Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
VISITOR INFORMATION
The
Tourist Information Centre,
Town Hall,
Bedford Square, Tavistock (
&
01822/612938
), is in the bustling town of Tavistock
just outside the park. It has brochures and information about nearby towns. From
April to October, it's open daily from 9:30am to 5pm. From November to March, it's
open on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm. The
High
Moorland Visitors Centre
(Old Duchy Hotel, Princetown;
&
01822/890414
) is
an essential stopping point for a thorough exploration of the park. It stocks maps for
hiking and biking across the moors, as well as guides and brochures. Its staff can
answer any questions you might have. It's open daily 10am to 5pm in the summer,
and 10am to 4pm the rest of the year.
CHAGFORD
218 miles SW of London; 13 miles W of Exeter; 20 miles NW of Torquay
Chagford is a charming ancient village in north Dartmoor overlooking the River Teign
and surrounded by high granite tors (rocky hilltop outcrops). Its High Street and
picturesque town square still have some original store fronts, giving it a lovely lost-in-
time look, and its plentiful pubs and tea shops make it a good place to stop for lunch.
The village has many historic buildings, including the 16th-century
Endecott
House
in the town square, named after John Endecott, a Pilgrim and governor of the
Massachusetts Bay colony, who lived in Chagford before striking out for America.
The house is now used as the town's meeting hall.
The village hall
(Jubilee Hall)
near the public parking lot is another local gather-
ing place, which holds Friday markets and the local library.
The 13th-century
Three Crowns Hotel
is another building worth exploring for
its sheer longevity. Not far away, the
Church of St. Michael
dates to the 15th
century, and retains many of its original features. It was the scene of a tragic murder
hundreds of years ago (see “The Real Lorna Doone,” below).
To get here, catch Stagecoach bus no. 173. If you're driving from Exeter, drive west
on the A30, and then south on the A382 following signs to Chagford.
Exploring the Area
Buckland Abbey
ABBEY Built in the 13th century by Cistercian monks who
created a vast estate around it, the abbey was later converted into a home by Sir
Richard Grenville, which was then purchased by Sir Francis Drake. Over the years,
9
The Real Lorna Doone
In Chagford, the Church of St. Michael
was the scene of a famous tragedy in
which a beautiful local girl was killed
on her wedding day. According to leg-
end, on October 11, 1641, young Mary
Whiddon was married in the church.
As her guests gathered in front of the
building to cheer the new bride and
groom, she was gunned down when
she walked out the door. The killer was
a jealous suitor whose proposals she
had refused. The event was fictional-
ized in R. D. Blackmore's classic
Lorna
Doone
. Poor Mary is buried in the
church's graveyard. The inscription on
her gravestone reads B
EHOLD
A
MATRON
,
YET
A
MAID
. By tradition, every bride
married in the church leaves a flower
on her tombstone.
