wonderful walk. Very lucky with the weather. Fewer long days of walking would have made it even better.

Very enjoyable varied route, river valley’s, rolling countryside, open moorland, pretty villages and hamlets. The final days decent from Exmoor into Lynmouth was a spectacular finish. Amazing variety of wild flowers particularly in the ancient meadows, deer, dragonflies and birds. We were fortunate to have amazingly good weather and the ground was dry. Each day’s itinerary contained everything we needed to know, arrival times, contact numbers, refreshment options and route issues etc. The map and guidebook were very useful and our GPS until we lost it on day 4. However be aware that the signage between Ivybridge and Chagford is almost non existent but improves beyond Dartmoor National Park. Well organised, very enjoyable and memorable holiday. Many thanks to all at Encounter Walking. We look forward to our next adventure.

From Plymouth Hoe to Wembury I did go Via Mount Batten Point did beckon Ore the lonesome moor where the Baskervilles roar Till the North Coastal path I did set on To Porlock Weir my journey’s end Oh, what memories I can boast My stage 11 now complete on my End to End Across Devon’s Coast to Coast To all at Encounter Walking a very big thank you for a wonderfully well organised holiday. See you next year for Stage 12

Well up to other walking companies I have used in the past. Happy to recommend.

Encounter organized a fantastic trip. Really easy to communicate with and really listened to our requirements. A fantastic route and especially beautiful in May. The section between the Moors can be challenging in areas were the paths are poached by cattle. The way marking on Dartmoor is virtually non existent, apparently this is a Dartmoor decision and nothing to do with the Two Moors Way association. Sue Viccars book is excellent. We had all os maps downloaded on our phones, this is useful as the GPS still works when there is no phone service. We got a very warm welcome everywhere we stayed. All meals were good and some were exceptional. A really special holiday. We didn't need to use our car at all as we got a train to Ivybridge and a bus from Lynmouth to Barnstaple railway station at the end.

Ours was a 9 day walk. I'd try to do it in 8 if I did it again

We started from Plymouth and walked the SW Coast Path to Wembury, finishing day 1 at Yealmpton, which was a good variation. For the last two days we walked Widecombe to Castle Drago and Castle Drago to Morchard Road (taxi transfers to/from Chagford for the overnight This gave a more even couple of days and worked well. An excellent walk - we may well come back to finish the route to Lynmouth.