Whitchurch and Tavistock
The village of Whitchurch is home to a number of historical points of interest. St Andrew's Church dates from the 15th century and Walreddon Manor was built during the reign of King Edward VI in the 16th century. Nearby Tavistock is an ancient market town with a history reaching back to the middle ages. Aside from a number of historical buildings, Tavistock also features a Pannier Market with regular food festivals, craft fairs and Farmers' Markets.
Dartmoor National Park
The vast area of Dartmoor is one of the UK's greatest National Parks and Whitchurch is an excellent base for trips into this legendary wilderness. The granite moorland gives Dartmoor its iconic tors – hills topped with outcrops of bedrock – and there are a number of walking routes that encompass several tors as landmarks along the way. There are hiking paths for walkers of all ages and levels of ability, whether you're planning on a gentle stroll or an epic journey across the moorland.
Aside from walking, Dartmoor features a number of historical and cultural points of interest. Princetown has a fascinating visitor's centre detailing the history of the landscape, Dartmoor prison and its connection to Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. Bovey Castle is an early 20th-century country mansion that now houses a luxury hotel and spa, and Buckfast Abbey is an active Benedictine monastery on the eastern edge of Dartmoor – the trip across the moors is well worth the journey to see the abbey's breathtaking Gothic architecture.
The Tamar Valley
A short trip to the east of Whitchurch is the beautiful Tamar Valley area. The village of Gunnislake is a great place to visit, close to the historic river port of Morwellham Quay, an open-air museum that details the mining heritage around the docks and includes the chance to dress up in Victorian period clothes and go on a trip through an old tin mine. South of Gunnislake is Calstock, a picturesque riverside village that features the impressive Calstock Viaduct bridge and Cotehele House, a Tudor house and gardens that was the home of the Edgcumbe family for several centuries.
Follow the Tamar River towards the sea and you'll soon come to the city of Plymouth. This vibrant city boasts a rich cultural and historical heritage and, in addition to a variety of restaurants and shops, is home to a number of points of interest, including The Barbican, Smeaton's Tower and the National Marine Aquarium.
