Dartmoor

Dartmoor’s famous Clydesdales in race for a new home

Authored by Lucy
Posted: Thu, 02/14/2019 - 9:16am

A fundraising campaign to secure the long-term future for Dartmoor’s hugely popular Clydesdales has been launched.

Adventures Clydesdale, founded by Tim Ancrum and Aileen Ware, has for the past six years worked within the existing set-up at Brimpts Farm near Dartmeet in the middle of Dartmoor.

Their 12 horses have a world-wide reputation for providing exhilarating horse-back riding experiences on Dartmoor, and also for raising thousands of pounds for charity through their racing exploits at Exeter Racecourse and Flete Park.

But Tim and Aileen have been told they...

Second Sunday Volunteering: Helping the butterflies of Haytor Down

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/07/2019 - 11:40am

Brighten up a dull February by join Assistant Ranger Stuart and Conservation Apprentice Leo as they carry out habitat management for the beautiful Pearl Bordered and Small Pearl Bordered Butterfly on Haytor Down.

The Pearl Bordered is a particularly fussy client in its demand for a ‘well-balanced’ bracken environment, requiring bracken for wind shelter and warmth, whilst simultaneously requiring clearer patches to facilitate the growth of dog violets – its main food and egg laying plant.

The techniques we will be using to manage the site are quite basic - a lot can be...

World renowned snowdrop collection bursts into life

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 01/30/2019 - 7:59am

Excited snowdrop enthusiasts are travelling across the UK to an exquisite corner of Devon to see one of the best collections of snowdrops in the world burst into fragrance and colour.

The world renowned Matt Bishop Snowdrop Collection, one of the most diverse collections of named and naturalised snowdrops in the UK, is in full bloom at The Garden House, one of the finest gardens in England.

Over 83 varieties of snowdrops, 57 of which are now in flower, create a stunning display across the plantsman’s paradise in Dartmoor. Planted in huge swathes across the garden’s stunning...

Another Golden year on Dartmoor

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 12/03/2018 - 10:23pm

Dartmoor National Park has had a golden 2018 with top awards going to a number of Dartmoor based tourism businesses. In an award ceremony held last week Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centres were awarded Gold for the third year, in the 2018 Devon Tourism Awards. The Centres at Princetown, Postbridge and Haytor scooped the Golden Award in the Tourism Information category.

But it wasn’t just the National Park Visitor Centres receiving a golden accolade - it was great night for Dartmoor in general with Bovey Castle, Langstone Manor, Liberty Trails, Unique Devon Tours and the...

Gothic Dartmoor ** POSTPONED ***

Event Date: 
01/02/2019 - 7:30pm
Venue: 
Cygnet Theatre

Friday 1st February 7.30pm

Wren Music Gothic Dartmoor

The Gothic Dartmoor concert explores a rich vein of myth and legend through the tales of Dartmoor. The songs are selected from the folk song collection made at the end of the C19th by Squire and Parson Revd. Sabine Baring-Gould, and inspired by his other writings, including The Book of Dartmoor and The Book of Were-Wolves. Wren Music has put together an impressive company to bring you ‘Gothic Dartmoor’ – Marilyn Tucker: Singer and storyteller, Paul Wilson: Multi-instrumentalist and singer, Jon Dyer: Experienced...

LOVE Devon’s Walk for Widecombe raises over £5,100 for Widecombe Village Hall fund

The LOVE Devon Walk for Widecombe fundraising event has raised over £5,100 for the Widecombe Village Hall fund after its successful fundraising event in September. More than £4,300 has been raised so far and the total is set to increase further with the addition of gift aid, which is expected to bring the amount to over £5,100.

On 16th September over 100 walkers completed a six-mile trek in some very misty and windy conditions from Bennett’s Cross down into Widecombe, where they and their families were entertained by a family fun day organised by the villagers. A combination of...

Digging prehistory on Dartmoor

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 09/07/2018 - 12:24pm

A team of Dartmoor National Park archaeologists and local volunteers are currently carrying out an excavation on a prehistoric site, near Haytor. The site at Holwell Tor, consists of an isolated Middle Bronze Age (around 1,500 BC) hut circle and two reaves (prehistoric boundaries). The first objective of the excavation is to investigate the function of the building; its isolation makes it unusual, so the team will try and determine whether it was a dwelling, a byre for animals, a store, workshop or something else entirely. They have now exposed the walls of the building and are already...

Free visits to Dartmoor Medieval longhouse

Cross the threshold of Higher Uppacott, Dartmoor National Park’s Grade 1 Listed longhouse, and step back in time to medieval Dartmoor as part of Heritage Open Days 2018. This year Dartmoor National Park has arranged a number of free visits to this unique building as its contribution to the national heritage celebration.

A longhouse is a medieval farmhouse in which both people and cattle were accommodated under a single roof. Higher Uppacott is rare and of national importance. It is one of the few remaining examples of this historic building type, which has retained its lower or...

Jimmy Frost backs Walk for Widecombe community fundraiser

Preparations for LOVE Devon’s first fundraising event, the sponsored ‘Walk for Widecombe’ on Sunday 16th September, are gathering pace, with walkers starting to register in earnest, including former Grand National winning jockey Jimmy Frost and his daughter, champion jockey and LOVE Devon ambassador Bryony Frost.

The walk will also be followed by a fun-packed family afternoon for walkers and their families – or those who just fancy an afternoon out - with a whole range of special activities planned.

The family fun day will take place from 12pm-5pm in the Widecombe Fair...

New exhibition celebrates Dartmoor 365 book

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 08/29/2018 - 1:02pm

A new exhibition is running at the Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown, celebrating the popularity of John Hayward’s book ‘Dartmoor 365.' Ever wondered what the Hairy Hands (K11) are? What legends surround Crazywell Pool (P7) and Ephraim’s Pinch (K13)? What do Swell Tor Quarry (N6) and London Bridge have in common? This week sees the opening of the Dartmoor 365 exhibition in the Dartmoor National Park Centre in Princetown. Showcasing ‘Dartmoor 365,’ John Hayward’s fourth book about Dartmoor - find out more about the joys of D365ing, and go on a family friendly exploration...

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