Visiting Delightful Dartmoor and Devon

As an area of outstanding natural beauty, Dartmoor is the perfect place to go to experience the wonder of the rural landscape. If you're booking in to one of the many wonderful cottages in Devon, you'll also be within easy access of Dartmoor. Staying near this moorland in the southern part of the county will make for some excellent opportunities to get out into the moors.

This lovely landscape, rugged in places, is perfect for hiking and allowing the imagination run wild. It was here that War Horse was filmed, and there are so many things for you to do right on the doorstep. One of the most evocative aspects of Dartmoor is the ever-changing weather. The thick fog and sharp, windy showers that roll in and leave clear skies in their wake afford the landscape a changing quality. For a day trip out from the cottages in Devon, be sure to visit Dartmoor Prison. Walk around the many trails and explore the spectacular natural area.

Dartmoor Prison

Construction on Dartmoor Prison began in 1806 and took three years to complete. Located in Princetown, it is just an easy drive from many of the cottages in Devon where you can find accommodation. Here, the history of the prison begins with the arrival of French prisoners in 1809, which were soon followed by American POWs from the War of 1812. After the wars ended, the prison was empty until around 1850, when it was rebuilt and a prison farm was installed (after the many bodies were removed from the grounds around it and reinterred). As one of the most severe and hardest prisons in England, Dartmoor has been in constant use since 1850. In 2001 the prison was made into a category C prison for the less dangerous offenders. Visiting the museum, which is housed in the old dairy buildings, depicts its history with the exhibition of some dangerous looking and interesting objects like manacles and memorabilia.

Walking around Dartmoor

It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for something challenging or an easy-going stroll, staying in one of the holiday cottages in Devon is ideal for getting out and about and seeing the area on foot. If you want something simple to fill an afternoon, there are plenty of trails that suit.

The trails of the Middle Dart Valley or the Ernest Bassett Walk are less than three miles long, pretty even and mostly level - perfect for a stroll. For those who want something a bit more challenging, go for the moderate or hard walks such as the Islington Trail, the Victorian Landscape walk, or those that go up to twelve miles like the Templer Way and the well-known West Devon Way. Most of these walks can be punctuated by stops at local attractions, historical sites, areas of outstanding natural beauty or even just a pub for you to pop in for a pie and a pint and rub elbows with the locals.

Katie Chown is a Property Consultant for Classic Cottages. We have a selection of spectacular holiday cottages in Devon as well as cottages in Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Whether you're looking for a stunning rural retreat or a luxury cottage on the coast, we have the perfect holiday home for you to fall in love with.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.