Dartmoor - Devon -UK

	Holiday Cottages - North Devon
Self catering holiday cottages ideal for exploring Exmoor, Dartmoor and the North Devon Coast
Add to Bookmarks  Country Ways  The Holiday Cottages  The Warren  The Cuckoo's Nest  Orchard Cottage  The Stables  The Den  The Dray   The Facilities    North Devon  Location Map  Self Catering Rates  Peak Weeks  Summer Off Peak  Winter Off Peak  Special Offers  Booking Form  Conditions of Booking Availability January February March April May June July August September October November December Click here if we are fully booked  Special Offers  Short Breaks  Hiring Whole Complex  Dogs  Local Information Email kate@country-ways.net  North Devon  Exmoor  Local Towns  North Devon Beaches  Golf Clubs  Riding in North Devon  Fishing in North Devon  Cycling in North Devon  North Devon Walks  Other Activities  Places of Interest  All Weather Interest  North Devon Museums  Arts and Crafts  North Devon Potteries  North Devon Produce  Family Attractions  North Devon Gardens  North Devon Pubs   Local weather    The Links Pages	Dartmoor - about 20 miles south of Country Ways  Covering an area of 368 sq miles (954 sq km), Dartmoor contains the largest and wildest area of open country in the south of England. By virtue of its outstanding natural beauty it is one of the National Parks of England and Wales. Unlike many National Parks in other countries, for example the USA, the National Parks in England and Wales are not owned by the state. The term National means that they have been identified as being of importance to our national heritage and as such are worthy of special protection and attention. Dartmoor’s landscape is of great archaeological importance, with over 10,000 entries on the County Sites and Monuments Register. There are over 1,000 Scheduled Ancient Monuments and this figure rises each year. Prehistoric evidence is everywhere to be seen from standing stones, stone rows, barrows and kistvaens. Later farming, quarrying and tin mining dramatically changed the landscape, over printing an archaeological heritage to the area. There are also over 2,500 buildings which are Listed because of their architectural or historic interest. A large part of Dartmoor (65%) is made up of granite, an igneous rock which was intruded some 295 million years ago. It is the largest of the 6 granite regions which form the spine of the Westcountry. Once known as Dartmoor forest, for it was covered by English Oak woodland it was reserved as a royal hunting ground. With thousands of years of farming, house and shipbuilding the woodland is now much depleted, but a few small areas still have ancient woodland cover. The park centres on the granite, which rises to a height of 619m (2,039ft) above sea level, but also includes the beautiful surrounding Devon countryside. To the south and north lie the agricultural farming lands, known as the “Hams”. These rich fertile lands lie on the surrounding country rock, older marine sediments and volcanic rocks of Devonian and Carboniferous age, a contrast with the upland granite areas.    Tors - There are over 160 tors on Dartmoor. The principal ones are: High Willhays 621m (2,039ft) SX 580 892 Yes Tor 619m (2,030ft) SX 581 901 Great Links Tor 586m (1,924ft) SX 551 867 Fur Tor 572m (1,876ft) SX 588 830 Great Mis Tor 539m (1,768ft) SX 562 770 Great Staple Tor 455m (1,493ft) SX 542 760 Haytor 454m (1,490ft) SX 757 770 Hound Tor 448m (1,469ft) SX 743 790 Sharpitor 402m (1,320ft) SX 559 703 Sheeps Tor 320m (1,050ft) SX 565 683 Vixen Tor 320m (1,050ft) SX 542 742 National Trust Areas Holne Woods 69 hectares 170 acres Lydford Gorge 48 hectares 119 acres Plym Estate 237 hectares 586 acres Teign Valley 165 hectares 408 acres Trowlesworthy Warren 1,349 hectares 3,333 acres Hembury 163 hectares 403 acres Castle Drogo 308 hectares 761 acres Milfordleigh 7 hectares 17 acres Wheal Betsy 1 hectare 2 acres Woodcock Wood 8 hectares 20 acres   The ancient stone crosses of Dartmoor represent one of the moorland landscape's most enduring features. For centuries these powerful monoliths have stood as enigmatic sentinels upon the moor, their origins often lost in time. Many were set up in the days when the Church held great power, and the influence of the monasteries spread throughout the land. Some mark ancient trackways -but for many there is no explanation of their siting -or any certainty of their date. Such is their mystery.

Country Ways Holiday Cottages Little Knowle Farm, High Bickington, Umberleigh, Nr Barnstaple, North Devon, UK. EX37 9BJ Tel 01769 560503 / 561186 kate@country-ways.net