iKnow Devon
Okehampton Accommodation
Learn about Devon Cider Making at the Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton
Okehampton specialist shopping. Okehampton is renowned for antiques shops
Okehampton tea rooms near the Museum of Dartmoor Life. Devon cream teas!
The history of Dartmoor farming at the Museum of Dartmoor Life, OkehamptonOkehampton Castle Okehampton Tourist Information Dartmoor Life Museum Devon
Okehampton to the far North of Dartmoor National Park is a Dartmoor/Devon hotspot base for walkers and cyclists. It sits adjacent to both the Dartmoor Way and the Dartmoor Cycle Route and Millennium cycle route. Okehampton itself is a charming little village, with lots of traditional Dartmoor accommodation venues, including old coaching inns, converted self-catering barns and charming cottages. There's lots going on in this area of North Dartmoor National Park. Striking natural features like renowned Yes Tor, Okemont River, beatufiul Meldon Village and reservoir, and many more tors such as Oke Tor, Steeperton Tor and High Willhays are all very close to Okehampton.
Watch out for firing range days (check the link to the right), as Okehampton does sit on a large region used by the Ministry of Defence on certain days for training. Check before pushing out onto this stretch of Moorland. Closer to the centre of Okehampton around the river and castle are some beautiful woodland walks on offer for an easier and rather romantic stroll. Okehampton is certainly a key base in the Northern region of Dartmoor National Park! Many marked walkways stretch out from Okehampton, so it's a Dartmoor hotspot base for walkers. Okehampton equals walker's paradise!
Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton
The Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, North Dartmoor is a great starting point, after the tourist info points, to begin your exploration of Dartmoor. On offer here is a choice range of exhibitions exploring the working lives of Dartmoor residents - you can get a real sense of the hardships through the many photographs and ephemera. Check out the little art gallery as well with paintings and photography by local artists.
This superb Dartmoor social history museum has just been completely refurbished, and has a small shop, interactive child friendly galleries, tours by Dartmoor people who have lived and worked in the area, an education room for taks and workshops and various teadching resources linked to the National Curriculum. The particular edge of this Dartmoor People museum is the collection of oral, visual and photographic history of Dartmoor farmers, Dartmoor tin miners, cidar making and more. Dartmoor farming has seen many changes over the years. Once a tight knit extended family concern, this approach has all but died out with contemporary farming pressures. Take a look at the video running at this Dartmoor Museum for more information on this. The farmer and his wife who made the home video in the 1970s are often in the museum and happy to talk further on changes in local farming which they see as not for the better!
Opening times are from 10.15am to 4.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays - Easter to end of October. Closed for lunch. For Sundays, Winter, and Group opening, please ring 01837 52295. Access: lift between the 3 floors for visitors with a disability; limited blue-badge parking; Braille book about the museum and its exhibits; WC for wheelchair users. There's a Museum Shop on-site and nice Tea Rooms. Museum of Dartmoor Life, 3 West Street, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1HQ, Tel: 01837 52295.
Okehampton Castle, Dartmoor
Okehampton Castle is a particularly striking set of Devon Castle ruins just outside the centre of Okehampton. The walk to it is very pleasant, adjacent to the River Oakment. A stone castle is thought to have been present on this site as early as 1172, although it was listed earlier in the Domesday Book! The castle found itself in the hands of the big family name around here, the de Courtenays. You'll hear much about Sir Robert de Courtenay in these 'ere parts. Okehampton Castle's keep was extended in the 14th century by the 1st Earl of Devon.
Okehampton Castle just happens to be the only castle listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Substantial ruins remain, including Norman motte and the jagged remains of the keep, despite the castle fading with the Courtenays. Henry VII put an end to Courtenay in 1538 along with many others in his blood-purge of old White Rose nobility. On your visit take a look at the graffiti let in the keep by French prisoners held here during the Napoleaonic wars. For excellent views of Okehampton Castle by rail, hop on the Dartmoor Railway which skoots right past the castle.
Okehampton Castle (English Heritage), Castle Lodge, Okehampton. Tel: 01837 52844
Dartmoor Railway
A visit to this part of Dartmoor is hardly complete without a trip on the beautifully scenic Dartmoor Railway. It's a superb way to view this northern section of Dartmoor National Park. The aptly named 'Dartmoor Pony' puffs off from Okehampton Station and climbs for 2 miles through glorious scenic Devon countryside. This Devon railway route takes you past the ruins of medieval Okehampton Castle, then on through Estrayer Park tunnel, and out into open fields - a beautiful run. If you're interested in Devon mining and quarrying history then this trip is a must as it takes you past the workings of Meldon stone quarry to the spectacular Meldon Viaduct station in the Dartmoor National Park. The Meldon Viaduct just happens to be the largest viaduct structure of this kind remaining in the UK.
Meldon Viaduct nolonger serves the big express trains it once did, but it's still wonderfully preserved and open to the public who can view it either on foot or bicycle. This immense structure was built in 1874 to carry express steam trains from London Waterloo to Plymouth over the West Okement Valley 120 feet below. For a longer walk, why not take in also Meldon Dam, abd Meldon reservoir then out onto the moors. Cyclists can transport bicycles free of charge on the Dartmoor Pony, if you prefer to cycle it!
There's a quarry visitors centre in Meldon as well, which was once the old quarry compressor house. You won't find a better outline on the history of quarrying than in this visitors centre, and there's plenty of historical detail on Meldon Viaduct as well! Meldon Visitors Centre has a cosy little buffet eating place on-site which overlooks the Viaduct and services a variety of sandwiches, hot snacks, and tea and coffee all day. This whole area is a real hotspot for both walking and cycling. Check with both Okehampton Tourist information and Meldon Visitors centre on guided walks and cycle routes available in this part of Dartmoor! Both Meldon Visitors Centre and the car park adjacent to Meldon Reservoir are starting points for free guided walks. Check with Meldon Visitors centre for details!
Dartmoor Railway, Okehampton Station, Okehampton. Tel: 01837 55330
Okehampton Tourist Information
Okehampton Tourist Information Centre, Museum Courtyard, 3 West Street, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1HQ. Tel: 01837 53020
Click Search
