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Tavistock, Abbey, Farmers Markets, Dartmoor, Devon UK
Tavistock on the western side of the Dartmoor National Park is the perfect base for exploring some key Megalithic sites in the area, as well as some of Dartmoor's most striking Tors such as Brent Tor. Fishing fans will love Tavistock, which has many hotspot fishing areas, plus idyllic walking with easy access into Dartmoor National Park!
Tavistock
Looking for a Dartmoor fishing base, with a monastic and stannary history. Tavistock of course then is it. Tavistock Trout Farm and Fishery and Burrator Reservoir nearby are the perfect fishing spots - fly fishing is on the menu at Tavistock Fishery! Tavistock, like Ashburton, was one of the key stannary power bases on the outskirts of Dartmoor, serving the tin industry as a weighing and taxing centre. The spectacular remains of Wheal Betsy mine are near to Tavistock at Mary Tavy! It's actually just outside the Dartmoor National Park, and there's more woodland to the west of Dartmoor, particularly up towards the Lydford Gorge area. Tavistock can be best described as a charming market town, which developed as a result of the abbey founded by Benedictine Monks in the late 10th century. View the ruins of the abbey near Bedford Square in Tavistock.
Tavistock is an excellent Dartmoor base for golf fans as well, with it's own golf course, and nearby Yelverton golf course as well. Tavistock is an excellent walking and climbing base as well, close to striking Brent Tor which is approximately a 4 mile walk north of the town. With it's many B&Bs, pubs, cafes and shops, Tavistock is the main west Dartmoor centre, with a much less touristy feel that other hotspots on the outskirts of the Dartmoor National Park. A powerful Abbey once stood here, and stannary town Tavistock was owned and ruled by this abbey between 974 and 1539 until dissolution.
Tavistock is renowned for it's historic Pannier Market which has been held here every Friday since 1105. You'll find a selection of arts and crafts and antiques on sale in the Pannier Market today and a guaranteed bargain. On the second Wednesday of October annually, Tavistock hosts it's own Goose Fair which again has a long history as a livestock market, but today is more a selection of stalls, fairground rides and local pubs and inns serving up goose if that takes your fancy! Goose Fair is based around Plymouth Road to the southwest of Tavistock Square, and the Pannier Market is located in the town centre and around most attractive Bedford Square which is the central hub of Tavistock.
Some attractive walking is to be had along the Tavistock Canal which was built in the early 18th century to transport copper ore (mined in the area) to Morwellham Quay. Check out also Tavistock's interesting viaduct to the north of the town. You can walk across the viaduct now for spectacular views of Tavistock as it's nolonger a railway line.
Brent Tor and North Brent near Tavistock
One of Dartmoors most striking natural attractions is Brent Tor. No ordinary Tor indeed, as this tor isn't the usual granite, but rather basaltic lava. You can choose to walk to Brent Tor from Tavistock, or better still start from the attractive village of North Brentor for an easier walk. Note Dartmoor's renowned landmark on the top of Brent Tor - St Michael's church. The story goes this church was built by a rich merchant, who vowed to build a church here if his ship made it back to shore safely! Alternatively, try this one, Archangel Michael built it after a drawn out battle with the Devil.
Make of this what you will, but Brent Tor with St Michael's Church a-top is a must visit for Dartmoor visitors. The church is literally perched on the cone shaped basaltic lave structure of Brent Tor. The church is urr more historically believed to be the work of Robert Giffard and dates from the early 12th century. Giffard was part of a powerful Norman landowning family in the area at the time. Brent Tor rises 1130 feet up, and the gentler ascent is on the southwestern side where there is a path. Climbers prefer other routes!
The Merrivale Megaliths & Dartmoor Megaliths
Dartmoor actually has one of the biggest collection of Megaliths in Britain. What is a Megalith? The word comes from Greek and actually means large stone and is often used as a description for many ancient collections of stones laid by man, including stone circles, stone rows and stand alone large stones. Stonehenge is the obvious 'big' example. Single stones or Menhir derived from the Celtic word maen hir or long stone can be seen across Dartmoor, with one of the most renowned to be found at Drizzlecombe south of Burrator Reservoir.
The Stone Rows, however, are a little more complex. The Merrivale stone rows are amongst the finest examples in Dartmoor, and they are very close to the road for easy access. Reasons for the errection of these elaborate and fascinating stone rows have been vague, and there is no definite answer, besides them being part of a form of ritual associated with the sun, stars or death, or all three? Whatever your take on it, scientific, spiritual or just casual interest, Merridale Stone Row and other stone rows and circles are magical places, with their overwhelming attraction boosted by their usual remote, wild setting. The arrangement of such stone features was thought to have begun in the Bronze Age, but Neolithic people were also in the habit of errecting such stones, no mean feat undoubtedly on Dartmoor or other such remote spots!
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