| Covering no less than 365 square miles, Dartmoor is a living history book, just waiting to be read. All around lies evidence of man's attempts to live, exploit or make a living from these dramatic granite uplands. Innumerable hut circles, standing stones, barrows, crosses, stone rows and hill forts provide plentiful eveidence of pre-historic settlements.
In addition, scars across the landscape indicate mining activity from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the last century for lead, copper, manganese and especially tin. The four stannary towns (from the latin word stannum, meaning tin), of Tavistock, Chagford, Ashburton and Plympton were largely built from the profits of tin mining. Each place is well worth a visit, not just for their small shops and markets, but also for their interesting architecture and former tin merchant's homes.
Today, Dartmoor is farmed and you will see cattle, sheep and the distinctive, small but hardy Dartmoor ponies grazing the open moor. Several rivers, including the Dart rise here and their wooded valleys provide superb walking and nature watching opportunities, while the small hamlets and villages will give you a unique insight into moorland life.
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