Brimpts Farm

Dartmoor’s top for trekking but it also has more to take up a traveller’s time, from wild swimming in Sharrah Pool on the River Dart to horse riding, climbing and canyoning. To tour the towns and manors in this countryfied area, try the National Trust’s Castle Drogo (40 minutes away) for lush gardens (and even lusher views over Teign Gorge). Or amble to Ashburton (30 minutes) for cute churches and pub lunching in former coaching houses. Speaking of gorges, the deepest one in the south west is at Lydford (35 minutes), and around the same distance away are Morwellham Quay for a Victorian museum in a historic village with a port, copper mine and railway as well as the Tamar Trails Centre so the kids can hike, bike and canoe while mums and dads take a break in the coffee shop. The 500-metre downhill mountain biking Gawton Gravity Hub trail’s around here for thrillseekers, just along from Maddacleave Wood (30 minutes from the park) if leisurely lopes through the trees appeal a little more than throwing yourself down a hill...