Attractions and Places To See around Buckland Monachorum - Top 20

The area offers several well-loved routes. The Plym Valley Trail is a traffic-free path through National Trust woodland along the River Plym, leading past industrial ruins and viaducts. Another excellent option is Drake's Trail, a 21-mile route connecting Plymouth and Tavistock, which includes features like the historic Grenofen Tunnel and the scenic Gem Bridge.

Buckland Monachorum is rich in history. You can explore Buckland Abbey, originally a Cistercian monastery and later the home of Sir Francis Drake, now a National Trust property. St Andrew's Church has deep historical roots, including connections to the Drake family and a Saxon-era baptismal font. The Drake Manor Inn is a historic pub with parts dating back to the 12th century, and Harrowbeer Airfield served as a crucial wartime airfield during WWII.

Yes, the region boasts significant natural beauty. Buckland Monachorum is on the western edge of Dartmoor National Park and within the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can visit The Garden House, an acclaimed 8-acre modern garden, or explore moorland areas like Shaugh Bridge, Cadover, Down Tor, and Cuckoo Rock for expansive views. Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor's fringes is also a noted beauty spot.

Visitors frequently praise the blend of history and nature. The trails, such as the Plym Valley Trail and Drake's Trail, are popular for their scenic beauty and historical context, with many enjoying cycling through old railway tunnels like Grenofen Tunnel. The impressive engineering of structures like Gem Bridge and the opportunity for wild swimming at Foggintor Quarry Lake are also highly rated experiences.

Absolutely. Many of the trails, including the Plym Valley Trail and sections of Drake's Trail, are suitable for families, offering traffic-free cycling and walking. The Gem Bridge provides safe and scenic views for all ages. Historic sites like Buckland Abbey also offer engaging experiences for families.

Beyond exploring attractions, you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. The area is excellent for hiking, with routes like the 'Gem Bridge & Double Waters loop' and the 'River Walkham and River Tavy loop'. Cycling is also very popular, with options for gravel biking and road cycling, including routes around Burrator Reservoir and along the Plym Valley. You can find more details on specific routes in the hiking, gravel biking, and road cycling guides for Buckland Monachorum.

For those interested in wild swimming, Foggintor Quarry Lake (North Side) is a popular and striking natural setting. The deep, clear water is often enjoyed for a refreshing dip on warmer days, and you might also find climbers on the surrounding rocks.

Yes, for those interested in ancient history, the surrounding moorland areas like Shaugh Bridge, Cadover, Down Tor, and Cuckoo Rock contain ancient sites such as stone circles and cairns. Further afield, the Merrivale Prehistoric Settlement offers numerous Bronze Age and medieval sites for historical exploration.

The spring and autumn months are often ideal for outdoor activities, offering pleasant temperatures and beautiful scenery, especially when the trees display their autumnal colors. Summer is also popular, though trails can be busier. Winter can be picturesque, but some routes may be more challenging due to weather conditions.

The area features several impressive man-made structures, particularly those related to the historic railway lines. The Grenofen Tunnel and Shaugh Tunnel, both built by Brunel in the mid-1850s, are now lit foot and cycle paths. The modern Gem Bridge, towering over the River Walkham, is another notable engineering feat built on the site of an original Brunel viaduct.

Yes, the region offers several longer cycling routes. Drake's Trail itself is 21 miles long. For gravel biking, you can find challenging routes like the 'Granite & Gears: Princetown & Burrator Loop' (45 km) or the 'Plym Valley Trail – Shaugh Tunnel loop from Plympton' (37 km). Road cyclists can tackle routes such as the 'Postbridge Clapper Bridge – Wray Valley Trail loop from Yelverton' (81 km). More details are available in the gravel biking and road cycling guides.

Buckland Monachorum village itself has the historic Drake Manor Inn, which offers food and drink. The surrounding towns and villages, particularly those on the edge of Dartmoor, provide various options for cafes, pubs, and accommodation, catering to visitors exploring the area's attractions and trails.