Okehampton is a traditional Dartmoor town with a range of local shops and services. It is rapidly becoming the walking centre for North Dartmoor and has a modern Youth Hostel at Okehampton Station with information on the wide range of walking and cycling routes that are open to explorers in the area.

There is a limited weekend railway service linking the town to and Exeter and another train service, the Dartmoor Pony, running from Okehampton, takes you to the dramatic Meldon Viaduct and the Meldon Visitor Centre.

 

Okehampton Castle  Grid Reference: (SX 584 942).
Immediately south of the town of Okehampton there is the only Devon castle to be mentioned in the Doomsday Book. It was first built by the Norman baron Baldwin (also Sheriff of Devon), sometime between the conquest of Devon in 1068 and the compilation of the Doomsday Book in 1086. Remains of the 11th Century stone keep can still be seen on the motte (or artificial mound). Major rebuilding occurred around the year 1300 by the then owners, the Courtenay family, Earls of Devon, who also established a large deerpark nearby. Most of the buildings of the bailey (or defended courtyard containing domestic buildings) belong to this period and include a great hall, kitchens, lodgings, chapel and gatehouse. The keep was also enlarged at this time.  The village of Sticklepath lies 4 miles to the east hosting The Museum of Rural Industry. south East of Okehampton is Okehampton Camp, the remains of a hill-fort on a steep ridge. The camp was probably a frontier post during the Iron Age.  

 

South of the town and often inaccessible to the public because they are in use as an artillery range, are the highest tors (peaks) of Dartmoor. 

 

Oakehampton is located below the northern slopes of Dartmoor, now bypassed by the A 30 is still at the crossroads of the A386 and the A30 and is a good centre to visit a number of places of interest in the area.

Local towns and villages to visit..

About Dartmoor

Axmouth

Bickleigh

Branscombe

Cullompton

East Budleigh

Exeter

Exmouth

Okehampton

Ottery St. Mary

Sidmouth

Topsham

 

Attractions

Angling

Sea fishing at Seaton and Sidmouth. Boats can be hired from the beach at Sidmouth and Beer. The best time for fishing at Seaton is between Sept and Nov for bass. Sidmouth Bay is best in spring and summer. Trout fishing on stretches of the Rivers Exe, Otter and Sid. Coarse fishing on the Exeter Canal.

Sailing

In Sidmouth Bay and at Beer.

MAP

Okehampton Accommodation

Okehampton Caravan and Camping sites

Property For Sale in Okehampton