Walks I enjoy

Lydford Gorge

This is a lovely walk for the family and you can make it short, or walk around the whole gorge which I recommend. The tree-lined scenery is absolutely stunning as the winding path takes you sometimes high and sometimes at water level. The gorge is pack with history.

This is the deepest gorge in south-west England, and stretches a distance of about 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from the spectacular "Devil's Cauldron" whirlpool at the bridge end to the very fine 30-metres-tall "White Lady Waterfall" at the other end.

It is said that during the 17th Century Lydford Gorge was infamous for being the hide-out of a large family of outlaws, the Gubbins, who terrorised the neighbourhood and stole sheep from the farms of Dartmoor. In the years at the beginning of the 19th Century during the war against Napoleon of France, Lydford Gorge became, for many travellers, a replacement for the Grand Tour of Continental Europe, and was much appreciated and valued for its grandeur and beauty.

Brent Tor

A visit to St. Michael's church on the top of Brent Tor on the western edge of Dartmoor is a regular for us, at Scarlett's insistence. It's such a tiny church on top of a high Tor that is a feature of the skyline for many miles around. This is another walk that can be as long or as short as you like. What's lovely in this day and age is that the church is always open and welcoming, and steeped in history.

The Church of St Michael de Rupe ("Saint Michael of the Rock") atop the Tor dates to the 13th century, and measures just 15 feet (4.6 m) wide and 37 feet (11 m) long and seats about 40 people. The tower is 40 feet (12 m) high and houses three bells. At one point, the Church may have been used as a Beacon tower, used to spread word of enemies seen out to sea. The views from the top are breathtaking and on a clear day you really can see forever.