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24 hours in Tavistock

25th September 2019

Categories: Visitor News

While Devon is full of beautiful beaches and rolling countryside, that isn’t all it has going for it. The middle section of the county has a huge amount of attractions and things to do as well, so we thought we’d spend some time introducing you to the glorious town of Tavistock!

Tavistock is a unique town set in a UNESCO World Heritage site with plenty to see and do, in fact, 24 hours isn’t quite enough time, but that just gives you the excuse to come back. Full of vibrant history the town has a range of beautiful independent shops, an historic pannier market and lots to keep you entertained.

First up, if you’re spending 24 hours here, you’re going to need somewhere to stay. Tavistock has plenty of accommodation to choose from, so you can really find something that suits your taste and budget.

For those who want something majestic and rural whilst still being a home from home, take a look at Langstone Manor Park. Set among delightful grounds right on the edge of Dartmoor National Park you can choose from a range of self-catering options including an apartment within the manor house, a caravan or a spacious cottage. Or if you fancied bringing your own accommodation, you can book a pitch for your tent, tourer or motorhome.

Image: Langstone Manor Park.

If you want a chance to sample some amazing local produce for breakfast, The Granary B&B can be found at Borough Farm and has a wonderful view over Dartmoor where if you are an early riser, you can watch the dramatic sunrise. If you love the breakfast, you can also order a home-made meal in the evening, or of course, go out and about exploring. For something a little bit different, Tavistock is home to Devon Yurt, a glamping site right on the fringes of Dartmoor. This is camping with a huge difference, each of the yurts contain proper full sized beds made with 100% Egyptian cotton, carpets, rugs and log burners! If you’ve never tried glamping before, your trip to Tavistock would be the perfect opportunity!

Right, now you’ve found somewhere to stay, let’s get you out and about exploring. Tavistock is a truly unique place to visit, full of history and fascinating tourist attractions. An award-winning family-friendly attraction is Morwellham Quay. This museum of sorts is part of the World Heritage site and has everything from a historic port, village, copper mine and railway, there’s so much to see there you could easily spend all day there.

Image: Morwellham Quay

If you’d rather be out in the open being active, there’s plenty to keep you entertained too, head over to the Tamar Trails Centre.
This is an ideal destination for anyone who loves the great outdoors, the site has everything from hiking trails, cycle trails, horse riding and canoeing opportunities and adventure activities from zip wires and more! If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, you’ll also enjoy Tree Surfers. This activity centre is suitable for ages and offers several tree top adventures for the thrill seekers among you. Take a trip across rope bridges, zip lines, walkways and Tarzan style swings while enjoying the beautiful Tamar Valley! Again, you could spend all day there, but if not, there are plenty of other fun things to do in the area.

As well as rural exploits, visitors to Tavistock can enjoy canoeing around the River Tamar with Canoe Tamar. This relaxing activity is a great way to enjoy the stunning scenery and wildlife of the region while also having fun in a unique way.

Image: Canoe Tamar.

If that isn’t enough to entice you, there is also a café on site!

If you prefer to have your adventures on dry land and with two wheels, Tavistock also has its own cycle route which takes in many of the area’s landmarks, including Brent Tor, it’s not ideal for family groups or anyone with younger children because some of it follows the road, but it’s ideal for adults who want to explore me. If you’ve got enough stamina to do the whole route, you’ll also get to pass Lydford Gorge and Waterfall and Lydford Castle.
Speaking of Brent Tor, this 1130ft tor overlooks the town and looks incredible over the skyline as the sun starts to set. There is a trail for anyone who would like to trek to the top and the view when you get there is pretty spectacular with nothing but open moorland in every direction.

Of course, when you’re in Devon you’ll want to stop off somewhere for a cream tea, luckily there are plenty of places to do just that in Tavistock with its pannier market which has a range of stalls as well as cafes and eateries serving everything from cakes to light lunches. There are loads of great places to grab a meal too if you choose to stay in a self-catering property. You can choose from independent retailers offering a selection of locally produced food or from one of the many high street names with familiar menus that can also be found in the town centre.

Still looking for things to do? You can take a look at the region’s bustling event calendar here. Have you been to Tavistock? Got any more suggestions of places to visit? Let us know, you can get in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.