Visitors to Dartmoor National Park Authority’s flagship High Moorland Visitor Centre in Princetown will now be able to enjoy all the exhibitions and displays free of charge.

On Friday, December 7, authority members approved the return to free entry after a trial period of charging. Charging was introduced in April 2012 to help offset running costs.

The authority made the decision to remove the charging in order to maximise opportunities to promote understanding of the national park’s special qualities to all visitors to the centre. Anyone who has paid for season ticket entry can receive a refund when they next visit the centre.

The centre provides extensive, interpretative displays that provide wonderful insights into Dartmoor, its history, culture and wildlife, as well as a gallery with regularly changing exhibitions and a small auditorium where visitors are able to watch various short films about Dartmoor. The current exhibition Life of a River by regional artist Mark Abdey is a collection produced over two years, encompassing painting, writing, music and film all tracing the course of the River Swincombe.

The High Moorland Visitor Centre is open 10.30am - 3.30pm, Thursday – Sunday until February 2013. Over the Christmas/New Year period the Centre will be open from 27 December 2012 - 6 January 2013 inclusive. (Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). The centre will be open daily 10am - 4pm from March 2013 (except 4 - 8 March inclusive).

The National Park Visitor Centre at Haytor is also operating its winter opening schedule and will be open Thursday – Sunday 10.30 am – 3.30 pm until February 2013. Over the Christmas and New Year period the Centre will open from 27 December – 6 January (it will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day).

The centre will also be closed for annual maintenance from 7 - 8 March 2013. Haytor is easily accessed from the A38. The road winds steeply up from Bovey Tracey, but, once on the moor, the spectacular view of Haytor is not to be missed.

On Boxing Day the National Park Authority’s Moor to Devon outreach vehicle will be in the Haytor area to provide information and advice to those enjoying a post Christmas Day visit to Dartmoor.

The National Park Visitor Centre at Postbridge is now closed for the winter and will reopen in Spring 2013.

Staff at Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centres will be pleased to help you with advice and ideas on where to go and what to see during your visit to the National Park this winter. The centres also stock a range of useful items for the outdoor enthusiast such as maps, publications about Dartmoor and guide books.