Dartmoor’s few towns and many villages are mostly situated around the edge of the moor in sheltered valleys but there are also a number of hamlets scattered around, often consisting of just a few cottages or a farm. Many of the larger communities have their own websites extolling the virtues of their locality and almost all find that their populations increases hugely during the summer months. The alphabetical list below gives a few details about some of them.

Ashburton
With over 3500 inhabitants, Ashburton is the largest town on Dartmoor, situated in the south east on the River Ashburn, close to the A38. One of Devon’s four stannary towns (the others being Chagford, Tavistock and Plympton), it was an important centre for trading in tin, reaching its zenith in 1515 when almost 40% of all tin in Devon was sold through Ashburton. The wool trade has also brought prosperity to the town, with mills lining the river, and some houses built during this period still stand today. The wool trade and the exports through Plymouth, also paid for the rebuilding of the Parish Church of St Andrew, parts of which date from the 11th century. Nowadays, Ashburton is a busy town with six pubs and two restaurants and its own Tourist Information Centre. The Ashburton Carnival, alleged to be the oldest in Devon having been started in the late 19th century, is still run every year.

Buckfastleigh
A tourist hotspot, Buckfastleigh offers such attractions as Buckfast Abbey, the South Devon Railway, and Buckfastleigh Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary. The original Buckfast Abbey was founded in 1018 during the reign of King Canute and was rebuilt of stone in 1147 when it became a Cistercian abbey. After flourishing for several centuries, it fell into decay after the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by King Henry VIII in 1539. Having lain in ruins for over 200 years, it was rescued by six monks in 1882 and today remains in the care of the Benedictine order as a self-supporting complex, growing vegetables, keeping pigs, cows and bees, producing the strong Buckfast Tonic Wine, and selling its products in its shops and restaurant. The charitable organisation of the South Devon Railway runs vintage steam locomotives along a line from Totnes to Buckfastleigh that was originally opened in 1872. Located southeast of Holne and Scorriton, the town has a population of around 3500. Buckfastleigh derives its name from “Buckfast” meaning “stronghold” and “leigh” meaning “pasture” and, for those with an interest in lexicography, its name contains half the letters of the alphabet, without repeating any of them.

Buckland-in-the-Moor
The epitome of the English village, Buckland-in-the-Moor is famous for its picturesque row of thatched cottages and its 13th century church. It overlooks the River Dart and the woodland of Holne Chase and has a population of around 100. Built of stone quarried from the moor, St Peter’s church has a unique clock face which, instead of numbers, spells out the letters of the words “My Dear Mother”. This most unusual clock face was commissioned and donated by William Whitley, the Lord of Buckland Manor, in 1931 in memory of his mother. A few years earlier, Whitley was also responsible for the Ten Commandments engraved on two large tablets at Buckland Beacon, overlooking the village at a height of 1282 feet. The stonemason from Exeter who carried out the work, a Mr W A Clements, took 6 months to complete the job and added an eleventh – 'A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another.’

Chagford
Located on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, Chagford is one of Devon’s four stannary towns where tin-miners would bring the results of their hard work to be assayed. The town, whose name derives from “chag” meaning “gorse” or “broom”, and “ford” from the crossing over the River Teign, has existed as a settlement here for over 4000 years. The original parish church was dedicated in 1261, although the current day Grade I listed Church of St Michael the Archangel is mostly more recent, the tower dating from the 15th century and the organ chamber and sacristy from the 19th. Today the town is a thriving community of around 1500 inhabitants with a surprisingly wide range of accommodation, shops, places to eat, pubs, and other businesses, considering its size. It is also the home of art and culture on Dartmoor, holding a biennial Chagford Arts Festival, and this year for the first time the Chagford Film Festival 2011 from 19th to 24th September.

Moretonhampstead
An ancient market town, Moretonhampstead is known as the gateway to the high moor. Although now large enough to be considered a town with a population of around 1500, it was voted Village of the Year 2002 and still retains many of the characteristics of a village. Saxons first settled here in around 700 AD and its name comes from the Saxon word “Mortun” which means “enclosed piece of land near the moor” – “hampstead” was added much later. The town has plenty of bed & breakfast accommodation as well as the White Hart Hotel which is a Grade II listed building dating back to 1639. There are also several pubs, including The White Horse Inn which was included in the Michelin Guide to Eating Out in Pubs 2009. Today the town has a thriving community and its own website.

Ponsworthy
A couple of miles from Widecombe and six miles from Ashburton, Ponsworthy is a small hamlet on the east of Dartmoor. A steep road lined with pretty thatched cottages leads down to the famous Ponsworthy Splash, an open stream that vehicles have to ford to continue their journeys towards Dartmeet. This and the narrow Ponsworthy Bridge (only 7.5 feet wide), a single-arched bridge containing a stone engraved with the dates 1666 and 1792 showing years when it was repaired, help to deter heavy traffic from the village. The bridge spans the West Webburn river which flows south to join the East Webburn before meeting the River Dart near the village of Holne.

Postbridge
Postbridge’s website describes it as “the heart of Dartmoor” and it’s true that you can’t get more central. Rather than a typical village with a typical village green, Postbridge is a collection of cottages and smallholdings scattered over several miles, including hamlets such as Bellever and Challacombe. The focal point is the famous 13th century Clapper Bridge, formed by placing four massive granite slabs, roughly 15 feet long by 7 feet wide and weighing up to 8 tons each, on top of three solid stone piers. On Dartmoor these slabs are known as “posts” – hence the name of the village. The Post Office and Stores (opposite the Clapper Bridge), the East Dart pub, the village hall, and St Gabriel’s church all provide further focus to the village. There are numerous places to stay in the area, ranging from the Camping Barn and other self-catering accommodation, to bed & breakfast at the 200-year-old Cherrybrook, or at the Warren House Inn which stands at 1425 feet and boasts a fire that has been burning continuously since 1845.

It is said that the devil stopped at the inn in 1638, on his way to claim the soul of a gambler with whom he had made a pact. The village takes its name from the pound located just outside its border, which would have been used to pen in stray farm animals or, occasionally, petty criminals, in centuries past.

Princetown
The highest town on Dartmoor and site of the infamous Dartmoor Prison, Princetown is overlooked by the television mast on North Hessary Tor which is visible for miles around and often used by walkers to ascertain their whereabouts. The town supports three pubs, several cafes, camp sites, a museum, and the highest brewery in England. For more detailed information on Princetown click here.

Scorriton
Scorriton is a small farming hamlet just inside the border of Dartmoor National Park about 3 miles from Buckfastleigh and less than a mile from Holne. Central to the village is The Trademan’s Arms, a 300-year-old building that has served in the past as both an ale house for tin miners and the village shop. Today its clientele usually comes from the residents of both Scorriton and Holne. The Barn, as its name implies, is a converted barn with a cider orchard and provides bed and breakfast accommodation for visitors, many of whom are walking the Two Moors Way which runs right past the gate.

Widecombe-in-the-Moor
According to its official website, Widecombe Fair 2011 will be held on Tuesday 13th September and will feature the usual mix of events including lamb shearing, ferret racing, fancy dress competition, and the tug-of-war. It also features the Uncle Tom Cobley race, a reference to the renowned folk song which mentions Widecombe Fair and dates to at least 1850 when the fair was first held. Situated on the East Webburn river, the village name means “Willow Valley”. Visitors can refresh themselves with cream teas at the Wayside Cafe or the Cafe on the Green, or with something stronger at the Old Inn in the centre of the village, or at the grade II listed Rugglestone Inn which dates from 1832. St Pancras church is known as the “cathedral of the moor” and is centrally located next to the Church House and the adjoining Sexton’s Cottage which is now a National Trust Shop. As there are only around 200 villagers, Widecombe primary school welcomes children from the surrounding area and has received good Ofsted reports in recent years.