Things To Do near Vale Down

Whiddon Deer Park, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

[Main photo: the southern end of Whiddon Deer Park in spring]   Huge views, bluebells, trees and a sculpture Whiddon Deer Park offers huge views of the Chagford area, the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park and the high north moor from Fernworthy Forest through Hangings...

Castle Drogo Visitor Centre and Cafe, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

To reach Castle Drogo by vehicle, you follow a long driveway from the Sandy Park/Drewsteignton road to the National Trust property. There's a spacious car park and the purpose built Castle Drogo Visitor Centre and Cafe. Stood in front of the building, you'll see the cafe in a wing of the b...

Hunter's Path Teign Gorge Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

The Hunter's Path forms part of the Two Moors Way and runs past the National Trust's Castle Drogo (National Trust) on the lip of the Teign Gorge (National Trust). This linear walk offers some of the finest views in Dartmoor National Park. Park at Fingle Bridge. This is a well known Dartmoor beaut...

Whiddon Wood, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

[Main photo: the upper section of Whiddon Wood]   Southern side of the Teign Gorge The River Teign flows through the stunning Teign Gorge in the north eastern section of Dartmoor National Park near Chagford. On either side of the river, heavily wooded gorge walls rise steeply. The popu...

Whiddon Deer Park Bluebell Circular Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

In 2014, the bluebells up at Whiddon Deer Park were at their best in the middle of May. Clearly, this is a Spring walk when the bluebells are out. For other bluebell walk recommendations, see our listing for Bluebell Walks. Start at Iron Bridge below the National Trust's Castle Drogo (National Tr...

Buckland Abbey (National Trust), Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

Family attraction Spend time walking Dartmoor's south plateau and you'll encounter a high number of ancient crosses. These marked routes across the moors. The routes were used by monks and others to travel between the medieval abbeys and priory that fringed the wild, high ground. Buckland Abbey w...

Coffin Stone, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

Study the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map and you'll come across lots of evocative place names. There's the Heap of Sinners and Deadman's Bottom, Mount Misery and the Coffin Stone. All these names tell fascinating stories about Dartmoor's past. Once, the dead were carried in coffins...

Ditsworthy Warren, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

Study a map of Dartmoor and you'll see plenty of names with the word 'warren' in them. Perhaps the most well-known example is Headland Warren by The Warren House Inn in the heart of the National Park. Another is Ditsworthy Warren in the Upper Plym Valley in the southern section of Dartmoor. Warre...

Fisherman's Path Teign Gorge Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

This is a variation on the circular Teign Gorge Walk. As the name suggests, the Teign Gorge (National Trust) was shaped by the River Teign. This walk explores the banks of the of the River Teign as it flows through the gorge from around Castle Drogo to Fingle Bridge. Park by Fingle Bridge and...

Dinna Clerks Longhouse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

Dartmoor is known for its longhouses. Higher Uppacott is a superb example of an extant longhouse. The ruined medieval village at Hound Tor is famous for its medieval longhouse foundations. We include the lesser known Dinna Clerks because it's a great excuse to encourage you to visit one of Sout...

Higher Hartor Tor, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

The Drizzle Combe complex is one of the most important collections of prehistoric sites in Dartmoor and Britain. It's situated on a gentle slope of moorland in the southern section of Dartmoor National Park and is part of the Upper Plym Valley that's managed by, among others, English Heritage.&...

Dart Gorge Dartmeet to Luckey Tor North Bank Walk, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

Just across the road from the large car parking area at Dartmeet is a viewing point where you can see the East Dart River and West Dart River merge to form the Double Dart or, as it's more commonly known, the River Dart. There are chunky granite steps leading down in to the water for those wanting a...

Evil Combe, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

The moor around Plym Steps is full of points of interest with evocative names. There's Grim's Grave, Deadman's Bottom, Giant's Hill and Great Gnats' Head. Arguably the best, and appropriately named, is Evil Combe. The upper section of the combe is steep and scarred by the remains of the tin mining i...

Skir Hill, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

Skir Hill is up there on the list of the most unlikely places you'll find yourself in Dartmoor National Park. Remote and with few obvious points of interest on it, Skir Hill also isn't on one of the many modern recreation paths or ancient travel routes that criss-cross the moor. If you're walking...

Deer Stalkers Paths, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)

The Teign Gorge (National Trust), located in the north eastern section of Dartmoor National Park near Chagford, is known for its natural beauty. Castle Drogo (National Trust) is at the western end of the gorge. Fingle Bridge is to the east. Most people walk between these two attractions when explori...