Culture, History and Beauty Spots

Dartmoor National Park is the biggest and wildest area of open country in southern England. An area of outstanding natural beauty covering over 350 square miles, this breathtaking landscape is home to a huge variety of animals, birds and plants.

The entire area is rich is history and antiquities, hosting more ancient monuments and archaeological sites than anywhere else in Europe. Many traditional tales, folklore and ghost stories stem from this unique background. The reaves at Rippon Tor (just four miles from Ponsworthy) are the largest and perhaps the oldest in Britain, dating back to the early bronze age. There are countless ancient stone circles dotting the landscape and the remains of the old tin mining industry (Dartmoor was the world center for tin production throughout the middle ages) still fascinate.

The broader West Country is home to England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Dorset and East Devon Coast, known often as the Jurassic Coast for the plentiful fossils that can be collected there and is easily accessible in a day trip.

Souh Devon is home to literally hundreds of spectacular gardens, many of which are open all year. A selection of these are listed below.

The diverse Devon landscape can be enjoyed through activites such as hot air ballooning, golf and sea side pursuits, or more gently admired through visits to the spectacular sites of Becky Falls, Lydford Gorge, and the Jurassic Coast. Devon also boasts a huge variety of historic houses, such as Castle Drogo, Buckland Abbey, Compton Castle, and A la Ronde.