Dartmoor National Park is situated in the heart of Devon with over 700 miles of stunning scenery where you will find some of the most distinctive and picturesque countryside in Britain.

Characterised by its distinctive granite tors, the land rises in parts to over 2000 feet. There is wonderful variation in landscape here, from the barren remoteness of the higher moorland, to where rivers rush over granite boulders down to deep wooded valleys and traditional farms. The "Tors" are huge granite outcrops left standing after the last glacial period and it is these that are the centre of attention in the famous "10 Tors" walk, when many hundreds of school children compete over this rugged terrain as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Indeed the whole area lends itself to outdoor pursuits such as riding, walking, fishing and climbing or for many, simply to wander enjoying the wonderful wildlife. The famous Dartmoor ponies are thought to be descended from domesticated stock turned out to graze on the moor as early as the Iron Age. The history of the place can be seen everywhere you look, not just in the beautiful old buildings found nestled across the moor and packed into every village, but in the numerous standing stones, that form ancient circles, boundary markers and hut circles.

Dartmoor letter-boxing has become increasingly popular over recent years. There are now 1,000 letter-boxes hidden on the moor and searching for them can become addictive. There are booklets available, which give clues to the locations of some of the boxes and when you find one, having used the stamp and visitor's book, which must be left behind, there may be another clue to the next box.

For Mountain Bike enthusiasts there are a number of routes to be enjoyed around Princetown, Grimspound and Lustleigh Cleave. If it is the pubs that appeal there are several on the moor that are reputed to be haunted including The Bay Horse in Ashburton, The Old Inn in Widecombe and the Rock Inn at Haytor Vale. There are numerous other attractions scattered around the moor, so there should be something for everyone.

There are plenty of small towns, hamlets and villages across the moor each one with its own unique beauty. Among these you will find an abundance of unusual shops, museums, old churches, cosy pubs, restaurants, galleries and craft workshops. Some places of particular note are Manaton, for the beautiful Becky Falls, Chagford and Moretonhampstead for their fantastic locations in the heart of the moor. Princetown is right in the centre in one of the remotest parts, home to Dartmoor Prison and the Dartmoor Visitor Centre. Buckfastleigh on the south side of the moor boasts Buckfast Abbey home of the Benedictine monks and famous for its beekeeping, tonic wine and stained glass workshop. Bovey Tracey, a gateway to the moor and the beautiful Teign valley is renowned for its House of Marbles and the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Widecombe in the moor, is a lovely little village, situated in a small, tucked away valley and is noted for its annual agricultural event 'Widecombe Fair' which was famously visited by Uncle Tom Cobley and All!. No visit to Devon would be complete without visiting Dartmoor, as it really is the heart of the county.