Whitchurch offers a range of themes to help you plan your trip: the landscape around Whitchurch Down, a seasonal village walk, and historic crosses and buildings. Historical themes include medieval route connections and buildings dating from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
Whitchurch Down: Common Land and Moorland Habitats
Whitchurch Down is registered as common land. On its northern side is an area designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Whitchurch Down’s SSSI designation applies exclusively to its outstanding moors. The area includes herb-rich valley mire and a variety of invertebrates, including some rare species.
The rights of way and car parks at Whitchurch Down are also managed and maintained by Tavistock Town Council. If you are planning around paths or parking, the council’s guidance can provide a useful point of reference. Check the latest information on these points before your visit.
Village Walk and Seasonal Planning
A local programme includes 26 walks, held every weekend from April to October each year. These include a guided tour of the village of Whitchurch, covering the history of the place, which dates back to Norman times. The walks may vary by season, so check the specific dates before your trip.
The village walk has a different focus from the nature themes at the Down: here the emphasis is on local history, while there it is on the moorland and its habitats. There is also a difference in timing. The village walk is seasonal, running from April to October; Whitchurch Down’s status as common land and the SSSI designation of its outstanding moors are permanent.
Medieval Wayside Crosses and Architectural History
Pixies' Cross is one of the best-preserved medieval wayside crosses on Dartmoor. Green Lane Cross, by contrast, is associated with medieval routes that ran across Dartmoor to and from Tavistock. The crosses therefore offer different historical points of interest: Pixies' Cross is notable for its state of preservation, while Green Lane Cross is notable for its connection to the routes of the time.
St Andrew’s Parish Church in Whitchurch is a Grade I listed building. Whitchurch House was a rectory; the building was altered and extended in the early 19th century and is based on an earlier 18th-century building. Whitchurch Down is also home to The Pimple, a reservoir entrance building designed in 1914 by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the Duke of Bedford. Whitchurch House’s history spans the earlier 18th-century building through to its alteration in the early 19th century; The Pimple was designed in 1914.
If you are looking for a holiday rental in Whitchurch, these themes can be a starting point for your plans: consider whether the seasonal village walk, the moorland, or the architectural and local history will shape your stay. Check the dates for the walk; the other themes offer different ways to explore Whitchurch’s history and landscape.
Discover more destinations: Umberleigh, Exmouth, Marldon, Moreleigh, Bere Alston, Ashburton, Milton Abbot, Yelverton.
For the main travel overview: Devon.
