Things To Do in Dartmoor National Park
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Dartmoor National Park Attractions
This region is as rich in myth and legend as anywhere else in Britain. Crisscrossed with about 805km (500 miles) of bridle paths and hiking trails and covering about 932 sq. km (360 sq. miles) -- 466 sq. km (180 sq. miles) of which comprise Dartmoor National Park -- the moors rest on a granite base with numerous rocky outcroppings.
The Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) runs guided walks of varying difficulty, ranging from 1 1/2 to 6 hours for a trek of some 14 to 19km (9-12 miles). All you have to do is turn up suitably clad at your selected starting point. The country is rough, and on the high moor you should always make sure you have good maps, a compass, and suitable clothing and shoes. Details are available from DNPA information centers or from the DNPA headquarters (tel. 01822/890414; www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk), High Moorland Visitor Centre, Tavistock Road, Princetown (near Yelverton) PL20 6QF. Information centers are open daily Easter through October 10am to 5pm; most (including the High Moorland Visitor Centre) are open daily off-season 10am to 4pm. Guided tours cost £3 for a 2-hour walk, £5 for a 3-hour walk, £6.50 for a 4-hour walk, and £8 for a 6-hour walk. These prices are subsidized by the national park services.
Throughout the area are stables where you can arrange for a day's trek across the moors. For horseback riding in Dartmoor, there are too many establishments to list. All are licensed, and you are accompanied by an experienced rider/guide. The moor can be dangerous because sudden fogs descend on the treacherous marshlands without warning. Prices are around £20 per hour. Most riding stables are listed in a useful free publication, The Dartmoor Visitor, which also provides details on guided walks, places to go, accommodations, local events, and articles about the national park. The Dartmoor Visitor is obtainable from DNPA information centers and tourist information centers or by mail. Send an International Reply Coupon to the DNPA headquarters.
Some of the best Dartmoor riding is provided by Skaigh Stables at Belstone (tel. 01837/840917; www.skaighstables.co.uk), 1.6km (1 mile) from the A30 Exeter-Okehampton road. Rides go over dramatic moorland in England's largest wilderness. Morning or afternoon rides are offered from mid-April until the end of September, with 2-hour rides beginning at £32 per person. We're also fond of the Doone Valley Stables, Oare, Lynton (tel. 01598/741234; www.doonevalleytrekking.co.uk), set in the heart of the beautiful Doone Valley and offering escorted rides, especially picnic rides.
- Landmark
Castle Drogo
This massive granite castle, in the hamlet of Drewsteignton, 27km (17 miles) west of Exeter, was designed and built between 1910 and 1930 by architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, then at the height of his powers, for his client, Julius Drewe, a self-made millionaire whose chain of Home &… - Historic Site
Sir Francis Drake's House
Constructed in 1278, Sir Francis Drake's House was originally a Cistercian monastery. The monastery was dissolved in 1539 and became the country seat of sailors Sir Richard Grenville and, later, Sir Francis Drake. The house remained in the Drake family until 1946, when the abbey and…
Dartmoor National Park Nightlife
Chagford -- The local watering hole is Globe Inn, High Street (tel. 01647/433485; www.globeinnchagford.co.uk), which puts up wayfarers the way it has done since the 16th century when stagecoach passengers used to stop by for the night. In the center of town, it is also the most popular pub in the area, drawing locals and visitors to its two bars and restaurants, where daily specials and traditional English dishes such as roasts are served. If you have too much of the local brew, you can stay over in a family room or else one of two doubles at a cost of £30 to £40 per person nightly.
