Widecombe in the Moor nestles in a wide valley on Dartmoor. The village is famous for its annual fair and the popular song about Tom Pearce and his Grey Mare. Widecombe’s Church, known as the 'Cathedral of the Moor', sits in the centre of the village and the village green is surrounded by shops and cafes. Widecombe in the Moor is a big draw for visitors to the area.
A visit to Widecombe in the Moor is a must for anyone visiting this area of Dartmoor. The village sits a short drive from Haytor Rocks, which is a very popular beauty spot on Dartmoor. Walk to the top of the rocks and you will be rewarded with far reaching views of moorland, fields and down to the coast.
Widecombe has a good range of pubs, restaurants, cafes and shops which span the entire length of the village. The village green sits in the centre next to the church, which is well worth a visit. Next to the church is the Church House which is a National Trust property and houses their shop and information centre. The Church House often holds art exhibitions and a weekly craft market during the summer months. There is also a monthly farmer's market selling lots of local produce.
There are many walks which start and finish in Widecombe and information for these can be obtained from the National Trust Shop.
The world famous Widecombe Fair (www.widecombefair.com) takes place on the second Tuesday of September. This is a lovely local fair with many unusual activities unique to Widecombe. You can see 'Uncle Tom Cobley on his grey mare', as well as the rest of he gang, Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke. A great sight and a lovely day out.
Widecombe also has a working forge in the village (www.forgeinthemoor.co.uk) where you can watch them hand crafting items.