Market town that’s wild about celebs – and ponies
SHAGGY Dartmoor ponies became social media stars a few weeks ago when they were filmed attempting – very cutely – to wander in through the door of a high street gift shop in Chagford.
It’s an increasingly popular place – and not just with wild ponies and tourists. Celebrity comedian couple Jennifer Saunders and Ade Edmondson long ago moved to this cultured Devon market town, drawn by its location within Dartmoor National Park.
The surrounding moorland is rugged walking territory. And it inspires plenty of other outdoor activities, from golf and tennis at nearby Bovey Castle to swimming at Chagford’s charming lido – hand-dug by locals in 1933 and topped up from a mill stream.
Adventurous visitors hike to the nearby Tolmen Stone. Legend says if you lower yourself through the hole in this granite boulder you’ll be cured of every possible ailment.
Meanwhile, the less energetic explore alleys winding between flowerbedecked thatched cottages and galleries, pubs and cafes. The delicious cakes at Beachwood Bakery have helped it be judged one of the world’s best food stores.
Across the market square, with its distinctive octagonal Market House dating from 1862, try Folklore for exotic gourmet vegetarian food including edible local wildflowers, Blacks Deli for picnics of Dartmoor produce, and The Three Crowns for local wine, gin or cider.
But watch out: if you drink too much you may start seeing the pub ghost, said to be Tory MP Sidney Godolphin, who was shot dead by parliamentarians under its granite porch 500 years ago. One of the National Trust’s quirkiest attractions, Castle Drogo, overlooks Chagford. This mock-medieval fortress, created for a shopping tycoon 100 years ago, is said to be the last castle built in Britain. Look out for the kitchen’s collection of 374 copper jelly moulds and a 1930s dollshouse, complete with electric lights, running water and working lift.
Where to stay: Bovey Castle hotel (locals say ‘Buvey’) is a rambling Edwardian mansion four miles away. Built for the W.H. Smith family, it’s now a luxury hotel. A warren of woodpanelled lounges, bars and restaurants, it also includes a gym, pool and spa. Upstairs, huge bedrooms offer terrific countryside views. There’s Dartmoor beef and Brixham seafood at the Great Western Grill. Bovey is offering special activities to celebrate the Olympic year ranging from shooting and cycling, to some un-Olympic pursuits such as playing with ferrets and making cider. Doubles from £289 (boveycastle.com).