The Local area
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.
Sweeton Manor and its cottages are on the outskirts of the village of Ponsworthy, which lies in the steep valley of the West Webburn River, on the 'Two Moors Way' trail about two miles from Widecombe-in-the-Moor, at the heart of Dartmoor National Park. Splash Cottage, The Smithy, Fernhill Cottahe and Moorbrook Cottage are in the centre of the village, two of them part of a small row of picturesque thatched cottages often pictured in calenders and postcards, climbing up a hill from a small stream flowing across the road (The Ponsworthy Splash). Footpaths begin at the front door of the Manor and lead all over the moor, and there are a myriad of local opportunities for activities nearby. Across the moor there are restaurants, pubs and cafés in which to sample the famous Devon cream tea, and a rich variety of shops and farmers' markets selling local produce, arts and crafts.
Local Widecombe-in-the-Moor is best known for the annual Widecombe Fair (held annually in September) immortalised by the folk song involving a grey mare and 'Old Uncle Tom Cobley and All'. The village is steeped in history and local legend, and has several gift shops (including a National Trust shop) and a couple of pubs and cafés. Nearby stannary towns of Ashburton and Tavistock have a good selection of shops, restaurants and pubs, as well as thriving local markets, and Torquay, Exeter and Plymouth are all within easy driving distance.
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.
Local information and organisatons
