Dartmoor Shepherd's Huts

Food, glorious food… dive into the middle of the Westcountry’s larder to sample loads of local produce in the area’s restaurants and pubs: the Church House Inn a mile away at Holne shouldn’t prove to be too strenuous a walk back to base once you’ve munched your way through the fresh fish, Dartmoor venison or ploughman platters on offer. If you decide that you need to walk off the Devonshire delights, you won’t be far away from plenty of scenic sights: there are heather-covered hills, wild Dartmoor ponies and walking routes all nearby, along with ancient archaeological landmarks such as stone circles, cairns and clapper bridges. Climb a tor to have your breath taken away again by the scenery below: this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a mix of woodland, reservoir, valley and cave habitats. A few miles further afield, start off at the High Moorland Visitor Centre to find out everything you need to know about Dartmoor’s history, wildlife and culture, then go on a history tour to take in Buckfast Abbey and Devon’s castles or take a wildlife trip to the area’s farm attractions Pennywell Farm, Totnes Rare Breed Farm and the Buckfast Butterflies and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary. If you’ve had one too many cream teas (it’s easily done) and prefer to take in the scenery while sitting down, steam along to the South Devon Railway for valley views from Buckfastleigh to Totnes. There are baleloads of family attractions in the area for you all to flock to: let the kids walk on water at the award-winning River Dart Country Park, ape the baboons and gorillas at Paignton Zoo or goggle at the sharks at the UK’s biggest aquarium, the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.