Dartmoor National Park

Dartmoor National Park protects an upland area of moorland in southern Devon in South West England, covering 954 square kilometers. The land has held national park status since 1951 and is managed by the Dartmoor National Park Authority, whose 22 members are drawn from Devon County Council, local district councils and the national government. The uplands are formed of granite dating to the Carboniferous period, and the landscape consists of moorland capped with exposed granite hilltops known as tors, which provide wildlife habitat. The highest point is High Willhays at 621 meters above sea level. The area holds a dense concentration of prehistoric and later archaeological remains. Parts of Dartmoor have served as military firing ranges for more than 200 years, and the public retains extensive rights of access across the moor, including restricted access to the ranges, making it a popular tourist destination that draws close to 11 million visitors a year.