Visiting the Deer Park
Okehampton Deer Park is a wonderful place to visit due to its archaeological, natural and built environment.
However, please be mindful that the Okehampton Deer Park is also a working landscape so please respect the land and the Countryside Code (external link).
You can also find a wealth of information (including walks, maps and history) at the Okehampton visitor Information centre at
Museum Courtyard
3, West street
Okehampton
Devon
EX20 1HQ
Or call - 01837 53020
or available at: www.okehamptondevon.co.uk
Walking
The Deer Park and Okehampton area have a host of wonderful walking opportunities for all ages and abilities.
Long distance walks include
West Devon Way (external link)
36 miles Okehampton to Plymouth
Two Castles Trail (external link)
24 miles Okehampton to Launceston
Tarka Trail (external link)
180 miles figure of eight trail in Northern Devon
Devonshire Heartland Way (external link)
43 miles linking the Exe Valley with Okehampton
For shorter walks around Okehampton and Meldon visit the Okehampton Tourist Information Centre, the Dartmoor Railway office or the YHA at Okehampton station
Alternatively see
A Victorian Landscape Walk (external link)
5 miles - Circular from Meldon Viaduct
Railway, castles and Quarries (external link)
6 miles- Circular from Okehampton Station
A Southern Railway Dartmoor Walk (external link)
7 miles - Okehampton to Sampford Courtenay
To visit the area we would suggest that you have access to the following Maps. If you are walking on Dartmoor then Ordinance Survey map OL28 is particularly useful.
Please remember that weather on Dartmoor can be unpredictable so always be prepared and if planning a longer walk please let someone know your expected route and time of return.
| Explorer (1:25,000) | |
| No. 113 | Okehampton |
| No. OL28 | Dartmoor |
| Landranger (1:50,000) | |
| No. 191 | Okehampton and North Dartmoor |
These maps can be purchased at the local information centre(see above), all good outdoor stores and online at
http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/dnpa_shop/main.asp
Cycling
Through the Deer Park the Devon Coast to Coast (NCN 27) is known as The Granite Way and this runs for 11 miles from Okehampton to Lydford. The section from Okehampton to Meldon Viaduct is entirely traffic free. For further information visit the Devon County Council website
Or see Sustrans information on Route 27
Dartmoor National Park Authority have produced a fantastic on and off road cyclists map. Available from local information centres or
http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/dnpa_shop/main.asp
Where to Stay
Visit the Dartmoor Tourism website - www.dartmoor.co.uk
The area in and around the Deer Park offers a wide range of accommodation from 5 star hotels to self catering breaks on farms to quality B&B’s in the centre of Okehampton. For a comprehensive accommodation listing please visit the Dartmoor Partnership website or the Okehampton Tourist Information Centre.
Dartmoor National Park Authority
Okehampton Deer Park is situated right on the Northern flank of Dartmoor National Park and offers plenty of opportunities to explore this part of the Moor. For further details about the Guided Walks and the special qualities of the National Park please visit their website.
Dartmoor Railway
Dartmoor Railway is the name given to the 15.5 mile long line that runs across the northern edge of Dartmoor between Meldon Quarry in the West and (via Okehampton) Coleford Junction near Yeoford, in the East. As well as a buffet at Okehampton Station there is also a buffet and visitor centre at the Meldon Viaduct station (please check the Dartmoor Railway website for opening times).
Okehampton Castle
Situated on a wooded spur above the River Okement this was once the largest castle in Devon. Begun soon after the Norman Conquest, it was converted into a sumptuous residence in the 14th century by Hugh Courtenay, Earl of Devon. After the last Courtenay owner fell foul of Henry VIII in 1538, it declined into an allegedly haunted ruin.
Okehampton Golf Club
Founded in 1913, the club is proud of its tradition for friendliness and welcomes the opportunity to share the facilities with golfers from around the country.
Old Town Park Local Nature Reserve
Once part of Okehampton Castle’s Deer Park, Old Town Park was designated as a Local Nature Reserve in July 2005. This assisted in protecting the site’s special features which includes oak woodland that supports a large range of insects and birds. Underfoot a variety of woodland plants are well established and the nature Reserve is also home to a variety of bats and dormice.
As well as a network of informal tracks the West Devon Way also crosses the Reserve.
Meldon Quarry
Public access is not possible to the quarry although geologists visit, under agreement, to examine the huge quarry faces that provide the most important exposures of the folded and cooked Carboniferous rocks in the area. There is a small information area and a café open when the train is in operation.
Meldon Reservoir
The dam at Meldon was completed in 1972, with the resulting reservoir providing a resource as well as a recreational facility and an area of ecological importance. With good access to moorland walks and cycle paths, brown trout fishing and a nature reservoir on the south-western end, Meldon Reservoir still provides a rugged backdrop to many activity and conservation based pursuits. The dam also offers stunning views of the West Okement Valley and Meldon Viaduct.
Meldon Viaduct
The refurbished Meldon Viaduct was opened in July 2002. The Victorian wrought and cast iron structure spans a tree covered valley providing extensive views over the surrounding lush countryside and is a part of the National Cycle Network Route 27 (Devon Coast to Coast)
Volunteering
The Sticklepath and Okehampton Conservation (StOC) volunteers, and the Okement Rivers Improvement Group, are enthusiastic groups of local volunteers of all ages who organise and carry out practical conservation in and around the Okehampton Deer Park to conserve the area for wildlife and use by the public.
Further information on StOC
Okement Rivers Improvement Group
Meet last Saturday of every month in Waitrose car park at 10am
Please call 01837 52350
Travelling to the Deer Park
Traffic free cycling, established walking routes, buses and trains give the visitor the perfect opportunity to just relax and enjoy the scenery on a car free day out.
| Cycling | Okehampton and Meldon are both on the Devon Coast to Coast section of National Cycle Route 27 The Granite Way offers fantastic traffic free cycling through large parts of the Deer park but particularly on its western flanks See http://www.devon.gov.uk/granite_way-2.pdf |
| Bus | X9, X90 from Exeter (or Bude) 118 from Tavistock For times and details of these and other services please visit Traveline (http://www.travelinesw.com) or call 0871 200 2233 |
| Rail | Services from Okehampton to Meldon and during the summer months from Exeter see http://www.dartmoor-railway.co.uk |
| Road | Okehampton and Meldon can be reached via the A30 with parking available at Okehampton Railway Station and Meldon Reservoir. |