Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Dartmoor

Make the most of your time in Dartmoor, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

Dartmoor is a remote yet captivating area of outstanding natural beauty in Devon, in the South West of England. The area was designated a National Park in 1951, in recognition of its unique landscape and its special historic and natural importance. Covering an area of 365 square miles (953 square kilometres), Dartmoor National Park has been described as the last true wilderness in Southern England, and while its breathtaking terrain – characterised by beautiful heather moorland, sweeping wooded valleys and rugged windswept Torrs – is both pleasing and enchanting, the area is notoriously cruel and unforgiving, particularly in the winter months when sudden and dramatic changes in the weather can pose considerable hazards for the uninitiated. Yet it is this same temperamental character that is so appealing to Dartmoor’s estimated 10 million annual visitors; one minute inviting and pleasant, and the next harsh and inhospitable. The melancholy splendour of Dartmoor is unmatched by any other part of the UK, and presents a challenging terrain for climbers, walkers and cyclists. It is also the area’s unique feeling of isolation and remoteness that holds such appeal – Dartmoor is the perfect place to get away from the constraints and pressures of the overcrowded cities and to discover life at a more relaxed pace.

There is evidence of habitation of Dartmoor dating back thousands of years, and the region is rich in archaeological remains, yet the population of Dartmoor has always been very low and sparse - the present number of people living on Dartmoor numbers just 33,000. Dartmoor has hosted residents, since 1806, at His or Her Majesty’s Pleasure; Dartmoor Prison was, and still is one of the country’s most notorious gaols, the bleak and isolated location being chosen specifically to discourage escapees. Dartmoor is also peppered with many charming little villages and towns, their economies for centuries having relied on the wool trade, cattle markets and of course copper and tin mining. Although many of the local markets, and Dartmoor woollenwear, still live on, mining met its demise here long ago. Today much of Dartmoor’s economy relies on tourism, and besides the breathtaking and rugged natural delights this area has to offer, there are also many museums and attractions, and the region is endowed with an uncommonly high concentration of first-class hotels, restaurants and country inns. Dartmoor National Park, despite its pleasing remoteness, is relatively easy to reach – the boundaries of the National Park are described by the A30, A38 and A386 routes, which in turn may be accessed via the M5 motorway.

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