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All you need to know
Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or a fun-packed family break, spending time in a holiday cottage on Dartmoor will make you feel a million miles from the daily grind.
Dartmoor National Park covers almost 370 square miles of upland with its recognisable granite tors exposed on the hilltops, acres of open grassland and wooded valleys. There really is something for everyone here. You can explore the moors on foot, horseback, by bicycle or in the car, but be aware; you will be sharing the roads with a variety of livestock, including Dartmoor ponies, all of which have a tendency to wander onto the tarmac!
Dartmoor is a hub for all kinds of outdoor pursuits from walking and cycling to horse riding and climbing. Our holiday cottages make the perfect base for all these activities and include lots of dog friendly cottages. If you’re not feeling quite so energetic, Dartmoor is still a fantastic place to simply get some fresh air, dip your toes in a stream or sit back and enjoy a Devon cream tea.
The landscape here is sprinkled with stone monuments which serve as a lasting reminder of our ancient history, much of which is still unexplained. Some stone rows and hut circles are within easy walking distance of the road but if you are planning to head off the beaten track it’s always advisable to have a map, compass and sensible clothing as the weather can change rapidly. If the fog descends, you will soon understand why this place inspired the spine-tingling tales of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles!
Another popular way to explore the moors and keep the kids entertained is by “letterboxing”, a traditional pastime originating on Dartmoor. Essentially, it is a predecessor to Geocaching, combining elements of orienteering and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small rubber stamps and notebooks inside waterproof boxes in nooks and crannies all over the moors. The aim is to follow the clues, find as many as you can and stamp them in your own notebook.
North Dartmooor provides an excellent base for exploring the moor and Devon's northern coastline too.
Belstone, a village steeped in folklore boasts a dramatic 'Tor' which rises up to a dizzying 1500ft. There are a number of Bronze Age remains within the parish. The most notorious is the Nine Maidens stone circle, named after a group of young women said to have been turned to stone as punishment for dancing on a Sunday. Confusingly, the stones are also known as the Seventeen Brothers, who allegedly suffered the same fate. Either way, the stones are said to “dance” at noon every day, so it’s worth a look to see if you can spot them swaying!
The town of Chagford is also well worth a visit for the numerous arts and crafts shops, homely cafes and pubs and legendary hardware store (yes, you read that correctly).
Nearby is Cheriton Bishop. A quaint little village situated on the eastern edge of Dartmoor allowing complete immersion in the wild whilst being only 10 miles from the thriving city of Exeter, with its excellent shopping, historic architecture and great art scene.
The village of Manaton is a great spot for exploring Dartmoor. The tourist attraction, Becky Falls, is literally on the doorstep, but it’s also just a short drive to the picturesque villages of Lustleigh and Widecombe in the Moor, both great for a wander round and a cream tea. Venturing further into the moors you will reach Haytor, a famous outcrop of granite, particularly popular with climbers. If you don’t have a head for heights you can sit back and watch those who do ascend the vertical face of the rock or walk the loop right around the tor. Look out for the disused granite tramway on your way round.
The Teign Valley is a wonderful area of wooded valleys in the foothills of Dartmoor. From here Exeter and Topsham are within easy reach, and the nearby market town of Bovey Tracey holds claim to being the “Gateway to Dartmoor”. The town is home to the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, where you can watch craftsmen at work producing wares including jewellery, glass, textiles and prints.
The quaint little village of Rattery is located just on the southern edge of Dartmoor National Park and close to the South Hams market town of Totnes. Nearby is the pretty town of Ashburton, with its independent shops, cafes and delis. Or venture through South Brent up the narrow lanes to the small car park at Shipley Bridge. From here you can walk to the Avon Dam. A pedestrianised road follows the river all the way to the dam so it is great for pushchairs and kids’ bikes and scooters.
Shaugh Prior is a great spot for walking, with a scenic riverside path through the woods and up onto the moors. The villiage is within easy reach of Plymouth, which is worth a visit for a stroll along the Barbican or a trip to the National Marine Aquarium. If you drive onto the moors, stop off at nearby Cadover Bridge. It has a large car-park so is a great place for a picnic or base if you fancy a longer hike. Tavistock is also close by and is certainly worth a visit on market days.
Staying in one of our holiday cottages on South Dartmoor means you‘ll not only be immersed in moorland life, but you’re not far from the South Devon coastline and its fantastic beaches.
Situated in the heart of Dartmoor is the village of Postbridge, famous for its clapper bridge which is said to date back as early as the 12th century. The clapper bridge is still intact and stands next to the current road bridge. The surrounding area is scattered with remnants of Neolithic monuments and Bronze Age settlements, so it’s definitely worth a stroll around to see what you can find and allow yourself to step back in time.
From Postbridge both Moretonhampstead and Princetown are within a short drive. The latter is home to the infamous Dartmoor Prison which was originally built to house prisoners from the Napoleonic War. It was completed in 1809 and is remains a working prison with a visitors centre and museum.
Yelverton, on the edge of the moor, offers a good base for exploring Plymouth and is also close to the nearby market town of Tavistock, which has both high street and independent shops and a pleasant riverside walk. Travelling east into the centre of the moor towards Princetown, you will find Burrator Reservoir, a popular spot for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
To the west of Dartmoor is the small village of Chillaton, whose history of mining and quarrying is still evident if you look hard enough. Grassy hummocks in the valley hide old spoil heaps and you may spot a beautiful old stone kiln as you wander round. The North Cornwall coast is within easy reach, as are both Launceston and Tavistock. Lydford is also worth a visit. Standing on the western edge of Dartmoor, this tiny village has a big history. It was once of strategic importance and has its own small castle, but a real must is to take a stroll to the dramatic waterfall and the whirlpools, known as the ‘Devil’s cauldron’ at Lydford Gorge.
(1)
Dartmoor Zoological Park is a 30-acre zoological garden located near the village of Sparkwell, on the south-west edge of Dartmoor. It was the subject of the book and hollywood film We Bought a Zoo, which has gained the Zoo world wide fame. However the personal charm and up-close feel to the whole park has not disappeared.
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Lovely zoo, interesting range of big cats. We had a great family day out.
July 2020
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The Canonteign Falls are in fact a Victorian folly being man made in the 1890’s, but this does little to detract from their beauty. Falling from over 70m and surrounded by lush woodlandthey provide one of the most breath taking photographic and painting opportunities in Devon today. As well as the falls, Canonteign has a total of 7 lakes full of wildlife, and is surrounded by beautiful woodland and gardens. There is also a childrens play area, zip wire and mini assault course and lots more to see and do.
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Great place for the family and very reasonably priced. Beautiful location. Walk up to the falls can be challenging but worth it for the stunning view from the top. Nice cafe with good food. Recommended.
June 2023
(5)
Windswept moors and secluded woods, historic monuments and spectacular views, Dartmoor is all at once bleak, magical and inspiring - perfect for walking, strolling and exploring. In the summer months it will take you on a spectacular tour of local wildlife, brimming with flowers, semi wild horses and vegetation. In the winter months you can pretty much guarantee snow, ice and bracing winds, so wrap up warm and visit the pubs for a hearty lunch or cream tea. For your visit you can also download an audio walk to an mp3 player, or simply do some of the circular routes that are easy to follow. Driving up onto the moor is a joy in itself and there’s plenty of parking.
The best place in the world.
August 2023
Fantastic way to spend a week !
May 2021
A 5 mile walk on Dartmoor is akin to an 8 mile walk anywhere else in terms of effort required. What a wonderful place to explore - rain forest, bleak landscapes, stepping stones, farm tracks and so much more. Heaven.
May 2021
Wonderful whatever the weather. Spectacular views, abundance of wild life. A must.
June 2018
We did a 13.5 mile round trip from Widecombe-in-the-Moor to Grimspound, Hound Tor & Hay Tor which was absolutely stunning! A really wonderful day out!
June 2018
In addition to walking, the dramatic scenery of Dartmoor is well worth exploring by bike. Paths are laid out to make the terrain easy to follow in places, although for the more adventurous cyclist, you can of course go ‘off piste’ so to speak. Dartmoor is perfect for children who are cycling and more proficient cyclists, so it’s ideal for a family day out in the fresh air - just make sure you take warm clothes as it does get a little breezy up there! Parking is easy and the views you are rewarded with are well worth the effort.
www.visitdartmoor.co.uk/things-to-do/cycling
Surely there can be no finer way of seeing Dartmoor, this natural wonder of Devon, than on horse back. Shilstone Rocks riding centre allows adults and children alike to take up the reigns in this spectacular National Park, and really get back to nature. The horses originated from the famed Dartmoor ponies, who continue to roam today. You can join Shilstone Rocks Riding Centre for tailored lessons in the menage, or head out for a couple of hours on a hack to really take in the area that featured in Steven Spielberg’s film War Horse. Lessons are available for all ages and abilities.
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A spacious beamed restaurant open to non-residents, offering an extensive lunch and dinner menu full of high quality modern, traditional and international dishes, all at great value prices.
The Dartmoor Lodge Hotel & Restaurant Peartree Cross, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7JW
Very kind and helpful and food was excellent
June 2022
Car park empty and doors locked by no information as to reason
January 2022
Really pleasantly surprised (low expectations perhaps given ex Motel). Staff really friendly and helpful. Dinner menu imaginative and well priced. Great options inc veggie etc. Portions more than we could eat. Far enough from main road to be peaceful. We will stay here again
October 2020
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A family run country house hotel surrounded by beautiful countryside with two places to eat - the fine dining restaurant offering an inspirational menu using fresh local produce, along with The Blue Tiger Inn offering a bistro style menu and cream teas in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Ilsington Country House Hotel Restaurant Ilsington, Newton Abbott TQ31 9RR (T: 01364 661452)
We had a superb Sunday Lunch here with excellent service , great food and stunning views.
July 2021
(1)
An ideal eating place for hungry walkers and families in the heart of Bovey Tracey serving good quality dishes made from fresh local ingredients, accompanied by a selection of cask ales and wines from around the world.
The Cromwell Arms Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AE (T: 01626 833473)
Great fish and chips and very welcoming and friendly staff
July 2021
(26)
A pretty farm shop and café with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere serving teas, coffees, homemade light meals and cakes.
Ullacombe Farm Café Ullacombe Farm, Haytor Rd, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9LL
Amazing place, but impossible to reserve a table unless you get in early.
February 2024
A great place to shop
September 2023
Excellent, reasonably priced Breakfast. It was great to have the animals and play area for the children too.
July 2023
Great place to take the family. Toy tractor barn and goats to feed for the kids. Super food. But cafe gets very busy and you need to book.
June 2023
Excellent local farm shop. Meat really good.
June 2023
Child and dog friendly. Lots of animals for small people to see and pet and excellent breakfast!
May 2023
Fantastic place for food and ice creams. Lovely staff and fantastic range of things to do for young children. Well worth a visit. We went twice during our week at the wool store.
July 2022
A Nice, family friendly place. Their menu has a lot of choices but as we had a late lunch there on a Father’s Day, they have run out of a few options. What we had was still tasty though.
June 2022
Amazing!!
March 2022
Reasonably priced cafe with unadventurous hot food menu, I.e. burgers, fish and chips. Thumbs up for the home made raspberry jam available from the shop. Good play areas for kids.
October 2021
It was very busy whenever we went and we were unable to get a table. There appeared to insufficient staff to keep tables cleared.
July 2021
Very friendly staff. Had a wonderful takeaway cream tea.
May 2021
Great facilities and shop, especially for children!
May 2021
Very nice place to eat, food good reasonable prices, quite comfortable and clean.
October 2020
Had a lovely meal here. There was a good atmosphere and the cafe was nicely decorated in Halloween theme for the kids. The shop stocked lots of local food and goods though a bit pricey. Felt safe regarding their Covid procedures.
October 2020
Good farm shop. Unfortunately unable to book a place in cafe.
September 2020
Excellent breakfast
September 2019
Superb food, great service. If you're looking for a good breakfast to get you started in the morning, this is the place to come!
July 2019
Great place for lunch, or just coffee. Good food, friendly staff and dogs welcome. Visit the excellent butchers while you are there.
June 2019
Well worth a visit, gorgeous setting and wonderful food!
August 2018
One of the best quality cooked breakfasts we have ever had! Great value for money.
February 2018
The pasties from here are lovely. We also got a lot of our gifts to take home from here. Great products on sale and very friendly staff.
October 2017
We were staying just up the road from this great place, so called in for lunch with my son and family, who joined us from Torquay. The place was quit busy, but the staff were really helpful, and let us know the approximate wait for our meal. This turned up fairly quickly and was excellent. The size of the steak and ale pie has to be seen to be believed! Will definitely call in again.
September 2017
Made a couple of visits during our stay, not a huge selection but lovely pies. Also tried the local wine & some of the coffee's. Worth a visit.
September 2017
We were staying a mile away near HayTor for two weeks in June and used this excellent farm shop most days. The friendly staff make you feel welcome and the service is very efficient. We ate there several days and as much as we could used it as an alternative to supermarket shopping. The meals are excellent and the cakes are works of art!
July 2017
A fabulous little farm shop and cafe. We stopped here for lunch when we arrived and breakfast during the week. We picked up all our meat from the onsite butcher, but there seemed less choice in the shop compared with our visit last year.
May 2017
(3)
A friendly café surrounded by beautiful parkland which prides itself on its sustainability and use of high quality local, seasonal produce. Open daily for lunch and tea, and transforming into a candlelit restaurant on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Home Farm Café Parke, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot TQ13 9JQ (T: 01626 830016)
Lovely outdoor space with good food and drink but not the place to go if you object to dogs which are actively encouraged!
July 2021
Lovely location and walks. The cafe was excellent, my baguette was one of the best that I have had for a long time ?
May 2021
A lovely café and farm shop, well worth a visit.
July 2018