Dartmoor Holidays - You're spoilt for choice of things to do and see:-
Dartmoor - what can we say that has not been written already - Spectacular walks, glorious Tors to climb, The Knole is only 1 mile walking distance to the open moorland. Most enjoyable ways to see the moors in the saddle away from the hustle and bustle from city life.
Okehampton a local market town (7 miles) and the northern gateway to Dartmoor offers a golf course. The town is overlooked by the Castle dating back to 1195, mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Well worth a visit, particularly in the springtime when the bluebells are in abundance. There is a Farmers Market held every 3rd Saturday of the month in Okehampton for more information click here
From Okehampton board the Meldon Steam Train, which leads directly onto the moor and you can use this as a way to visit the Meldon Reservoir, the source of the farm's water, or take the opportunity to use the newly created cycle paths.
 Padstow Harbour |
 Widemouth Bay '40 minutes drive away' |
 Moor gate, Okehampton |
 Route 27 of the National Cycle Network |
Lydford is 2 miles from The Knole and boasts the remains of a castle also dating to 1195 together with the beautiful Lydford Gorge a National Trust property with dramatic walks and cascading waterfalls - notably the "The White Lady Falls".
 |
Lydford gorge is open from March to end of September |
 |
Here you can see the spectacular ‘White Lady Waterfall' popular with visitors and locals. There are long and short walks to suit all ages and abilities but good footwear is recommended.
 |
 |
Dartmoor ponies at Princetown
Letter boxing is very popular in the area as Dartmoor is so close and accessible.
What is letterboxing? (Its like one big treasure hunt, but on moorland)
Letterboxing is an outdoor pursuit with similarities to orienteering.
A small pot (the letterbox) containing a stamp and visitors' book is hidden on the moor, and a clue is written to lead others to its position. Clues may be as simple as a map reference and list of compass bearings, or may be more cryptic.
When a letterbox is found, the letterboxer takes a copy of the stamp, as well as leaving their own personal print in the visitors' book.
Letterboxing began on Dartmoor but is now popular in areas all over the world. It's a great way to explore the moorland but with the added bonus of finding something.
 |
|
Attractions in the Tavistock area include a large leisure centre with swimming and gym facilities. Regular weekly pannier markets with additional outside farmers markets twice monthly.
Click here for more information
Morwellham Quay, an award-winning World Heritage site, featuring historic port, copper mine, 
working Victorian farm, railway, heavy horses and museums of costume and mining. Just four miles west of Tavistock and bordering the beautiful River Tamar. Currently seen on BBC Television EDWARDIAN FARM .
Roadford Lake is a spectacular lake set on the edge of Dartmoor between Okehampton and Launceston, very easily accessed from Stowford Cross on the A30, and with ample parking. On the southern bank you will find the Lakeside cafe and Function Suite which includes a Visitor Centre, giving information on the history of the valley, with interactive exhibits. The Lakeside cafe and gi
ft shop and Visitor Centre are open daily.
Visitors including families visit this side of the lake and enjoy miles of footpaths and a cycleway which winds its way through a maturing planted forest overlooking the Lake. Or you can take a rowing boat to explore the scenery from a different perspective from the water.
More national Trust properties in the area include:
Rosemoor gardens- Torrington – 10 miles approx from The Knole
Cotehele house, St Dominic - 7 miles from Tavistock
Finch Foundry, Sticklepath – 9 miles from The Knole
For those hot sunny days a choice of beaches depending on the direction you wish to take - Bude to the North - Torquay to the Southeast and Cornish beaches to the South, all easily reached by car in an hour.
Exeter and Plymouth are 30 miles away offering Modern City Centres with Plymouth steeped in naval history having the hoe, the marina and the port.
