Dartmoor is the largest and wildest area of open country in southern England and I am often asked to recommend some Dartmoor cottages to rent. It is a mostly rugged moorland landscape, with some wooded valleys and a host of charming villages where you will find most of our Dartmoor holiday cottages.

Situated in the middle of Devon between the north and south coasts, Dartmoor is where tall, windswept granite tors stand out atop wild and rugged hills on two high plateaux split by the valley of the River Dart. On those plateaux the famous Dartmoor ponies still graze. It is a rich habitat for wildlife and has a wealth of archaeological remains which dot the landscape of the moor. For many this ancient, windswept landscape is best explored on foot.

Dartmoor is not just a wild place, but a special one too. It is home to nature reserves and sites of Special Scientific Interest, endangered birds and rare plants, and thousands of ancient monuments and archaeological sites, including burial chambers and stone circles - more than anywhere else in Europe. There are the remains of mines and quarries, and on the fringes of the moor, you’ll find ruined castles, pretty villages, medieval abbeys, ancient churches and bridges.

If you are staying at any of our Dartmoor holiday cottages a visit to Haytor Rocks is recommended. It is probably the most visited tor on Dartmoor, with its huge granite mass depicted on numerous postcards, sketches, paintings and photographs. There are some fine views from the top which encompass moor and coast alike. Not only is it popular with visitors it is also popular with rock climbers.

For visitors to Dartmoor cottages make an ideal base from which to explore the many attractive towns and villages surrounding the moorland.

Bovey Tracey is a small, busy town on the edge of Dartmoor known as 'The Gateway to the Moor'. Nearby at the mouth of the Teign estuary is Teignmouth, a popular Victorian seaside town and historic port situated between stunning red sandstone cliffs. It has all the attractions of a seaside town - sandy beaches that stretch the length of the promenade, Victorian pier, lido, interesting old back streets and a mixture of parks and cliff walks.

Ashburton was an important centre of the Dartmoor tin industry and a medieval wool town. At one time nearly half of the tin from Dartmoor passed through the town.

Just a few miles away is Buckfastleigh, another historic wool town and home to some of Devon's top visitor attractions including Buckfast Abbey - a living Benedictine monastery, the South Devon Railway's steam-operated branch line to Totnes, the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary.

Ivybridge has a magnificent natural setting on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park and boasts centuries of history both as a mill town and as a staging post on the route from London. Nearby is the varied and spectacular South Hams coastline with sheltered hidden coves, long golden sands as well as tree-shaded serenity of the Dart and Kingsbridge estuaries.

Tavistock, is an exceptionally attractive town owing as much to some fine Victorian architecture as to its picturesque location on the banks of the river Tavy. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England rates Tavistock as the Best Market Town in the country. Reputed to be the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake, his statue within the town is the original of the replica to be found on Plymouth Hoe. Overlooking Tavistock, and Dartmoor to the east is Brent Tor. At the summit is the small church of St Michael. From here the view is moorland in every direction.

Castle Drogo is the last castle to be built in Britain, although it is perhaps more a country house masquerading as a fortress. Built in the 1920s it is one of the most remarkable works of the famous architect Edwin Lutyens. Set above the Teign Gorge the dramatic Dartmoor setting can be appreciated from the delightful formal garden and walks into a rhododendron valley.

Launceston is an ancient market town which was once the capital of old Cornwall. It is quintessentially Cornish, with its Georgian houses, narrow streets and market square all overlooked by its castle keep high on a mount.

I've come up with a selection of Dartmoor cottages across the National Park. So, if you are looking for Dartmoor cottages to rent, why not browse my selection to find something that catches your eye?

For enquiries, availability or to book over the phone please call: 0844 561 8329
Opening Hours: Mon, Tues 9am-7pm, Wed-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm