Drewsteignton: Trails, History and Special Places

Drewsteignton combines impressive landscape experiences with historic places that can be explored in different ways. Those looking for a mix of walks, culture and distinctive stories for their holiday will find plenty of inspiration here for planning their days. When choosing a holiday rental, it is also worth considering first whether trails through the landscape or historic sights should be the main focus.

Historic Places with Their Own Character

Castle Drogo is a Grade I listed house originally designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1911. The trails around Castle Drogo offer views of the surrounding landscape and Castle Drogo itself. This makes it possible to combine a visit to the house with exploring the surrounding area without losing sight of the architecture.

One particularly unusual monument is Spinster’s Rock. The portal dolmen is designated as a Scheduled Monument and consists of three upright stones approximately 2 metres high. They support a capstone up to 5 metres long and 3 metres wide. After collapsing in 1862, Spinster’s Rock was re-erected ten months later. A tradition also tells that three unmarried women erected the monument one morning before breakfast – a detail that gives the stone monument a remarkable piece of local folklore.

In the village, the Church of the Holy Trinity forms an important focal point. The Grade I listed granite church was built in the Perpendicular style of the 15th century. The church and its grounds are used and appreciated daily by residents and visitors. Church Rooms, dating from the 16th century, complements it; the Grade II* listed building now serves as a community hall. The Drewe Arms is also one of the historic buildings, with its Grade II* listing as an inn; its architectural character has remained largely unchanged since the late 19th century.

River Trails, Views and Walking Routes

Fingle Bridge can be reached on foot from Drewsteignton. From there, trails run for miles along the river. A climb leads to viewpoints overlooking Dartmoor. This combination of a riverside trail and higher viewpoints offers different options for planning your day: you can choose a quieter walk by the water or plan the climb as an additional landscape experience.

The Two Moors Way also runs through the centre of the village. In the vicinity of Drewsteignton, Fingle Woods offers 45 kilometres of new trails. Families and travel groups with different interests can therefore alternate between an outing focused on history and days with more activity in the landscape. Prestonbury Castle provides another highlight: the small multivallate hillfort stands on a distinctive ridge overlooking the valleys of the River Teign and a tributary. It is well preserved and unusual on Dartmoor because of its size.

The Right Base for Planning Your Trip

The sights and trails suit different holiday rhythms. If you would like to combine culture and landscape in one day, Castle Drogo, the historic buildings and a walk around Fingle Bridge can each provide their own focus. Those who prefer longer stretches of walking can include the Two Moors Way or the trails in Fingle Woods in their plans. When searching for accommodation, consider which daily rhythm best suits your travel group and which experiences should take centre stage.

Other Places for Orientation

For further trip planning, you can also visit Thorverton, Bottreaux Mill, Clovelly, Plymtree, Saint Giles in the Wood, Instow, Bratton Fleming and Moretonhampstead.

To the main travel overview: Devon.