Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park

Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park

Family attraction

Just off the main road, in a courtyard by Okehampton Tourism Information Centre, the Museum of Dartmoor Life is arranged on three floors.

In our opinion, it's a superb local museum exploring the geology, prehistory and history of Dartmoor National Park. We'd recommend a visit to the museum for all first-time visitors to the National Park.

On the occasions that we've visited, it's been suggested we start on the upper floor as this begins with Dartmoor's prehistory. There's excellent information on the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), Neolithic (New Stone Age), Bronze Age and Iron Age. Journeying through human history, information boards and exhibits cover the Roman period, the Dark Ages and medieval Dartmoor. There's a good section on the English Civil War.

As you move down a floor, there's a display about Dartmoor's geology which, in turn, acts as an introduction to the various ways in which people have made their living from the land. Mining, quarrying, the wool trade and military usage are explored.

The ground floor has exhibits relating to agriculture, domestic and local life.

Also visit the Princetown National Park Visitor Centre.