Dartmoor Accommodation

Dartmoor National Park Walking, head on out!

Dartmoor Ponies can get rather familiar. They can kick, so best to take care!

Dartmoor Tearooms, fantastic for Devon Cream teas!

North East Dartmoor National Park, Dartmoor Devon UK

North East Dartmoor is home to essentially the arts and crafts centre of Dartmoor - Moretonhampstead. Moretonhampstead's story runs parallel with that of the wool trade - it was a notable wool trading centre, and you can view spectacular almshouses in Moretonhampstead dating from 1637. Even after the wool trade receded at the end of the 17th century, Moretonhampstead with it's central Dartmoor and central Devon position still remained a strategic centre.

Moretonhampstead Tourist Information

Moretonhampstead has it's own community and tourist information website (see the link to the right). This idyllic little North East Dartmoor town has featured in many a TV programme. Moreton seems to be a real hub for artists producing an array of arts and crafts in a number of studios. There are 4 ceramic artists resident in studios here, as well as a painter and textile artist. All of the studios are open to the public, and there is a fantastic art gallery just opened in the Square! You'll notice a few scultures, including the life size horse on Pound Street, dotted around Moretonhampstead. The focus is on community art here, and there's some impressive stuff to see. Check out Maggie's banners (you can view some on the Moreton web link to the right!). Superb. Much of the art by these local artists is functional, and things like ornate railings and seating. It all serves to give Moreton in North East Dartmoor that extra kick and charm!

Today, take your pick from a choice of superb arts and crafts centre, and an array of galleries. There are 5 lovely Devon country pubs here, 3 delightful cafes and a choice selection of hotels, B&B guesthouses and a few camping venues! Moretonhampstead, once simply known as Moreton and still fondly called this by locals, has a friendly bustling highstreet, with superb local shops. Easy access to Dartmoor is available from this hotspot crossroads and coarse fishing, a local golf course, and the annual Moretonhampstead Carnival every August are just a few of the activities on offer in this North East Dartmoor centre.

North East Dartmoor Fishing, Cycling, Walking

Like walking, swimming, golf, bridwatching or fishing? Then you'll love Moretonhampstead as a Dartmoor base. Moretonhampstead is perfect for walkers, as it's right at the centre of many criss-crossing pathways, marked walkways and has easy access to the moorland. Castle Drogo is also conveniently situated just north of Moretonhampstead! Check the community web link to the right for further details on guided walks offered starting from Moretonhampstead. In evenings during the summer, and alternate Sunday mornings during the rest of the year, local walking guru Gary Cox organises lovely local walks in and around Moreton and surrounding the surrounding Dartmoor moorland. These walks are usually about 5 miles (8km) and are totally free! Details of meeting points and these walks can be had from Moreton's tourist information centre. The town also has three heritage trails, reflecting on the wool trade and more. Again, details obtainable from the tourist information centre. Moreton is directly adjacent to the circular Dartmoor Way, so a great stopping off point. Numerous guided walks are also run by the Dartmoor National Park Authority from Moretonhampstead, out into the surround moorland.

North East Dartmoor fishing near Moretonhampstead is superb. Head for the beautiful Dartmoor reservoir of Kennick which is only about 3 miles from Moretonhampstead. Kennick Reservoir offers rainbow trout fishing. The two neighbouring reservoirs Tottiford and Trenchford are also open for fishing, and have most attractive surrounding woodland walks, car parking, a picnic area and toilet facilities available. Help yourself to day tickets and the self-service kiosk. All Enquires - 0783 7877565. Local Ranger - 0783 7840420. There's lots of small fishing venues for mainly coarse fishing in the area, check with the tourist information centre, plus the River Dart and tributaries are also open all year round for fishing! Dartmoor visitors interested in birdwatching will find plenty of hotspots in the area, particularly Kennick Reservoir, Mardon Down and Butterdon Down, where a range of native and migratory birds can be viewed. A detailed birdwatching guide to the area is available from Moreton Tourist Information centre!

There are a selection of superb open air swimming pools across Dartmoor, and there just happens to be a superb one at Moretonhampstead. It's a solar heated outdoor swimming pool situated on Court Street. The swimming pool has free car parking adjacent and is usually open from the end of May to the beginning of September, weather permitting. Tel: 01647 440134. Other sporting activiites in and around the area in abundance include horse riding, shooting and there's even a bit of archery available. For Archery tuition for either small groups or individuals from a qualified international Archer. Contact David Howell on 01647 440403.

Golf fans staying in North East Dartmoor should head to the superb Manor House Hotel, location for a championship 18 hole golf course surrounded by 270 acres of grounds. They welcome golfing day visitors here, and Green Fees start at �22.50 (Mon - Fri). There's a Golf Shop, golf equipment hire, plus tuition is available. Contact The Manor House Hotel - 01647 440355: Golf Shop & Pro. - 01647 440998.

Moretonhampstead Tourist Information & Useful Links

Moretonhampstead Tourist Information Centre, 11 The Square, Moretonhampstead. Tel: 01647 440043, open from October - Easter from 10am-5pm Fridays to Sundays, and from March to September from 10am to 5pm every day.

Cycle Spares/Repairs & Hire from Central Garage Leisure and Accessories Centre, Ford Street. 07647440025. Mountain Bike Hire from Arnolds, The Square. Moretonhampstead, Tel: 01647 440147 (24hrs notice needed).

North East Dartmoor Attractions

North East Dartmoor has various attractions and idyllic hotspots, including Bovey Tracey and Drewsteignton to mention a couple. Chagford just north of Moreton is a significant medieval stannary towns and a centre once for measuring the tin mined on the moors. It's an attractive spot with the Three Crowns Hotel in the centre which has a few ghosts inhabiting it!, plus a Gothic market house and plenty of surrounding walks.

The Mythic Garden Annual Sculpture Exhibition just near Chagford is highly recommended. Discover amazing carvings in wood by a selection of artists. It's closed now until the 30th April 2006. It's not just a sculpture park, it's a truly beautiful garden as well. A must see, and check out their website to the right for forthcoming exhibitions.

Other idyllic villages well worth a look in this part of the Dartmoor National Park include Lustleigh situated between Moretonhampstead and Bovey Tracey. There's an age old church here on this ecclesiasticl site, one of the oldest in Devon. Rock climbing is on the menu, particularly a steep wooded escarpment called The Cleave. Similarly North Bovey is another picture postcard village with a charming village green and for the kids the Miniature Pony & Animal Farm which is situated here with local arts and craft centre and a good cafe for added entertainment! Check their website for further details. Miniature Pony & Animal Farm, Wormhill Farm, North Bovey. Tel: 01647 432400, open from April to Nov, closed Dec-Mar.

There are some outstanding natural features in this part of Dartmoor National Park, particularly in the form of dramatic moorland Tors. Tors are granite blocks and found in the upland heart of Dartmoor where the 65% of Granite in Dartmoor exists. Granite flowed as molten rock from the centre of the earth along the south-west peninsula some 280 million years ago. As it cooled it shrank, and it's this shrinking that created what you can see today in the Dartmoor uplants, that is vertical and horizontal joints in solid rock. The exposed granite has been eroded over millions of years, and although one of the hardest rocks granite is vulnerable to chemicals in things like rainwater. Combine with this the weathering of thawing and re-freezing ice and you are left with the striking Tor granite structures and the awe inspiring shapes of Tors such as Bowerman's Nose situated just west of Lustleigh near Becky Falls! The granite rock castle of Hound Tor is nearby.

Castle Drogo, Drewsteignton, Dartmoor

Castle Drogo is rather dramatically different as your average castle goes. For one thing, it's the last castle built in Britain, and was errected between 1910 to 1930, and built by famous architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. It was commissioned by self-made millionaire Julius Drewe and is a delightful eccentric mish mash of medieval style come in ya face granite, mammoth fireplaces and elaborate tapestries. It's Edwardian decadence really, and it's for the visitor to form an opinion on the overall effect whilst noting the many servants bells and Edwardian opulence. The darker side of kitsch comes to mind.

Why not hob nob like a rich Edwardian and play croquet on the massive croquet lawn which is open to visitors. Castle Drogo sits right on the edge of a bluff overlooking a gorge of the River Teign and offers truly dramatic views over Dartmoor National Park. It also lays claim to having the highest National Trust garden at 900 feet. The gardens are extensive and very well kept! It's eccentricity seems to fit it's commissioner Sir Julius Drew who was extremely rich off the back of founding the Home and Colonial Stores chain. He actually thought his medieval ancestors were the Drus or Drogos, and the style of this castle is perhaps intended to capture this - eek. Interesting! Well worth a look. Drew obviously had a penchant for the austere! Note the many rhododendrons and magnolias in the gardens.

There are some superb walks to be had around Castle Drogo and the River Teign gorge, and there's lots of good picnic areas, a shop on-site, plus the area is open for dog walking. Parking is available with designated disabled parking, and disabled access is good overall with a ramped entrance and two wheelchairs available. The grounds are partially accessible. Refreshments are also available in the Castle Drogo tea rooms.

The Castle is open from the 18 Mar-30 Oct, from 11am - 5pm and 31 Oct-6 Nov from 11am - 4pm. The Gardens are open all year round from 10:30am - 5:30pm. Tel: 01647 433306

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