The name Yelverton is believed to be a corruption of the original name of this large village on the very edge of Dartmoor. The earlier name was said to be Ella’s Ford Town, later contracted to Elfordtown. The story goes that when the Great Western Railway opened a station here in 1859, the officials misheard the name of the place and wrote it down as Yelverton - a nice story, but perhaps one to be taken with a pinch of salt.
There have been settlements in this area since prehistoric times and many standing stones, stone circles, burial chambers and hut circles still survive around Yelverton. There are lovely views across the Walkham Valley towards Brent Tor. The church, which is perched 1,100 feet high on the summit of the tor, can be seen on a clear day for many miles.
Yelverton, by-passed by the picturesque River Meavy, is situated on the south-western fringes of Dartmoor. It is a quaint little town surrounded by fine scenery with easy access to some of the loveliest places on Dartmoor.
This is the perfect place for a leisurely walking holiday or for pony riding (wild ponies can also be seen close to the town). It is a good fishing centre and is ideal for golf, as well as cycling. The town's close proximity to the rivers Tamar and Tavy make it ideal for boating holidays. Both these rivers enter the sea at pretty Saltash, so visitors have the opportunity to visit fine sandy beaches and enjoy peaceful coastal walks.
Right next to open moorland, close to a Second World War airfield at Harrowbeer and with a range of shops and pubs, Yelverton is a really interesting and convenient place to visit and stay. Yelverton is perched on the very edge of the moor at Roborough Down, which is also famous for the huge mass of stone called "The Rock" and during the Second World War, Yelverton had gun emplacements.
The town is 4 miles from Tavistock and 10 miles from Plymouth, with its excellent shopping facilities and fascinating seafaring links.