An Easy Camping Trip from London: Overnighting on Dartmoor National Park

As much as I love living in a big city, there are moments where the pull to be outdoors can get really loud. If you’re living in London and craving a simple way to get outdoors for some camping - without flights, complicated planning, or a full week off - Dartmoor National Park is one of the easiest places to start.

Getting Out of the City

We travelled from London by bus to Bath, where my boyfriend’s parents live. That made the trip feel especially easy for us - we stayed overnight in Bath and then drove to Dartmoor the next morning using a family car. If you’re planning a similar camping trip from London, there are a few realistic options depending on whether you have access to a car:

• Train from London to Exeter, then rent a car

• Rent a car directly from London

For camping specifically, having a car makes everything easier - especially when you’re carrying gear and dealing with unpredictable weather.

Starting the Hike: Meldon Reservoir Car Park

We parked at Meldon Reservoir car park, which was an ideal place to start with public toilets and space to reorganize our packs before setting off for our hike. Parking works on a donation basis. This is also where our hike toward Black Tor began.

The Route from Meldon Reservoir to Black Tor

From the car park, the route starts clearly before becoming more open and intuitive rather than strictly marked.

You begin by crossing the reservoir dam wall, which gives you wide views over the water and the surrounding valley. From there, you follow the path along the edge of the reservoir. This section is straightforward but can get muddy, especially after rain. Waterproof hiking boots are essential.

At the far end of the reservoir, the path turns toward the West Okement Valley, where the climb begins. As you head uphill toward Black Tor, the trail becomes less defined and opens into moorland.

This is where we made things harder than necessary.

We hiked up the back of Black Tor, pushing through tall plants with full packs and no obvious trail. Only when we noticed other hikers appearing from a different angle did we realize there was a much easier approach.

If you’re heading up:

• Keep Black Tor’s rocky outcrop in sight as your visual reference

• Use an offline navigation app or GPX route

• Expect the path to fade in places

The walk to Black Tor from the car park is roughly 7 km round-trip, taking around 2–2.5 hours. The difficulty is moderate, especially if you’re carrying camping gear.

Camping at Black Tor

Once we reached the top, everything slowed down. Black Tor ended up being a great place to camp - wind-sheltered and elevated. A few other campers were nearby, which felt reassuring without taking away from the sense of space.

Fog rolled in and out, sheep wandered around, and everything felt damp and muted.

That night, we cooked dinner, poured whisky into mugs, and listened to music while enjoying some magic mushies.

Morning Rain and the Easier Way Back

By morning, the rain had fully set in.

We made eggs, packed up, and headed back down - this time taking the much easier route we should’ve used on the way up. The return hike felt lighter and reinforced something important:

Dartmoor is best as a one-night camping trip. There isn’t loads to do if you stay in one spot for multiple nights, but that’s exactly why it works so well as a first camping trip from London, a low-pressure overnight adventure or a stop on the way to somewhere else.

We continued on to Cornwall afterward, which balanced the trip perfectly.

A Food Stop Worth Planning Around: Cow Slip Café

After hiking out, we stopped at Cow Slip Café, and it was genuinely one of the highlights.

We ordered a full English breakfast, the staff were incredibly friendly, and the setting itself was beautiful. There’s even a small shop onsite.

If you’re heading south after Dartmoor, this is well worth adding to your route.

Who This Trip Is Perfect For

If you’re living in London and just need a break from the concrete, or if you’re new to the whole UK camping thing and want to ease in. It’s basically for anyone who wants a bit of adventure without it becoming a massive ordeal.

That said, it might not be your vibe if you’re into the more structured campsites or if you need a solid basecamp for a longer multi-day trip.