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Bovey Tracey is one of Dartmoor's
gateway towns set beneath the attractive, undulating
foothills which lead up to the high moors. Straddling
the River Bovey it offers the visitor much to
explore, from numerous inns and quaint local
shops to the well known Devon Guild of Craftsmen's
(www.crafts.org.uk)
Riverside Mill gallery and craft showrooms,
and the modern examples of pottery and glass
making at the Cardew Design Tea Pottery and
the House of Marbles.
There are many walking routes
around Bovey Tracey, from gentle riverside strolls
to more strenuous hill walking over rugged terrain
for the experienced moorland hiker. Cycle routes
are also available including the Newton Abbot
to Bovey Tracey cycleway which largely follows
the route taken by the granite quarried from
beneath Haytor and transported via ancient railway
and canal to the sea-going barges waiting at
the quay in Newton Abbot.
Access to Dartmoor and all that
it offers is unhindered and the attractions
of the South Devon Coastline are only 12 miles
away. Totnes, Dartmouth, Dawlish and Torbay
are all within easy reach and Exeter and Plymouth
are just alittle further, ideal for shopping
and for those with architectural, historical
or maritime interests.
Dartmoor
Dartmoor National Park contains a wealth of
beautiful scenery; from rivers to forests, valleys
to moorland tors. The rolling countryside of
Dartmoor has so much to offer which is why it
attracts visitors from all over the world.
Dartmoor covers 367
square miles, and the National Trust owns and
manages nearly 6,000 acres of land based on
and around Dartmoor.
The sporting activities available on Dartmoor
include golf, fishing, archery, walking and
orienteering. For the keen walker there are
miles of footpaths catering for walkers of all
ages and abilities. The northern areas of Dartmoor
offer more intense walks with steep rocky valleys
and woodland. The southern parts of Dartmoor,
particularly Parke (the Bovey Tracey entrance),
offers more relaxing strolls through riverside
meadows and mixed woodland.
There are also many
organised activities run by the many outward
bound centres. The types of activities include
rock climbing, abseiling, cycling, pony trekking
and caving.
As well as the variety
of sporting events and activities available,
Dartmoor also offers many family attractions.
Castle Drogo is open to the public; situated
above a 300 ft gorge, amazing panoramic views
can be seen across the moorland. The castle
was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and is open
to visitors between April and October.
For a scenic walk,
Lydford Gorge is well worth visiting. The woodland
walk stretches along the 1.5 mile gorge and
leads to a 90 foot waterfall. The walk ends
at the Devil's Cauldron where the river crashes
into a series of whirlpools within a ravine.
Walkways have been built along the ravine base
to allow people to descend into the cauldron.
Buckland Abbey is
also well worth a visit. Here, fully furnished
rooms and exhibitions within the impressive
buildings allow you to rediscover the exciting
stories of the people who once lived within
the Abbey; including Sir Francis Drake, Sir
Richard Grenville and medieval Monks - altogether
over 700 years of history!
Newton
Abbot
Newton Abbot is a local town with a long-standing
history. There has been a market here since
1220 and it has been serving the area for centuries.
At the end of the high street stands the clock
tower, which is where William of Orange began
his march to London to proclaim himself King
in 1688.
There are many attractions here
including a museum, a sport and leisure complex,
a cinema, a park and the famous Newton Abbot
Racecourse.
Ashburton
Ashburton is the largest town on Dartmoor and
dates back about 5,000 years. The many attractions
of Ashburton include the yearly carnival (which
has been celebrated for over 100 years), an
ale tasting and bread weighing ceremony (carried
out since the 13th Century), a 'Court and Law'
day (dating back to 820 AD), as well as a selection
of local walks and cycle routes.
As well as the many
attractions, Ashburton boasts an impressive
variety of shops including many art, craft and
antique galleries.
Moretonhampstead
This is situated on Dartmoor's eastern slopes
with an 800 year history. Due to the extensive
selection of walking and cycle routes, Moretonhampstead
is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse
riders. Attractions within Moretonhampstead
include the Miniature Pony Centre and 'Moor
Dreams' visitor attraction. It also plays host
to the largest carnival on Dartmoor.
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