Beautiful Dartmoor. Dartmoor is one of southern England’s great wildernesses and maintains an enduring appeal for property buyers. For those who already know the National Park, this will come as no surprise, as it offers so many opportunities, attractions and facets to appeal to all tastes and requirements. For those as yet unfamiliar with this appeal, there are many delights to discover, particularly by those who enjoy outdoor recreation.
 

Director of Jackson-Stops Exeter, Richard Addington, discusses why he thinks Dartmoor is such a desirable area of the country to live…

Beautiful Dartmoor
I always ask buyers from out of the area what has attracted them to seek property in the West Country. Almost invariably, the answer includes a desire to get away from the population pressure in other parts of the country and the threat from further development. The National Park status of Dartmoor ensures that both of these wishes can be easily met.

Although the centre and high moor of Dartmoor can justifiably be called a wilderness, there is much else in the National Park that offers a less extreme and more practical environment in which to live. Buyers are often surprised to realise that the north eastern edge of the national park is only 7 miles from the edge of Exeter, making commuting perfectly practical, whilst keeping in contact with the wilderness.

The villages of the Teign Valley are particularly popular for those who appreciate this balance of accessibility and isolation. On the opposite side of the moor, the National Park boundary runs along the edge of the popular market town of Tavistock and the southern boundary extends to within 2 miles of the edge of Plymouth. There are therefore plenty of protected locations in the National Park that enable residents to commute to more economically active areas and to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

More centrally, within the National Park itself, are the ever popular centres of Chagford and nearby Moretonhampstead. Whilst both of these towns are commutable to Exeter, they retain a strong identity of their own and offer business, employment and recreational opportunities within their areas. View our properties for sale in Chagford.

The area and villages around Chagford probably support the highest prices as buyers appreciate the combination of local amenities, history, architecture and location. The market for property throughout Dartmoor remains strong due to the scarcity of properties for sale. Strongest demand continues to be in the north eastern corner, with ready access to the A30 or the A38 and demand along the south western side, with access to Tavistock and Plymouth, is almost as strong.

The area and villages around Chagford probably support the highest prices as buyersappreciate the combination of local amenities, history, architecture and location. The market for property throughout Dartmoor remains strong due to the scarcity of properties for sale. Strongest demand continues to be in the north eastern corner, with ready access to the A30 or the A38 and demand along the south western side, with access to Tavistock and Plymouth, is almost as strong.

Prices are likewise higher in the north east, ranging from upwards of £3 million for the best manor houses and small estates, whilst farmhouses in that area command prices of between £750,000 and £1.25 million, depending on condition, location and amount of land. On the south west side of the moor, equivalent prices might be around 10% lower.