Moretonhampstead is an old market town on the eastern slopes of the Dartmoor National Park which sits in the shelter of hills on three sides with the beautiful Wray Valley on the fourth. It is about 14 miles from Exeter, Newton Abbot, Okehampton or Princetown and is a perfect centre for visiting both moor and sea.

Moreton is surrounded by some of Britain’s most spectacular countryside and provides a great base from which to explore the north and south Devon coasts approx one hour’s drive away. North Devon with its rugged cliffs, wild seas and long sandy beaches whilst south Devon is known for its sheltered sandy coves and tranquil estuaries.

No part of the Dartmoor National Park is more than an hour’s drive away from the town and most of the well known beauty spots are nearby such as; Haytor, Postbridge, Princetown, Grimspound, Fernworthy Reservoir, Two Bridges and much, much more….

History of Moreton

For further detailed information on the early history of Moreton please refer to  “13 Centuries of Moreton” found on the following website http://www.moretonhampstead.com/History.htm

The Moretonhampstead Railway opened on Friday June 29, 1866 and as quoted in the local paper “After nearly four years the work has been brought to a successful termination; and there are now opened up twelve miles of railway which, for romantic and varied scenery cannot be equalled in the West of England.” "The branch line closed to passenger traffic in 1959."  http://www.moretonhampstead.org.uk/texts/sources/railwaynews.htm

The Almshouses in Cross Street with an arcade built of solid blocks of granite pre-date the 1637 date on the outside the building. Close by is the site of the Old Market Cross and the Cross Tree where an ancient elm once stood.

The 15th century granite parish church of St Andrew was completed in 1418 and stands on ground that has been used for religious purposes since Saxon times.

The town was the birth place in 1806 of George Parker Bidder, who designed and built London’s Victoria Docks and was known as “The Calculating Boy” due to his extraordinary skill in mental arithmetic.


Town history and settlement plan: http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/pages_7-14_from_caamore-all-2.pdf

The town stands at 215m (700ft), but after a short walk within the parish it is possible to climb above 350m (1148ft) to Mardon Down and enjoy views of Moreton with Dartmoor beyond. Views of the surrounding countryside can also be enjoyed from the Parish church.

There is plenty to see as you wander around the streets with shops, artists’ galleries, impressive examples of wrought ironwork and sculptures including the sparrowhawk overlooking The Square.

Places to Eat

Moreton offers an excellent selection of eating places, from tearooms to inexpensive pub food to high class restaurants.
 
Union Inn  http://www.theunioninn.co.uk  Moreton's Traditional Tavern.
 
White Horse Inn  http://www.whitehorse-moretonhampstead.co.uk

The White Hart Hotel  http://www.whitehartdartmoor.co.uk