Moretonhampstead, Lustleigh & East Dartmoor

Moretonhampstead sits on the northern rim of Dartmoor, with a market square, St Andrew’s church and streets that reflect its history as a trading and grazing centre. Down the valley, Lustleigh occupies a bend on the River Bovey and is known for its annual Strawberry Fayre held over the August bank holiday, with stalls, maypole dances and village produce. The surrounding East Dartmoor area is upland moor, river valley and farmland; granite outcrops and wet peaty ground alternate with hedged fields and lanes used by walkers and riders.

The landscape here records long human use: Bronze Age cairns and stone rows, medieval field systems and former drove routes are seen alongside working farms. Trails from the villages lead to open moor and to nearby tors, and the Bovey and other rivers thread low-lying willow and alder. Local services in the three settlements serve residents and visitors who come for walks, village events and quiet access to the moor rather than for town-centre attractions.