2 Bedroom Dartmoor and West Devon cottages

• Latest Articles:
• ...it to be 'the most perfect town in England'. If Ludlow has given you food for thought, visit www.ludlow.org.uk for more details.   Tintagel - Cornwall The county is full of romantic spots, but if you're staying in one of our cottages in Cornwall, be sure to pay a visit to Tintagel. At...
• ...incidents. As usual the spring time rush has started for cottage bookings as people set their holiday plans for the year. Norfolk, Cornwall and Devon cottages are proving as popular as ever so far. So dont miss out on that dream property and book it soon! If there is anything we can add to...

With its miles of naturally beautiful coastline, and acres of picturesque moorland and forestry, Devon has much to offer visitors. A designated National Park, Dartmoor is the largest open space in southern England, with almost 370 sq miles of moorland, enhanced by granite hilltops, criss-crossed by beautiful rivers and streams. In some areas, where the water accumulates on the thick layers of peat, bogs topped with bright green moss are created; these are colloquially known as ‘quakers’ or ‘feather beds’.

Things to do in Dartmoor & W Devon
As one might expect for the setting of the annual Ten Tors Challenge, Dartmoor is an amazing place for rock climbing, hiking, rambling and hill walking holidays. Numerous standing stones and hut circles can be found in the most remote of places, and whether travellers choose to try canoeing, white-water kayaking, orienteering, geocaching - using GPS co-ordinates -  or the more low-tech, historic version - known as ‘letterboxing’ - there is much fun to be had exploring the rugged countryside. Cycling and angling are also popular pursuits, although these can be more restricted, with open moorland usually being out of bounds to cyclists, and fly-fishing only being permissible in certain locations to those in possession of the necessary permits and licences.

Top Destinations
Crediton – Situated on the narrow vale of the River Creedy, the town has a particularly fine perpendicular church in the Early English style, with a central tower.

Tavistock – A pretty market town on the River Tavy, Tavistock was the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. At the centre of the town lie the ruins of Tavistock Abbey. A weekly market is held in the covered Pannier Market every Friday, whilst the annual Tavistock Goose Fair takes place each year in mid October, although this ancient opportunity for locals to purchase their Christmas goose has now been overtaken by a multitude of funfair rides and market stalls.

Launceston – Carefully perched on the side of a large hill to the west of the River Tamar, just over the border between Cornwall and Devon, this ancient town is sometimes referred to as the ‘Gateway to Cornwall’. The town is dominated by the Norman walls of Launceston Castle.

Newton Abbot– The site of the historic, if bizarrely named ‘Cheese and Onion Fayre’ each September, this market town was once at the centre of the Devon sheep and woollen industry, with woollen mills, spinners, weavers and tailors a-plenty. Although both this business, and the accompanying leather trades, are largely no more, the towns proximity to the Bovey Basin have kept it at the centre of Britain’s clay extractions.

Teignmouth – Once a fishing port, which, like many other previously relatively remote locations, grew into a fashionable Georgian resort with the coming of the railways; Teignmouth was also infamous as the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power when, in 1690, the French fleet endeavoured to continue their earlier successes at the Battle of Beachy Head.

Plymouth – This Devon city, located by the beautiful natural harbour that is Plymouth Sound, is also famous for being the casting off point for the Pilgrim Fathers.

Buckfastleigh – Home to the nearby Buckfast Abbey, this mediaeval market town can also boast a Butterfly Farm, an Otter Sanctuary and the HQ of the South Devon (Heritage) Railway.

Paignton – The coastal delights of Paignton, Torquay and Brixham form the holiday destination that is known rather exotically to some as the ‘English Riviera’. Once a small fishing village, Paignton was embellished by the construction of a new harbour in 1837. Tourism is still a major focus, with the seafront similarly dominated by the Victorian glory of the 780-ft long Paignton Pier.

Totnes – At the head of the estuary of the River Dart, Totnes has been an important market town since the 12^th century. The Norman motte and bailey structures of Totnes Castle were built during the reign of William the Conqueror, and the Castle itself is now run by English Heritage.

Saltash – Another town that can boast the title of ‘Gateway to Cornwall’, Saltash is also one of the largest towns in the county. It is also famous as the location of Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, which takes the coastal railway line across the River Tamar.