Out & About
In Yelverton and beyond
At the south-western edge of Dartmoor National Park and overlooking the village green, this classic Edwardian house is just 20 minutes drive from the Ocean City of Plymouth, and 15 minutes from the market town of Tavistock. We are also under an hour from the English Riviera and the historic city of Exeter.
There is plenty for all the family to see and do, and Yelverton itself has a lovely range of places to eat, drink and relax.
Places to Eat
The Rock Inn
2 minute walk
Yelverton’s premier Free House. Family owned since the 1880s, this unique pub is ideally located to enjoy high quality traditional food and service.
therockinnyelverton.pub
The Larder
2 minute walk
A family run Delicatessen serving delicious hot and cold food every day except Mondays.
thegamelarderyelverton
The Game Larder
Dartmoor Bakery
2 minute walk
A lovely bakery / cafe. Eat in or Takeaway. Freshly baked wholesome food, perfect picnic fare.
dartmoorbakery
Dartmoor Bakery
Jasmine Chinese Restaurant
10 minute walk
Popular restaurant with a good reputation in the wider area. Always busy with locals and visitors alike. Booking recommended for larger groups or at weekends, tel: 01822 852807.
Drake Manor Inn
10 minute drive
This 16th Century family-friendly Inn at Buckland Monachorum is rightly renowned for its atmosphere and good food. Locally sourced menu using seasonal produce. Dogs welcome.
drakemanorinn.co.uk
The Royal Oak
10 minute drive
An award-winning, characterful 15th Century hideaway. Tradition has it that it was known to King John and his followers. Well behaved dogs and children welcome.
royaloakinn.org.uk
The Who'd Have Thought It Inn
15 minute drive
A quintessential 16th Century English Free House in Milton Coombe, offering a fresh seasonal menu with daily specials featuring local seafood and game in a postcard setting.
whodhavethoughtitdevon.co.uk
Shops & Facilities
As well a good selection of local pubs and restaurants, Yelverton and surrounding area offers everything else you might need on hand, including a doctor, dentist, vet, Post Office, chemist, florist, a choice of hairdressers, bicycle hire, butchers, bakers, a Co-op supermarket, cash machines, a garage and a petrol station.
The Dartmoor Aesthetics & Holistic Clinic
Heather Christie runs The Dartmoor Aesthetics& Holistic Clinic from a ground-floor room within the house. An Advanced Nurse Practitioner, she offers safe, professional and caring anti-ageing treatments to ladies & gents from the local area.
Places to Go
Visitor Attractions
The Yelverton Paperweight Centre holds the Broughton Collection of paperweights and an extensive range of paperweights available to purchase in the shop. Bernard Broughton’s private collection, on display since 1978, includes paperweights from glassworks in the UK, France and further afield. The centre also has special art exhibitions.
Dartmoor Prison Museum Princetown. 12 minute drive
Learn about ‘life inside’ one of the world’s most famous and notorious jails. The museum vividly portrays more than 200 years of Dartmoor Prison’s turbulent history, from POW Depot in Napoleonic times to the present day » www.dartmoor-prison.co.uk
Morwellham Quay Tavistock. 20 minute drive
Location of the BBC’s 2010 production of ‘The Edwardian Farm’. Morwellham is an award-winning working village, copper mine and craft centre which forms part of a World Heritage site. Discover a lost world. Lots of children’s activities » www.morwellham-quay.co.uk
Powdermills Pottery nr Princetown. 20 minute drive
Housed in granite buildings that were once part of a 19th Century gunpowder factory, Powdermills Pottery is the home and workplace of potter Joss Hibbs. Joss makes a range of tableware using clays and other materials found around the moor. There is a shop and cream teas are served in the courtyard during the summer; hot drinks and cake beside the woodburner during the winter months » www.powdermillspottery.com
The National Marine Aquarium Plymouth. 25 minute drive
The largest public aquarium in the UK with awe-inspiring exhibits featuring a fascinating underwater world of marine animals from near and far – including 70 sharks » www.national-aquarium.co.uk
Eden Project Bodelva, Cornwall. 1 hour drive
Created from a disused clay pit and opened in 2001, Eden Project has consistently been recognised as ‘Best UK Leisure Attraction’ in the British Travel Awards. Massive Biomes house the largest rainforest in captivity with steamy jungles and waterfalls, stunning plants and gardens, world-class sculpture and art, education centre and a rainforest canopy walkway. Summer concerts and year-round family events. » www.edenproject.com
Houses, Parks & Gardens
A beautiful 10 acre garden with tea rooms » www.thegardenhouse.org.uk
Wildside Nursery Buckland Monachorum. 5 minute drive
An experiment in new naturalism; inspirational natural landscapes, plant sales » www.wileyatwildside.com
Buckland Abbey Yelverton. 10 minute drive
A 13th Century National Trust property with woodland trails, guided walks, restaurant, tea rooms and picnic areas. Dogs welcome » www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey
Saltram House Plympton. 25 minute drive
A house full of treasures, stories and intrigue, with a secret garden and large parkland. Dogs welcome » www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saltram
Castle Drogo Exeter. 25 minute drive
A dramatic early 20th Century castle, designed by Edwin Lutyens, overlooking the Teign Gorge. Currently undergoing a National Trust conservation project. Secret garden, river walks » www.nationaltrust.org.uk/castle-drogo
Mount Edgcumbe House & Country Park Torpoint Cornwall. A one hour drive, or short ferry trip across the Tamar from Plymouth.
Grade I Listed gardens and fine historic house first built in the 1500s. A choice of cafés » www.web.plymouth.gov.uk
The Lost Gardens of Heligan St Austell Cornwall. 90 minute drive
Discovered under a tangle of brambles following the hurricane of 1990, the award-winning Lost Gardens restoration project now extends to well over 200 acres. A world of romance, nostalgia and adventure. Kitchen & Bakery. Dogs welcome » www.heligan.com
On Dartmoor
‘Gifts from Dartmoor’ sell an impressive range of publications for walkers, cyclists and foodies so if you are planning ahead we suggest a visit to their online store » giftsfromdartmoor.com/collections/out-and-about-on-dartmoor
RAF Harrowbeer
A stone’s throw from The Rosemont is the former RAF Harrowbeer. Now open moorland, various elements of this war time airfield, operational from 1941-1949, can still be seen today. Guided walks available on weekends and summer evenings with the RAF Harrowbeer Interest Group » www.rafharrowbeer.co.uk
Burrator Reservoir
A unique day out for families, nature enthusiasts, historians and Dartmoor lovers alike, and just a short distance from The Rosemont » www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Cadover Bridge
A local beauty spot popular with visitors and locals alike. There are a number of off-road car parks, picnic area along the riverbank and pleasant walking on to the moors, upriver or downstream to Shaugh Bridge » www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cadover-bridge
Shaugh Bridge
Ancient oakwoods and mossy boulders cloak the Plym Valley; riverside walks pass the atmospheric Dewerstone Rocks and industrial ruins. Dewerstone Rocks are well known amongst the climbing community, offering over 100 climbing routes and a good variety of grades to suit different abilities » www.nationaltrust.org.uk/shaugh-bridge
Postbridge
A hamlet next to the East Dart river and just a few miles from The Rosemont, which includes the UK’s finest example of a clapper bridge, believed to have been constructed in the 12th or 13th Century and drawing visitors from around the world » www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk
Lydford Gorge
The deepest gorge in the South West, accessible only by foot. The River Lyd plunges 30 metres to create the spectacular Whitelady waterfall. Lovely walks » www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lydford-gorge
Dartmeet
Where the east and west branches of the River Dart meet; an easily accessible beauty spot with some lovely, and popular, walks and trails. The Badgers Holt café or Brimpts Farm tea room welcome weary travellers. Grid Ref: SX 672 731 » www.devonguide.com/dartmeet
Ditsworthy Warren / Drizzlecombe
A short drive on to the moor from The Rosemont, this is a wonderful place to see the old granite roads used by tinners, ancient Standing Stones and, in more recent history, sites used by Steve Spielberg whilst filming scenes for his 2011 film ‘War Horse’. Grid Ref: SX 584 663.
Dewerstone
The Dewerstone is the site of an Iron Age Hill fort on a rocky promontory overlooking the River Plym. With vistas across Plymouth Sound to the south and into Corwall to the west, the tor is well worth the steep climb from Shaugh Bridge. Well known to climbers, it provides classic low to mid-grade climbing. Grid Ref: SX 538 639.
Foxtor Mire
Foxtor Mire near Princetown is said to be the inspiration for the fictional Great Grimpen Mire in which the entomologist and villain Jack Stapleton sinks to his demise in the classic Conan Doyle novel of Sherlock Holmes adventures in ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’. Fox Tor Grid Ref: SX 626 698.
Princetown Granite Railway
If you are new to walking on Dartmoor and don’t want to stray off the beaten track, or if you prefer a fairly gently stroll, a 10-mile walk along the old railway line from Princetown (which closed in 1956) is an ideal route. Take a bus to Princetown and follow the track back to Yelverton. Also used as an off-road cycle route.
Ancient Sites & Features
Dartmoor is an ancient tract of land encompassing many prehistoric features including bronze age settlements, stone circles and rows, magaliths, menhirs, hill forts, cairns and kists. An OS map and a stout pair of walking shoes will reveal many gems. A comprehensive listing can be found at » www.devoninfocus.co.uk
Things to Do
Walking / Hiking
Dartmoor National Park is open access land which means that, with very few restrictions, you can enjoy walking and hiking almost anywhere on the moor. Wooded valleys, granite tors, fast flowing streams and great views await » www.dartmoor.gov.uk
Letterboxing
Letterboxing is a great way to explore Dartmoor, and has similarities to orienteering. It’s an activity that originated here in 1854 and has since become popular around the world; read all about it at » www.dartmoorletterboxing.org
Drake’s Trail
Drake’s Trail is a 21-mile network of walking and cycling trails linking Tavistock to Plymouth, offering something for all ages and fitness levels. Many of the trails are centred on the Yelverton area and are easily accessible from The Rosemont » www.drakestrail.co.uk
Cycling
The largely traffic-free 99 mile route from Ilfracombe to Plymouth skirts round the western flank of Dartmoor, passing through Yelverton » www.sustrans.org.uk
Off Road Cycling
Dartmoor offers 350km of designated cycleroutes, bridleways and byways to explore, but it’s important to note that cyclists are not permitted to ride on the open moor. The Dartmoor and Surrounding Area for Cyclists map is invaluable; we have copies available at The Rosemont. More about cycling on Dartmoor at » www.dartmoor.gov.uk
Climbing
Dartmoor is a wonderful place to climb, both for individuals and for groups. Many of the granite tors for which the National Park is famous offer challenging routes and bouldering opportunities amongst some of the wildest country in the south west. The most popular climbs local to Yelverton are Sheepstor (Grid Ref: 566 684) and the Dewerstone (Grid Ref: 538 639). Instruction courses are available locally.
Indoor Climbing
The Barn Climbing Centre is a dedicated climbing venue in Tavistock, offering a large wall and free standing boulder suitable for beginners or more experienced climbers. The Barn provides a friendly, sociable place to train and meet other climbers » www.barnclimbingwall.co.uk
Bouldering
Dartmoor provides a plentiful supply of excellent granite bouldering. Those that enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in splendid situations will revel in the delights of The Moor. There is a wide variety of settings from open moorland to woodland and each crag has it’s own unique texture to keep you interested » www.javu.co.uk and www.rockrun.com
On & In the Water
The Mount Batten Watersports & Activity Centre, just 14 miles/35 minutes drive away in Plymouth, offers a huge variety of water-based and land-based activities for all the family. Multi-activity courses available » www.mount-batten-centre.com
Kayaking, Paddle Boarding, Canoeing, Sailing & Fishing
Slightly further afield Roadford Lake (or Roadford Reservoir) near Oakhampton is one of the biggest and busiest inland waters in the southwest; this unique site boasts a large activity centre and a café which is open all year round. The lake is also well stocked with brown trout for the enthusiastic anglers and fishing boats can be hired from the activity centre » www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Whitewater Kayaking on the River Dart
The Dart has some of the best mid grade white water in the UK which makes it a popular destination for canoeists and kayakers alike. Add to that the spectacular scenery, peaceful surroundings and space to just get out on the water, and you have the perfect environment for an awesome day of adventure. October – end March only (not available through summer months / open fishing season) » www.crsadventures.com
Wild Swimming
Hailed in the Wild Swimming book as ‘…possibly the most magical wild swimming in Britain’, Dartmoor has some exceptional places to take a dip. You will find cool water reached via steep forests with natural pools and water slides. So don’t forget your bathing suit!
Golf
Just one mile from The Rosemont is a delightful 18 Hole moorland course, designed by Herbert Fowler who used the old mine workings as natural hazards to challenge golfers of all standards. It has outstanding views across Dartmoor and over Cornwall and is a very natural course, with Dartmoor ponies and cattle sharing the fairways » www.yelvertongolf.co.uk
Yelverton Golf Driving Range
Two miles from The Rosemont is the floodlit driving range at Crapstone, offering a chance for beginners to practice or more experienced golfers to improve » 01822 855526
Tavistock Golf Club
Lying on the western slopes of Dartmoor, within the national park boundary and 6 miles from The Rosemont, Tavistock Golf Club has the added attraction of being in an area of outstanding beauty. With its wide fairways and sweeping vistas the course looks deceptively simple but it offers a challenging test for the unwary, and cunningly hidden bunkers that can trap the most proficient golfer » www.tavistockgolfclub.co.uk
St Mellion, Elfordleigh and Borrington Park
The St Mellion at Saltash (10 miles) offers two championship courses including The Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, amongst the finest in Europe and certainly one of the most famous. The Kernow Course, originally opened in 1976 and known as the Old Course, was renovated and extended in 2008 with wide fairways, big greens and spectacular views. Also 10 miles away from us, across the moor at Plympton, is Elfordleigh with its well established and highly regarded mature course. Practically next door to Elfordleigh is the Boringdon Park Golf Club set in 400 acres of parkland, offering a 9 Hole, an 18 Hole course and Driving Range.
Also…
The South West Lakes Trust offers both coarse and trout fishing at a number of reservoirs across the counties of Devon and Cornwall » www.swlakesfishing.co.uk. Sea Fishing opportunities are offered by Plymouth-based charter companies.
Horse Riding
Some 10 miles from The Rosemont is Fitzworthy Equestrian Centre, Ivybridge, offering moorland Hacks, picturesque Pub Rides, individual and group Lessons for all levels of rider » www.fitzworthyequestrian.co.uk and Cholwell Riding Stables, Tavistock, offering 1 hour – 2 hour rides with direct access on to open moorland » www.cholwellridingstables.co.uk
Tree Surfing
Tree surfing is an adrenaline-pumping, heart-thumping bird’s eye experience. A complex of ladders, rope bridges, zip wires and walkways gives you the freedom to explore an astounding broadleaf woodland from the top down! Tree Surfers is at the Tamar Trails Centre near Tavistock, about 20 minutes from The Rosemont » www.treesurfers.co.uk
Dry Slope Skiing, Snowboarding & Tobogganing
JNL Plymouth Ski & Snowboard Centre is open throughout the year, offering skiers and snowboarders of all ages and levels the facilities to practice and learn new skills. Also on offer is an exhilerating 650m toboggan run and Sno-tube rides, all just a 20 minute drive from The Rosemont » www.jnlplymouth.co.uk
Landsailing / Kiteboarding
The former airfield RAF Harrowbeer is just yards from The Rosemont. The flat, open terrain makes it an ideal place for all types of kite-based activities. Bring your own if you have one, as we have yet to find anywhere they can be hired from.