Explore the myths and legends of Dartmoor National Park’s vast expanse of windswept landscapes. Stroll medieval villages, sprawling moors, and Bronze Age ruins to uncover the enduring tales they’ve inspired. Scamper among twisted trees and shaggy sheep and explore a medieval water supply. Along the way, hunker down in cozy pubs to chat with friendly locals and special guests to discover what makes this quiet corner of southwest England so unique.
- Hike Wistman’s Wood, an ancient gnarled oak forest
- Explore Bronze Age stone circles
- Unwind in small neighborhood pubs with friendly locals
- Underground exploration of Exeter’s medieval water supply
- Enjoy a stay at a country house with beautiful grounds and scenic views
Itinerary
Day 1: Ghosts and Legends of Exeter
Meet up with your guide and fellow travelers in the early afternoon to explore historic Exeter's unique mix of ancient and modern details. Set out on an exploration of the St. Nicholas Priory, the oldest building in Exeter. We get a taste of the history of this ancient building with a guided tour. Once the sun goes down, join your guide for a twilight tour of ghostly and legendary sites. You'll stop at a pub or two; of course, every pub has at least one ghost or legend in Exeter.
Day 2: An Idyllic Retreat on the Moor
Journey westward through the verdant Teign Valley and the small town of Moretonhampstead and up to the open moor. Today is a day of stone circles and open moors, songs and stories. We'll meet a local folk singer who will sing us tales of love, loss and the land beneath our feet. Towards the end of the day we settle into our hotel, a country house with beautiful grounds and scenic views on the banks of the river Teign. Set right in the heartland of Dartmoor National Park, this will be our homebase for the next few days. In the evening, if the weather is clear, you'll have the option of a local night hike.
Day 3: Tracing the River Dart
Chart the course of the River Dart, which flows across our country estate. Follow its winding path down to where it leaves the moor, stopping to appreciate this unique landscape's sights, sounds, and scents. You'll pass Bronze Age settlements, lonely graves, and locations that inspired "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by Sherlock Holmes. Lunch will be at the Rugglestone in Widecombe, one of the jewels of the moor. Once a simple one-room pub for working folk from the farms, the Rugglestone is now slightly larger but still retains a charm that is totally unique. Dinner will be in a Chagford Inn known for its history and fine food.
Day 4: Wander Wistman's Wood
Today, lace up your hiking shoes for a two-mile hike through fairytale-esque Wistman's Wood, one of the last remaining tracts of Dartmoor's ancient gnarled oak forest. Wander in the quiet stillness of these trees and witness a legendary example of nature and landscape. Lunch will be at the Two Bridges hotel on the banks of the West Dart . For the afternoon, you can choose to explore the town of Chagford's cafes and galleries or visit Bronze Age dwellings whose outlook have been unchanged for millennia. We will take our final dinner together in Fine Inn a few miles form the hotel, steeped in local lore and a love of local food and good company.
Day 5: A Medieval Farewell
After breakfast, return to Exeter for one final highlight: a tour of the city's magnificent medieval cathedral. Enjoy one last lunch and a parting pint in a riverside pub, then catch the train back to London or extend your time in Exeter.
Images of Yarmouth beaches, Isle of Wight
Images of Woolacombe beaches, Devon
Images of Winterton-on-Sea beaches, Norfolk
Images of Whitstable beaches, Kent