Just a few miles inland from the South Devon Coast is the ancient National Park of Dartmoor.
It covers an area of 368 square miles and offers visitors a mixture of superb scenery, legend and history.
As one of Britain's most prominent areas of moorland, visiting Dartmoor is also to see British nature at its most splendid, whatever the time of year.
Read on for the best places to visit in Dartmoor National Park.
Dartmoor: England’s Last Great Wilderness
Given National Park status in 1951, Dartmoor sits in the south of the county of Devon in the southwest of England.
It covers an area of 365 square miles. Almost half the park is swampland making it a haven for wildlife.
Dartmoor Forest, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall since 1307, is a former royal hunting ground and makes up the vast majority of the region.
But Dartmoor is a wonderful and diverse place with a range of habitat and terrain, from tors and woodlands to rambling countryside, grass covered hills and river valleys.
The grass and heather moors are littered with hefty granite boulders scattered amongst the rolling hills.
The famous tors are natural formations made from granite which, although a very tough substance, is vulnerable to chemical deterioration.
This means that the acids in rain attacks the surface of the granite over time causing it to disintegrate into various shapes and colours.
Expect to see many ponies grazing along the stretches of grassland while you drive through Dartmoor National Park as ponies and sheep graze among the barren hills.
Approximately 10% of the moor is woodland, much of it running along the tranquil river valleys.
Stone circles and burial chambers are testament to Dartmoor’s historic and enigmatic past.
Indeed, Dartmoor is famous not only for its beautiful landscapes and stunning tors dotted across the landscape.
Dartmoor was one of Europe’s biggest tin mining areas back in the 12th century.
The stone built homes of the miners can still be found along many of the regions streams and rivers.
The Abbot’s Way runs across the southern part of the moor, racing across wild country and moorland bogs.
The region is thought to be named after the abbots who are thought to have used this path when travelling between Buckland Abbey and Buckfast Abbey.
They were preceded by centuries of human habitation.
Man’s presence over the ages is evident in this barren land with hut circles dating back to the Bronze and Iron ages remain today.
South of Abbots Way sits Harford Moor.
The Middle Ages drew tin miners from far and wide seeking riches below the surface.
Today visitors are drawn by the vast wilderness and wildlife.
A medieval cross adorns Harford Church, one of many in the area which once served as signposts for those travelling across the moors.
Legends and tales are rife here, right up to more modern times.
Indeed, it was within the little village of Grimspound that Sherlock Holmes found himself investigating the Hound of the Baskervilles.
To the west of Dartmoor is Upper Plym Valley and a beautiful array of plants and wildlife.
This is prime country for walkers.
The tracks in these parts are somewhat easier to navigate than many others in the moors and provide much of interest along the way.
The spectacular moorland scenery is interspersed with abandoned tin mines dating back over a century and various prehistoric relics including standing stones and hut circles.
The Best Places to Visit in Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor contains various small villages and towns, many of which can be discovered on foot.
One of the most enjoyable experiences of visiting Dartmoor is the chance to drive from one side to the other while taking in the great scenery en route.
And you can add some interesting towns and villages to your visit, too.
From Tavistock in the west to Ashburton in the east, there's plenty to see and do on Dartmoor.
Entire books have been written about Dartmoor, so the following is just a brief description of some the places and activities that you can enjoy here:
First of all, check out the main visitor centre located in Okehampton.
This town also houses the Museum of Dartmoor Life.
Okehampton Castle is worth a visit, the ruins of what was once the biggest castle in Devon.
Castle Drogo is a more modern folly, but also well worth a visit.
In the East lies the pleasant town of North Bovey.
This is a great place to see quaint thatched cottages dating back to the 17th century.
Yet another place to marvel at picture-perfect thatched cottages is in the charming little town of Buckland in the Moor.
This lovely town faces onto woodlands and is also by the River Webburn (which joins up with the famous river Dart).
Becky Falls Woodland Park is a great place for a day out.
Some of the most enjoyable walks in England’s southwest can be had here amongst the delightful waterfalls and huge granite.
Buckfastleigh is home to Buckfast Abbey one of the most visited icons in Devon.
The Abbey dates back to 1018.
Also in Buckfastleigh are the Dartmoor otter sanctuary and the Buckfast Butterflies Exhibition (where several exotic butterflies can be seen in an exotic environment).
Postbridge is a small town in the centre of Dartmoor National Park aside from being popular with walkers, the town is famous for its Clapper Bridge (granite bridges dating as far back as the 13th Century) which goes over the East Dart River.
Another quiet town with sublime cottages and green surroundings is Widecombe In The Moor.
Aside from its beauty, this location is famous for The Church House dating back to 1537.
The little town of Chagford is nestled just above the River Teign and is also worth a visit just to amble around the neat town square.
Be sure to visit Market House while you're there.
Outdoor Activities
Those who enjoy outdoor activities will have plenty to do in Dartmoor, particularly hiking and cycling.
Walking and trekking opportunities are abundant all over Dartmoor, and there are opportunities for wild swimming too.
Specific places of interest to walkers include South Okehampton, Princetown, Chagford and Postbridge.
There are also specific routes popular with more experienced trekkers, such as the Templar Way (18 miles) and the West Devon Way (14 miles).
Books on walking on Dartmoor are also available in the information centres dotted around the park (Okehampton, Tavistock, Ashburton, Ivybridge and a couple of other locations).
There are also plenty of routes for those keen on cycling, and it's possible to hire bikes in Tavistock.
The Dartmoor Way is a 90 mile cycle route that includes many of the park's main towns including Okehampton, Tavistock and Buckfastleigh.
Other outdoor activities available in Dartmoor include horse & pony rides, climbing and letterboxing and geocaching.
It truly is a wonderful place to visit and a Dartmoor holiday cottage could be the basis of your Devon holiday.
Or consider staying in Exeter or at a caravan on Devon's coast and enjoying some days out on Dartmoor.
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