Centred on a watershed in the very heart of Devon at the junction of numerous character areas, this typical Devon farmed landscape comprises lush green pastoral farmland, visually dominated by the brooding mass of Dartmoor to the south. Rounded hills covered in hedged fields are separated by secretive valleys where rivers meander along their tree-lined courses. There is a strong perception of time-depth, with the landscape reflecting thousands of years of human history from the Neolithic to the present day. The landscape presents a rich tapestry of medieval features, including churches, villages, farms, field boundaries and narrow lanes with ancient wayside crosses.
dca33-high-tawThis is an extensive area of undulating farmland between Dartmoor and the Taw and Torridge Valleys. The town of Okehampton lies to the south-west of the area. To the south is a narrow band of the Moretonhampstead Moorland Fringes, with Dartmoor beyond. To the west (beyond the Okemont River) are the Broadbury Ridges and High Torridge Culm Plateau. To the north the area merges with the Torridge Valley, the High Culm Ridges and the Taw Valley; while to the east there is a gradual transition to the Crediton Rolling Farmland, the Yeo, Culm and Exe Lowlands and the Yeo Upland Slopes.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/west-devon-area/high-taw-farmland
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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A gentle agricultural landscape of high scenic quality, characterised by ribbon-like rivers. Slow-flowing, meandering streams fringed by trees glide through quiet, inaccessible floodplains. A semi-regular pattern of fields, edged with hedges and earth banks, covers the undulating landform and adds pattern and texture to the landscape. The area feels remote and peaceful, and away from Okehampton has seen very little C.20th development; the scattered stone-built farms and villages have a timeless quality. Narrow, earth-banked lanes thread across the valleys, contrasting with the A30 which cuts across the landscape.
dca62-upper-tamarThis roughly V-shaped area comprises the upper valleys of the rivers Tamar and Thrushel and their tributaries the Carey, Deer, Lyd, Lew and Wolf, extending from just east of Launceston in Cornwall northwards to Holsworthy and eastwards towards Okehampton. The western boundary of the area corresponds to the county boundary with Cornwall. To the north there are gradual transitions to the Western Culm Plateau and the High Torridge Culm Plateau. To the east are the Broadbury Ridges and to the south the Middle Tamar Valley, Tamar Upland Fringe and Tavistock Dartmoor Fringes. The boundaries with the latter two areas are marked by the transition to higher ground with a stronger moorland influence.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/west-devon-area/upper-tamar-tributary-valleys
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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This is an east-west ridge of elevated land, separating the valleys of the Lyd and Tamar. It is an open, quiet landscape, with long views over the woodland and fields of the surrounding valleys. The hill tops retain their moorland feel, and the prehistoric archaeological features add a sense of time-depth to the landscape. Isolated farms nestle in sheltered valleys, and historic villages and hamlets are scattered on the valley sides, their square-towered churches providing landmarks.
This relatively small area comprises elevated land overlooking the northern part of the Tamar valley. To the north is a gradual transition to the Upper Tamar Tributary Valleys, and to the east a gradual transition to the Tavistock Dartmoor Fringes. To the south and west the area merges with the lower-lying land of the Middle Tamar Valley and River Tavy Middle Valley.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/west-devon-area/tamar-upland-fringe
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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This landscape is dominated by the graceful line of the River Tamar, which flows towards the sea in a series of loops and meanders, sometimes through dramatic rocky gorges. Seen from the river, oak woods and mixed plantations clothe the hillside from ridge to water’s edge, while the woodland canopy creates a rich texture, even in winter. Within the woods, ivy-covered banks, spangled in spring with daffodils, primroses and bluebells enclose twisting lanes that weave up and down the steep slopes. The lanes connect the riverside settlements with their colourful houses, workshops and quays. A sense of history is everywhere, emanating from the old quays, abandoned mine buildings and historic estates.
This is a long, narrow area, following the winding path of the River Tamar in a broadly north-south direction. Its western edge is defined by the county boundary with Cornwall, but in reality the character area continues to include Cornish bank of the river. To the north is a gradual transition to the Upper Tamar Tributary Valleys; to the east the area merges with the Tamar Upland Fringe and the River Tavy Middle Valley. To the south the river channels are within the Lower Tamar and Tavy Valleys.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/west-devon-area/middle-tamar-valley
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
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South Devon National Character Area (NCA) is predominantly a plateau, dissected by steep valleys and rivers, most rising on the adjoining Dartmoor NCA. Towards the coast the often wooded valleys and rias are remote and hard to access from the land. The majority of the area consists of mixed farming, with fields flanked by Devon hedgebanks and narrow winding lanes. The south of the area contains many internationally important coastal and estuarine habitats. These support populations of wintering waders and wildfowl, rare plant communities and also provide significant carbon storage. Much of the area is a popular visitor destination, with the South West Coast Path National Trail being a major asset. Historic market and coastal towns are strategically located across the area and the two major urban settlements are located at either end of the coastal stretch, Plymouth in the west and Torbay in the east.
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/1911063?category=587130
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Dartmoor’s extensive upland moorland core rises above the surrounding small-scale, enclosed, predominantly pastoral landscape. Granite unites and characterises the entire National Character Area (NCA). On the moors the distinctive tors create key landscape features, interrupting otherwise unbroken skylines and ridges, and provide focal points for visitors. Isolated farmsteads and scattered villages utilise granite for buildings and walls; and the area’s strong time depth and rich cultural heritage are visually evident because of the granite, which includes the largest concentration of prehistoric stone rows in Britain.
The high moors are overlaid with thick deposits of peat and support internationally important blanket bogs surrounded by large expanses of upland heathland and grass moorland. The bogs and valley mires absorb and store significant amounts of water, as well as carbon, released into the 16 rivers and 8 reservoirs that supply the surrounding urban and rural populations and industry. As rivers leave the high moor they flow through deep-cut valleys steeped in woodland – both semi-natural broadleaved and coniferous plantation. The fast-flowing rivers, strewn with granite boulders, are popular for recreation, both passive and active.
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5098832853467136?category=587130
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Roadford Reservoir is located to the north-east of Broadwoodwidger in West Devon eight miles east of Launceston. It is the largest area of fresh water in South West England. It was the third and last ‘strategic’ reservoir in South West Water’s plans for SW England, after Colliford & Wimbleball. It receives water from the River Wolf, has a surface area of 295 hectares (729 acres) and a storage capacity of 34,500 megalitres (8 billion gallons).
After the sluices were closed in October 1989, the reservoir started to fill and the first wildfowl (now WeBS) count was carried out in November 1989. Since then, a team of up to eight counters has carried out monthly counts (in all weathers!) of all wildfowl, waders and gulls on the reservoir by walking four different stretches of the reservoir bank. The monthly WeBS count figures are entered in the logbook in the hide and the data is submitted online to WeBS. The hide at Westmoor, donated by Devon Birds, was opened by Bill Oddie on 31 March 1995.
https://www.devonbirds.org/birdwatching/places_to_go/roadford_reservoir
Devon Birds sightings
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Originating on Dartmoor and entering the sea at Teignmouth, the River Teign boasts hugely diverse habitats that attract a large variety of birds and wildlife.
The Teign actually has two sources and these streams (the North and South Teign) descend the eastern slopes of the moor high above the village of Chagford.
From Chagford the River winds its way through the often wooded foothills of Dartmoor for nearly ten miles until below Dunsford it heads south, following the road to Chudleigh, Newton Abbot and ultimately into the estuary and the sea at Teignmouth.
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-teign/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Rising high on Dartmoor near Devil’s Tor, this ancient river winds its way down through Tavistock where it joins the River Tamar and forms the Bere peninsula.
The River Tavy provides opportunities for all types of recreational activities from kayaking and swimming to bird watching and fishing. This wild river is fantastic to place to walk, eat and unwind.
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-tavy/
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Westcountry Rivers Trust Tumbling down from Dartmoor, this series of rocks, pools and waterfalls makes this river a photographer’s delight.
The name “Plym” comes from the old English word for “Plum Tree” .
https://wrt.org.uk/project/river-plym/
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