Being in its desirable position, The Edgemoor is close to many attractions. Below is a short selection, click on each image for further information. Also, please enquire for the many more options available.
Dartmoor
The most vistied attraction is Dartmoor, just beyond the hedge of The Edgemoor, which acts as a boundary for the national park. However, it is best to drive the first part of the way up towards Haytor to take your first glimpse of open moorland, as there is approximately 1200 ft difference. Dartmoor is actually a granite plateau formed about 400 million years ago which rises up and dominates the centre of Devon to a height of between 1,000 and 2,000 feet above sea level. There are towering granite outcrops, streams, heather and more ancient relics from Bronze Age settlements than anywhere else in Europe.
There are many stone rows, usually finishing with a stone circle. The largest stone row in the world runs for 2 miles from Stall Moor on Southern Dartmoor, finishing with a circle called "The Dancers". The moor also has a great many "hut circles" or "pounds" where people lived. The huts were formed by setting stones on end and making an inner and outer circle. The "cavity wall" thus formed was often filled with turf for protection from the weather. The roof was made from poles which were thatched with any material they could get, and a gap in the roof was left to allow smoke to escape. Grimspound, a few miles from Widecombe, is probably the most famous. The indications are that the moor was quite densely populated in Bronze Age times. There are many other granite monuments all over the moor, some thousands of years old and some relatively modern.
The high moor can be a remote, thought provoking place, a world away from city life. If you are going to walk any distance, please take care or advice on this as the weather can change quite quickly and people have got lost, sometimes permanently. Lower down the terrain is gentler and greener and there are beautiful tree filled valleys with rivers flowing through them. There are many wonderful walks - ask in reception and we can give you information.
Although Dartmoor is a National Park, and there is plenty of walking, every acre of it is actually owned by someone. Landowners include the Duchy of Cornwall, the National Trust, the Forestry Commission and many small farmers. The Ministry of Defence also leases a large section of the Northern Moor, so take care if going that way to look out for Red Flags and warning signs if you are walking.
Located 2 miles away is the magnificent Haytor, one of the most visited rock Tors on Dartmoor. To the rear of the Tor, signs of old railways used o haul quarried stone can be seen. No trains though, these railways used Dartmoor ponies.
At 1,550ft it has commanding views across South Devon, - you can actually see Teignmouth and the Teign Estuary, Torquay, Berry Head and much of the South Hams. Haytor is very popular and you can almost guarantee that at whatever time of day you go, you will be able to spy someone on top of it.
High on Dartmoor, 750 feet above the sea lies a tranquil hidden valley enjoyed by visitors since Victorian times. Becky Falls Woodland Park with its huge oak canopy, rugged landscape, massive granite boulders and waterfalls provides some of the most scenic and enjoyable walks in the south west as well as loads of fun for all the family.
There are birds of prey and owls, most of which have been rescued. Other animals for the public to experience and touch include pygmy goats, French lop rabbits, sheep and lambs to feed and pony rides for small children during the summer school holidays (at certain times).
Cafeteria, gift and craft shops. Nature trail competitions for children, 'Becky' box hunts, wildlife discovery trails and education packs offer fun for all and cream teas, snacks and light meals are on hand to fortify the weary.
A very pretty village in Dartmoor, well recommended. Catch the ponies and cattle grazing on the green, and grab a pint and lunch at one of the old pubs.
The church is very large for the size of the village, often referred to as The Cathedral in the Moor. It certainly makes a fine sight as you drop down the steep hill into the village from the moor above. The original Widecombe Fair was quite business-like (i.e. The Cattle Market) but this changed significantly after the Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould discovered an obscure 18th century Dartmoor folk song. The names of Thomas Cobley and others mentioned in the song appear in the Parish Register.
There is a very old pub "The Old Inn" which serves huge helpings of food, and various gift, craft, and tea shops. It does get very busy in the summer with coaches. There is also a much smaller pub called The Rugglestone Inn which, over ten years ago, did not even have a light outside it or any sign to say it was a pub.
Seaside resort with yhe destinction of having more European Blue Flag beaches than any other place in the UK. It is the centre point of "The English Riviera " and can provide most of the activities sought in a lively holiday, such as water-skiing, parascending, windsurfing, diving, sailing, fishing trips and excursions. The area around the busy harbour is very pleasant, but the main town can be crowded in summer and traffic in Torquay is often heavy, with parking difficult. There are many shops, pubs, restaurants and nightclubs.
Exeter is a lovely old city, certainly worth a visit. It has been a Cathedral town since 1050, and the present Cathedral, built in the 14th century, is one of the greatest Medieval cathedrals in England. It contains national treasures like the Exeter Book, the 10th century collection of Anglo Saxon poetry which has been in the library of the cathedral for a thousand years.
Exeter Cathedral is the only cathedral in England to have twin Norman towers and has the longest unbroken vaulted roof of any in the country. The vaulting is thought to be one of the masterpieces of English, or even European, architecture. The buildings around this area are beautiful - extremely old.
Tours are available from red-coated guides, covering many aspects of the city’s history, and also one which covers its ghosts and legends.
Tel : (01392) 233010 or visit the TIC.
Exeter is good for shopping, but parking can be a bit of a problem. There is a "Park and Ride" at Matford near the Cattle Market which is signed off the A38 before you reach Exeter. There is ample parking, it is cheap, and the buses are frequent. They have the advantage of being allowed on some back roads which means they can miss a lot of the traffic into town, and they also stop right outside the shops in the High Street.
