Jessie's Guidebook
Local walks
An 11-mile cycling and walking trail between Lydford and Okehampton. As a former railway line, it’s a flat and gentle way to explore the local scenery.
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Granite Way Cycle Track
ParklandsAn 11-mile cycling and walking trail between Lydford and Okehampton. As a former railway line, it’s a flat and gentle way to explore the local scenery.
Widgery Cross or Brat Tor is a beautiful Dartmoor walk (fairly steep if you go all the way up to the top of this tor). It offers stunning views all the way into Cornwall. There is also a swimming spot in the river Lyd below, and you can see wild Dartmoor ponies.
Widgery Cross didn’t appear on the map, but the route is quite clear. From the car park, head to the river with the wall on your left. Cross the river by bridge or stepping stones. Widgery Cross is the tor with a granite cross straight ahead.
Sharp Tor
Widgery Cross or Brat Tor is a beautiful Dartmoor walk (fairly steep if you go all the way up to the top of this tor). It offers stunning views all the way into Cornwall. There is also a swimming spot in the river Lyd below, and you can see wild Dartmoor ponies.
Widgery Cross didn’t appear on the map, but the route is quite clear. From the car park, head to the river with the wall on your left. Cross the river by bridge or stepping stones. Widgery Cross is the tor with a granite cross straight ahead.
This diverse woodland (with forest trails for walks and picnics) supports a wide variety of plant and animal life including some of the UK’s rarest butterfly species.
Lydford Forest
This diverse woodland (with forest trails for walks and picnics) supports a wide variety of plant and animal life including some of the UK’s rarest butterfly species.
Brentor Church is on a steep rocky outcrop, and once at the top you are rewarded with fantastic views.
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Brentor Church Car Park
Brentor Church is on a steep rocky outcrop, and once at the top you are rewarded with fantastic views.
Wistman’s Wood is an enchanting oak woodland (a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1964) and forms part of the Wistman’s Wood National Nature Reserve. This circular walk (allow 2 hours) starts from Two Bridges and takes in beautiful views of Dartmoor.
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Wistman's Wood
Wistman’s Wood is an enchanting oak woodland (a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1964) and forms part of the Wistman’s Wood National Nature Reserve. This circular walk (allow 2 hours) starts from Two Bridges and takes in beautiful views of Dartmoor.
A walk (allow at least 3 hours) to one of three examples of high altitude oak woodlands on Dartmoor. The trees and granite underfoot are draped in rare lichen and mosses of national importance. The other two examples are Wistman’s Wood and Piles Copse.
Black-a-Tor Copse
A walk (allow at least 3 hours) to one of three examples of high altitude oak woodlands on Dartmoor. The trees and granite underfoot are draped in rare lichen and mosses of national importance. The other two examples are Wistman’s Wood and Piles Copse.
Pubs
Gastro pub serving delicious and locally sourced food (there is a small courtyard patio with limited seating outside).
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The Dartmoor Inn
Gastro pub serving delicious and locally sourced food (there is a small courtyard patio with limited seating outside).
A cosy country pub (a 15-minute drive away) good for ales and bar food, with outdoor seating too.
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Peter Tavy Inn
A cosy country pub (a 15-minute drive away) good for ales and bar food, with outdoor seating too.
The Highwayman Inn
The Highwayman Inn is probably the most bizarre pub you’ll ever encounter.
The Cornish Arms
15 West StGastropub in the historic market town of Tavistock.
Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale is a pub serving Eversfield Organic breakfast, lunch and dinner, located on Dartmoor.
Eversfield Organic Dartmoor Inn, Merrivale
Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale is a pub serving Eversfield Organic breakfast, lunch and dinner, located on Dartmoor.
Bearslake Inn
LakeA traditional pub near Sourton.
Sightseeing
Explore the 13th century castle (a former prison), or walk the charming footpaths that run parallel to Lydford village’s central road.
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Lydford Castle & Saxon Town
Silver StreetExplore the 13th century castle (a former prison), or walk the charming footpaths that run parallel to Lydford village’s central road.
A charming 13th century church with stunning woodcarving. The well known Watchmakers Tomb lies here.
St. Petroc's Church
Priory RoadA charming 13th century church with stunning woodcarving. The well known Watchmakers Tomb lies here.
A picturesque ruin that attracted the artist J.M.W. Turner.
There’s an entrance fee.
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Okehampton Castle
Castle LaneA picturesque ruin that attracted the artist J.M.W. Turner.
There’s an entrance fee.
Cotehele is a National Trust Tudor house, garden, estate and quay (there’s an entrance fee to the house or free for National Trust members). The wooded walk along the River Tamar from Cotehele Quay to Calstock and back is lovely.
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Cotehele House
Cotehele is a National Trust Tudor house, garden, estate and quay (there’s an entrance fee to the house or free for National Trust members). The wooded walk along the River Tamar from Cotehele Quay to Calstock and back is lovely.
Castle Drogo is a country house and mixed-revivalist castle near Drewsteignton. Constructed between 1911 and 1930, it was the last castle to be built in England.
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National Trust - Castle Drogo
DriveCastle Drogo is a country house and mixed-revivalist castle near Drewsteignton. Constructed between 1911 and 1930, it was the last castle to be built in England.
A popular beauty spot in the centre of Dartmoor where two tributaries of the River Dart meet. Good for picnics, paddling and canoeing.
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Dartmeet
A popular beauty spot in the centre of Dartmoor where two tributaries of the River Dart meet. Good for picnics, paddling and canoeing.
Local towns
Tavistock (8 miles) is a historic market town and the only World Heritage town in Devon. It has a local panier market, pubs, cafés and independent wholefood shops. It is great for organic locally produced foods, and there are some lovely places to picnic (such as in the Meadows park and playground, along the Tavistock Canal or in the parish church grounds). There is also a big Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl supermarket. The Wharf is a venue for live music, cinema, theatre and art.
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Tavistock
Tavistock (8 miles) is a historic market town and the only World Heritage town in Devon. It has a local panier market, pubs, cafés and independent wholefood shops. It is great for organic locally produced foods, and there are some lovely places to picnic (such as in the Meadows park and playground, along the Tavistock Canal or in the parish church grounds). There is also a big Tesco, Morrisons and Lidl supermarket. The Wharf is a venue for live music, cinema, theatre and art.
Okehampton (9 miles) is a local town that we mostly visit for Waitrose, Lidl and the lovely Harvest Farm Shop (a workers’ co-operative). There is a cinema screening mainstream releases.
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Okehampton
Okehampton (9 miles) is a local town that we mostly visit for Waitrose, Lidl and the lovely Harvest Farm Shop (a workers’ co-operative). There is a cinema screening mainstream releases.
Morwellham (13 miles) is a former copper mine site with an underground railway, dock, farm, open-air museums and heavy horses. It forms the eastern gateway to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape area, part of the World Heritage Site status awarded by UNESCO.
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Morwellham Quay
Morwellham (13 miles) is a former copper mine site with an underground railway, dock, farm, open-air museums and heavy horses. It forms the eastern gateway to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape area, part of the World Heritage Site status awarded by UNESCO.
Chagford (21 miles) is a small market town with several good pubs and cafes, including The Globe Inn and Green Man Cafe. There are some lovely circular walks from here, too. Chagford Swimming Pool is a must visit! https://www.chagfordswimmingpool.co.uk/about-3
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Chagford
Chagford (21 miles) is a small market town with several good pubs and cafes, including The Globe Inn and Green Man Cafe. There are some lovely circular walks from here, too. Chagford Swimming Pool is a must visit! https://www.chagfordswimmingpool.co.uk/about-3
Totnes (33 miles) is known for its vibrant independent scene. There are plenty of cafés (Willow vegetarian restaurant is a favourite) and health shops (Greenlife for all your non-toxic beauty and cleaning products), and there’s a Waldorf-inspired toy shop called Salago. It’s an hour drive from Lydford and a stunning drive across the whole of Dartmoor.
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Totnes
Totnes (33 miles) is known for its vibrant independent scene. There are plenty of cafés (Willow vegetarian restaurant is a favourite) and health shops (Greenlife for all your non-toxic beauty and cleaning products), and there’s a Waldorf-inspired toy shop called Salago. It’s an hour drive from Lydford and a stunning drive across the whole of Dartmoor.
Exeter (32 miles) is a lively and attractive city with lots to offer (shopping, art, pubs, restaurants etc). Relax for the afternoon in the cathedral's green, followed by a meal at Herbies and an arthouse film at Exeter Phoenix.
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Exeter
Exeter (32 miles) is a lively and attractive city with lots to offer (shopping, art, pubs, restaurants etc). Relax for the afternoon in the cathedral's green, followed by a meal at Herbies and an arthouse film at Exeter Phoenix.
Shops
A 15-minute walk from the annexe, Lydford Farm Shop sells local food produce and some of the best homemade steak/veggie pasties we’ve tasted!
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Lydford Farm Shop
A386A 15-minute walk from the annexe, Lydford Farm Shop sells local food produce and some of the best homemade steak/veggie pasties we’ve tasted!
Tavistock Market Wholefoods
33 Market RdIndependent shop selling a range of wholefoods.
High end, organic deli and butchers with award-winning produce and grass-fed organic meat from their farm on Dartmoor.
Eversfield Organic, Tavistock Farm Shop
2 West StHigh end, organic deli and butchers with award-winning produce and grass-fed organic meat from their farm on Dartmoor.
A health food shop in Tavistock offering a broad range of wholefoods, and they also have a sister shop in Okehampton.
Kilworthy Kapers
11 King StA health food shop in Tavistock offering a broad range of wholefoods, and they also have a sister shop in Okehampton.
Roots & Vines
12 West StIndependent shop offering local produce for all your grocery needs.
Outdoor activities
Ride straight onto Dartmoor from Cholwell Riding Stables.
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Cholwell Riding Stables.
Ride straight onto Dartmoor from Cholwell Riding Stables.
Outdoor activity centre, including tree surfing, canoeing, archery, and a zip wire.
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Tamar Trails Centre
Outdoor activity centre, including tree surfing, canoeing, archery, and a zip wire.
Great place for kids! They can pet and feed the donkeys and other farm animals, or play in the big indoor play barn.
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The Tamar Valley Donkey Park
Great place for kids! They can pet and feed the donkeys and other farm animals, or play in the big indoor play barn.
Barn Climbing Centre welcomes experienced climbers or total beginners, with rope walls, boulders and a slackline park.
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The Barn Climbing Centre
Barn Climbing Centre welcomes experienced climbers or total beginners, with rope walls, boulders and a slackline park.
A beautiful, community-run, open air, heated pool set on the banks of the river Teign. Filtered and gently-treated river water fills this 1930s lido.
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Chagford Swimming Pool
RushfordA beautiful, community-run, open air, heated pool set on the banks of the river Teign. Filtered and gently-treated river water fills this 1930s lido.
Roadford Lake is a man-made reservoir and the largest area of freshwater in the Southwest. There is a cafe on one side and an Activity Centre on the other. The Activity Centre offers kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, archery, climbing, fishing and cycling, where you can hire water-sports equipment, launch your own craft or learn something new with a qualified instructor.
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Roadford Lake
Roadford Lake is a man-made reservoir and the largest area of freshwater in the Southwest. There is a cafe on one side and an Activity Centre on the other. The Activity Centre offers kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing, archery, climbing, fishing and cycling, where you can hire water-sports equipment, launch your own craft or learn something new with a qualified instructor.
Open to the public for rides on the first and third Sunday of every month, from April to October, 14:00-16:30.
Plymouth Minature Steam
Pendeen CrescentOpen to the public for rides on the first and third Sunday of every month, from April to October, 14:00-16:30.
Cafés/restaurants
This cafe in Tavistock uses locally-sourced ingredients for their artisan ice cream, cakes, coffee, milkshakes, crepes, lunch and more.
Lemon Grove Cafe
4 Duke StThis cafe in Tavistock uses locally-sourced ingredients for their artisan ice cream, cakes, coffee, milkshakes, crepes, lunch and more.
Mime
Cafe offering delicious homemade cakes, coffee and lunch snacks. Located in Tavistock.
Fresh pizzas made to order, with a focus on organic and locally-sourced ingredients. Ask for something that’s not on the menu - Verdi Red (with added mushrooms and olives) is delicious! Located in Tavistock.
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Robertson's Restaurant and Pizzeria
4-8 Pepper StFresh pizzas made to order, with a focus on organic and locally-sourced ingredients. Ask for something that’s not on the menu - Verdi Red (with added mushrooms and olives) is delicious! Located in Tavistock.
Cafe Liaison
3 Church LnLight lunches, drinks and snacks. Located in Tavistock.
Cafe situated in renovated Georgian architecture serving Mediterranean-inspired food all day. Located in Tavistock.
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Church Lane
1 Church LnCafe situated in renovated Georgian architecture serving Mediterranean-inspired food all day. Located in Tavistock.
Rafikis is a vegetarian and vegan cafe located in Ashburton. It has a seasonally changing menu with daily changing specials and a choice of at least one soup. Most produce is organic and all is locally sourced.
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Rafikis
2a West StRafikis is a vegetarian and vegan cafe located in Ashburton. It has a seasonally changing menu with daily changing specials and a choice of at least one soup. Most produce is organic and all is locally sourced.
Willow is a vegetarian cafe located in Totnes. It offers a constantly changing selection of tasty, hand prepared dishes making the best use of seasonal and local produce (50% of produce is organic).
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Willow Vegetarian Restaurant
87 High StWillow is a vegetarian cafe located in Totnes. It offers a constantly changing selection of tasty, hand prepared dishes making the best use of seasonal and local produce (50% of produce is organic).
Taylors
22 Market StServes tasty food from local suppliers.