What to do and see in Dartmoor National Park, England: The Best Things to do

We are a small, friendly and very different visit for all the family. Run by a small dedicated team we aim to make your visit educational and fun. You can enjoy and learn about our tropical butterflies in the specially designed habitat of which you become part. You not only see the butterflies but feel the rainforest atmosphere that they enjoy as you see their amazing life cycle unfold.In the Otter Sanctuary there are three species of otter to see, our native British otter, the playful Asian short clawed otters and the large North American river otters who love to show off. Our keeper is on hand to explain all about the otters to visitors, some are here for breeding, some for retirement, some just for fun and some because they are unsuitable to be returned to the wild.Make sure to bring your camera.

Set in 90 acres of parkland within Dartmoor National Park, the River Dart Country Park is one of Devon’s best-loved family tourist attractions and campsites. The park is packed with activities, so get here early for a great day out, or stay longer, and explore Devon, from our award-winning campsite and holiday park!

The remains of the largest castle in Devon, in a stunning setting on a wooded spur above the rushing River Okement. Begun soon after the Norman Conquest as a motte and bailey castle with a stone keep, it was converted into a sumptuous residence in the 14th century by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon, much of whose work survives. After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1538, it declined into an allegedly haunted ruin.

All the Fun of the Farm A visit to multi award winning Pennywell Farm is packed full of animals, activities, shows and displays. It’s the biggest activity farm in the South West and there’s something new happening every hour, just listen for the bell. See for yourself why Pennywell has been awarded Best Visitor Attraction in the Devon Tourism Awards for the 2nd consecutive year! Your visit begins with a warm welcome in the main farmyard where you can have a look at the activity board to see what’s going on. Take a snap on your smartphone to make sure you don’t miss a single thing! Then you can join in with fabulous farm activities like goat milking, ferret racing, deer feeding, egg collecting and much, much more. Home to the world famous Pennywell Miniature pigs, we promise that you will never have experienced anything quite like the phenomenon that is Pennywell pig racing. Come and cheer on your favourite porker in this truly unique event.

Situated at the very heart of the historic town of Tavistock is the ancient Pannier Market. A range of quality stalls and services available all year round and a fantastic tourist attraction.Tavistock Pannier Market is a wonderful historic market with over 900 years of history. It is an indoor market which is heated on cold days. 5 day permanent traders are situated around the market with the centre traders changing throughout the week.Open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am - 4:30pm

This is a showroom of life size 3D models. All the models are for sale and we welcome careful visitors to take a look around. Our showrooms are free, and our models range from tigers, racing cars to famous faces. Do come and take a look around.

National Park Visitor Centre, Haytor is staffed by knowledgeable local people who will be pleased to help you with your visit to the area. There is an extensive range of maps, guide books and publications about Dartmoor available at the Information Centre. There is also a range of useful items for the outdoor enthusiast and a variety of gifts, stationery and local products that are available to purchase. Haytor is easily accessed from the A38. The road winds steeply up from Bovey Tracey but once on the moor the spectacular view of Haytor is not to be missed. There are good car parks in this area and toilet facilities are available next to the Visitor Centre. There are a variety of both short and longer walks with lots of local interest and the centre staff will be pleased to help you plan a suitable route. The popular village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor is also only a short drive away.