Various different areas and several different towns have each laid claim to the title of 'Mid Devon' at some stage or other. However, for the purposes of Devon Self Catering.net website and to maintain clarity for the thousands of visitors to this beautiful area every year, 'Mid Devon' refers to that huge swathe of countryside, which starts some ten to fifteen miles inland from Devon's North and South coasts, and stretches from Exmoor and the Somerset borders in the East, to the rambling borders of Cornwall in the West.
This huge area, covering well over a thousand square miles, and which has remained almost unchanged for hundreds of years, contains countless little towns, villages, and hamlets, far too numerous to mention; but with such distinctive and descriptive names as Black Dog, Sheepwash, and Traveller's Rest, you can be assured that each has a unique character and charm of its very own and is well investigating.
Much of the rolling farmland for which Devon is so famous is contained within Mid Devon, which truly is the home of 'Chocolate Box' thatched cottages, clotted Devon cream teas, and quirky village pubs, where throughout the decades, many a dusty traveller has exchanged tales with a proverbial 'weary ploughman'. An enchanting insight into rural life in Mid Devon of old, and especially it's visiting funfairs, is available at Dingle's Steam Village and Fairground Museum near Lifton, on the county's eastern edge.
Taking a trip through Mid Devon is like taking a roller coaster ride, up and over rolling green hills and down and round, through lush green valleys. Gazing up at densely wooded hillsides one minute and following the meandering path of one of Devon's many winding rivers, as it makes it's way through one lazy meadow to the next.
Mid Devon is also home to some lovely stately homes, and glorious gardens such as Knightshayes Court, Winsford Walled Garden, and the magical Garden House, all of which are open to the public at various times throughout the year. Quince Honey Farm is another both 'natural' and educational attraction well worth a visit, whilst places like The Devon Railway Centre and Bickleigh Mill cater for the more mechanically minded, and for those shopperholics amongst us.
Roughly one quarter of Mid Devon is occupied by the world renown Dartmoor National Park, a spectacular landscape of rugged heath and moorlands, bathed in sunshine in the Summer, and more often than not, shrouded in an eerie grey mist during the Winter. Fortunately, there are many excellent self catering facilities within the Dartmoor National Park, and no holiday in Devon self-catering or otherwise, would be complete without paying a visit to this beautiful and breathtaking national treasure. But do please drive slowly around the twisting narrow roads when you visit, or better still leave the car behind and walk, as more likely than not, you'll come across a few sheep wandering about in the road, and probably one or two of the famous Dartmoor ponies will put in appearance as well.
The sights of Dartmoor are simply spectacular. Just spend a few minutes beside the imposing Haytor Rock gazing out over Lyme Bay, or wander around the historic village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, or pause to watch the damp autumn mist as it swirls around the infamous granite prison at Princetown, a building equally well known now for the intriguing Dartmoor Prison Heritage Centre which is also open to visitors, and you too will find it impossible not to be inspired by the constantly changing beauty of The Dartmoor National Park, and the surrounding area of Mid Devon in general.
