Dartmoor is an area of moorland in the centre of Devon in the South West of England.
The Dancers Stone Circle © flickr/Tomorrow Never Knows
It covers 368 square miles (954 square kilometres) and is protected by National Park status.
In the granite upland of the moor there are over 160 exposed Tors and it is the largest area of granite in Britain covering 241square miles (625 square kilometres). The highest point on Dartmoor and in Southern England is High Willhays, 2,037 ft (621 m) above sea level. The second highest is Yes Tor, 2,031 ft (619 m), and the probably best known is Haytor or Hay Tor, 1,499 ft (457 m).
Dartmoor is remarkably free from human interference and on of the few real wildernesses in England. Archeological finds show though, that settlers have already been there during the Neolithic and early Bonze Age. It is believed that during this period larger populations have moved onto the moor because many granite tools and buildings have been found. There are also many menhirs and stone circles and other monuments like the Beardown Man on Dartmoor. The Beardown Man ist standing 3.5 metres above ground and probably another metre of stone is buried under the ground.
No wonder that many myths and legends are associated with the moors and even the Devil himself is said to have appeared there once. The moors are believed to be the home of pixies and other monstrous creatures like headless horsemen and a large black dog. Even the stories of famous writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie are based on the moors.
Dartmoor Ponies © flickr/lostajy
Walking on Dartmoor is excellent as it is offering vast open spaces and breathtaking views. Other activities famous with visitors are fishing on one of the rivers, cycling and pony trekking, and even for archaeologists Dartmoor still has a lot to offer.
As the moors are used by the British military for manoeuvres too you should check first, because this can affect walking areas. Click here for more information.
The Okehampton army base also is home to the Museum of Dartmoor Life and the Dartmoor Railway Ltd. serving a 15.5 mile (24.9 km) long railway line.
And besides wilderness there are also many gardens such as Stone Lane Gardens at Chagford or the The Garden House at Yelverton. The latter will be particularly interesting to fans of Alan Titchmarsh as he recommends paying it a visit.
The Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Bovey Tracey and the Powdermills Pottery at Postbridge are of interest to those who fancy art and crafts. Every year in June a craft fair is also held at Bovey Tracey, the pleasant town on River Bovey.
Dartmoor © flickr/David Jones
Dartmoor is of course also famous for Dartmoor Prison. Built from 1806 to 1809 it held French and American prisoners of war and became a criminal prison from 1850. For a time it housed many of the more serious criminals. Most of the buildings still date from the late 19th century but 3 wings have recently been refurbished.
Dartmoor food is also excellent. You can get goat’s cheese, Dartmoor meat, pasties, cakes, honey, cream teas and if you want fish & chips too. And why not try the Dartmoor beer or cider. Some of the food you can get on traditional farmers markets in the area. Dartmoor also offers great shopping facilities and in beautiful boutiques you can buy works of art, books, wooden toys and much more. Of course outdoor specialists can be found here too to fully equip you.
So don’t hesitate, Dartmoor is waiting to be explored.
