Dartmoor - Ashburton on the side east side of Dartmoor
Nudging Dartmoor, Ashburton is the ideal
location for exploring the National Park. A market town, with a
traditional town centre with small traders and antique shops. The town's
prosperity was built on the woollen and tin trades, becoming one of the
four official stannary towns in Devon in 1285. Nearby Buckland-in-the-Moor
is a picturesque, thatched hamlet. Known as 'The Gateway to Dartmoor'
Dartmoor - Bovey Tracey
Well supplied with shops, this cob and Dartmoor-granite built town is
within striking distance of Dartmoor's popular Haytor. Brush off your
walking boots and explore Haytor Rocks and the old quarries beyond - you
might just spot a well-hidden milestone along the route of the old granite
tramway.
Dartmoor - Chagford
If you're a walker, rider or angler, you won't
be bored in Chagford. This charming typical moorland town will captivate
you with its old stone buildings around the square, wide range of shops
and fine church. Nearby is Fernworthy reservoir, with two bird hides, one
adapted for use by the disabled. Nearby is the open country of Kes Tor.
Dartmoor - Chudleigh
Narrow lanes and passageways lined with quaint
old cottages are a feature of this small 11th century wool town, gateway
to the Teign Valley. Exeter, Dartmoor and the coast are just a short drive
away.
Dartmoor - Ivybridge
Ten miles from Plymouth on the southern tip of
the moor, Ivybridge sits on the River Erme and takes its name from the
early 13th century single arched bridge. The beautiful Erme Valley is rich
in prehistoric antiquities and the town is the start of the Two Moors Way.
Dartmoor - Lustleigh
Lustleigh is one of the most picturesque
villages on Dartmoor with its pretty thatched cottages, ancient church and
village green, where the village cross stands.
Located within the Dartmoor National Park it is famous for it's 15th
Century thatched inn.
Lustleigh is popular with walkers with several beautiful woodland walks.
Dartmoor - ModburyPicturesque
market town, set on a steep hill. Look out for the Georgian buildings and
slate-hung houses and enjoy a stroll around the many specialist shops,
including crafts and antiques.
Dartmoor - Moretonhampstead
Originally called Moortown, Moretonhampstead is
said to be the most haunted town on the moor. It has become one of the
most popular bases for touring Dartmoor. Look out for impressive Jacobean
style almshouses with solid granite pillars in Corss Street, the Dancing
Tree and the 500 year old granite church.
Wonderful cream teas in local cafes, and there's no better place on a
winter's night than in front of a roaring fire in a Moretonhampstead pub!
Nearby The Miniature Pony Centre is worth a visit.
Dartmoor - Okehampton
Okehampton sits on the northern tip of Darmoor,
where the landscape changes from remote moorland to the unexpected beauty
of the leafy lanes and picturesque villages. Saturdays are bustling when
local produce is sold in the town's market. Nearby, the ruins of
Okehampton Castle once commanded the road to Cornwall. South of Okehampton
hugging the western border of the moor in the village of Lydford, and
south of the village Lydford Gorge cuts dramatically into the rock one and
a half miles across. By Lydford Bridge, the White Lady Waterfall drops 100
feet in a shower of spray.
Dartmoor - Postbridge
This is a beautiful spot in the centre of
Dartmoor.
Its famous 'Clapper Bridge' thought to date back to the 13th Century makes
it very popular with tourists and walkers alike.
A full-colour 6-sided leaflet, by well-known Dartmoor authors Tom Greeves
and Elisabeth Stanbrook, has been published about the famous clapper
bridge at Postbridge in the heart of Dartmoor.
The picturesque clapper bridge at Postbridge, which spans the East Dart
River, comprises four huge granite slabs, resting on stone piers. It has
been a focal point for visitors to Dartmoor as it is easily accessible to
people of all abilities.
Twelve fascinating illustrations and a comprehensive text give an
historical account of this remarkable bridge from its first known mention
in 1655 right up to recent repairs by the Dartmoor National Park
Authority.
Dartmoor - Princetown
Famous for its convict prison, situated 1,400
feet above sea level on the open moor, Princetown is the highest town on
Dartmoor. The church here was built in 1813 by prisoners of war during the
Napoleonic wars.
Visit the "High Moorland Visitor Centre" and discover more about
Dartmoor's unique landscape, wildlife, history and development - from
prehistoric times to the present day.
Princetown is also home to Princetown Breweries, where the award winning
'Jail Ale' is brewed.
Dartmoor - Tavistock
An old stannary town, the Tavistock area was
once the world's major copper producer. Today, it is a charming country
town with a pannier market and many specialist shops - the perfect base
for discovering the western area of Dartmoor. For the more energetic,
there are lovely walks by the canal and leisure centre.
Dartmoor - Widecombe in the Moor
Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer and Uncle Tom Cobley and
all, used to trek for miles to reach Widecombe Fair, still held every
September. This tiny village is a few miles north-west of Ashburton and
its fine church is sometimes called the 'Cathedral of the Moor'.
Ashburton: A stannary town since 1285, it still elects a Portreeve, an
appointment dating back to Saxon times. Close to the Devon Expressway,
Ashburton provides an ideal base for exploring the Dartmoor National Park
or the South Devon seaside resorts, while the River Dart Country Park is
within easy reach. Modern shops combine with ancient buildings to form a
thriving community. Traditional events staged annually include Ale Tasting
and Bread Weighing.
Bovey Tracey: The town derives its name from the river Bovey flowing
through it, and the de Tracey family who lived there in the twelfth
century. The magnificent parish church dedicated to St Thomas the Martyr
appears to have been built as a penance for Sir William de Tracey's part
in the murder of Thomas a Becket. Home to the Devon Guild of Crafstmen,
the town is famous for its pottery. Close to the great landmark of Haytor,
an old granite tramway now forming part of the Templar Way Walk is also
nearby.
Buckfastleigh: The old mill town contains numerous historic buildings,
while world-famous Buckfast Abbey, founded by Canute, is nearby. Many
shops specialise in selling locally produced arts and crafts, and there is
also a weekly farmer's market. Other attractions include the Valiant
Soldier, a pub frozen in time in the 1950s, a butterfly farm and otter
centre, and, for real nostalgia buffs, the South Devon Steam Railway.
Chagford: An original stannary town, Chagford contains a wealth of
granite buildings dating from the medieval period until the 19th century.
Perhaps the best known is the octagonal pepper-pot market house in the
town square. The 15th century church is well worth a visit, while a
fascinating variety of shops nestle amongst Chagford's alleyways and
courtyards. Nearby, the National Trust's Castle Drogo offers glorious
views from high above the Teign Valley, and a swimming pool provides a
welcome dip in season.
Moretonhampstead: Situated at the heart of Devonshire amidst
breathtaking countryside, Moretonhampstead offers the very best of
Dartmoor. It has many ancient buildings clustered around the 15th century
parish church, and granite almshouses dating from the same period. Moreton
also has a wealth of interesting craft enterprises and offers a wide range
of sporting facilities, including golf at the Meridien Manor House Hotel.
Okehampton: With an imposing castle mentioned in the Domesday Book,
the town is regarded as the northern gateway to Dartmoor. Containing many
reminders of the past, the town exudes local industrial history. Situated
close to Meldon, newest of Dartmoor's eight reservoirs, Okehampton
provides access to the West Devon Way, with its many picturesque walks.
The Museum of Dartmoor Life is also to be found there.
Princetown: There is much more to the town than the forbidding
Dartmoor Prison, built in 1806 to house both French and American prisoners
of war. The Dartmoor National Park Authority's High Moorland Visitors
Centre can also be found in Princetown, for example. Standing at 1300
feet, it is the highest settlement on Dartmoor, with some of the
surrounding moorland reaching to over 2,000 feet.
Tavistock: Another old stannary town, it was once at the centre of the
world's copper industry. With the statue of Sir Francis Drake standing at
the entrance to the town, the Elizabethan sea-dog leads Tavistock's long
list of historical figures. The covered Pannier Market offers a wealth of
interesting items from antiques to local produce and craft. A short
distance away is Morwellham Quay, a Victorian working port and museum
where you can travel by tram into the depths of a copper mine.
Yelverton: Although close to Plymouth, Yelverton has its very own
Dartmoor identity which attracts both tourists and local people. There are
many walks and picnic places in an area of outstanding views where
Dartmoor ponies often wander. Nearby are Buckland Abbey with its
Elizabethan garden serving as a reminder of the time when it was owned by
Sir Francis Drake, and the internationally renowned Garden House, one of
the finest gardens in Britain.
