Now we live in Devon - Dartmoor to be precise.
Dartmoor is a place that conjures up many different images in people’s minds – it’s either a barren wilderness full of ponies or, to us who live here, it’s a diverse and beautiful landscape that never fails to astonish us when we drive along its narrow lanes and long, sweeping B roads that make driving a pleasure.
When we tell people we live on Dartmoor, we get a few glances suggesting we’re a bit mad for living in one of the UK’s last remaining wildernesses. To be honest, a few years ago I would have agreed with them but now I live here, I know that, although Dartmoor has its unforgiving moorlands and sometimes terrible weather, it’s also a place that is stunningly beautiful and, to the people who dare to tread from the well trodden tourist routes is full of surprises which include wooded and nestled valleys which are home to enchanting settlements and some incredible walks.
If you want open moorland to walk on, there’s plenty of that. Take a trip to Princetown for example and you can walk across open moor almost all the way to Plymouth. If you want forest walks, head down to Bellever Forest where you can walk for miles in dense forestry, often without seeing a soul on the way. Or, our favourite, Sousson’s Wood which is practically deserted yet offers miles and miles of track fit for both cycling and walking.
The great thing about living on Dartmoor is that, although we’re pretty isolated in our own little communities, actually, we’re pretty close to almost all the local cities and amenities. Exeter is a 25 minute ride away and Plymouth is about five minutes more. Add to this the bustling towns of Ashburton, Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot which are even closer and you’re pretty much in the centre of everything, even though you’re deemed to be out in the sticks.
When you have kids, as we do, this is quite important as, although we live in an abundantly interesting area which includes wildlife and a plethora of farm machinery, sometimes our kids need something a little different to keep them amused. Luckily, within a 15 minute drive from us is the steam railway at Buckfastleigh. Now this is a favourite of our 4 year old twins and for ample reason. They not only operate regular daily trips on classic steam trains (to Totnes and back) but they also have a miniature steam train that chugs along a small gauge line for about a mile and is a total hoot for kids and parents alike.
When you’ve had a busy day on the railway, it’s time for a well earned cup of tea and a cake in the attraction’s lovely café and shop. Before that, however, we have to nip into the platform-based museum and amongst all the railway paraphernalia which the adults are engrossed in is a BigJigs Train Set and table which, every time we visit is guaranteed to be surrounded by at least a dozen eager children desperate to get their little mitts on the ever-popular trains and train set produced by BigJigs Rail.
BigJigs produce some of the best wooden train sets out there and as purveyors of fine wooden toys, we’re still amazed at how many public places, whether it be museums like the one at Buckfastleigh or hospital waiting rooms and dentist surgeries throughout the country have them in their play corner.
So, if you’re in the market for a wooden train set for your little one this Christmas, look no further than BigJigs. And don’t forget to pay Dartmoor a visit on your next family holiday. There really is something for everyone.
