30 January 2007
Take a trip to the heart of Dartmoor this winter, from the comfort of your own home
At the centre of Dartmoor lies the small settlement of Postbridge memorable, to those who have been there, for the large medieval clapper bridge which spans the East Dart River at the heart of the village. Now this remarkable historic feature and the surrounding area is accessible for all to visit via the internet.
Postbridge is the latest Dartmoor location to be added to the Virtually Dartmoor web site at www.virtuallydartmoor.org.uk and features specially commissioned 360° photographs of the clapper bridge and other key locations in the area. These exceptional images illustrate a narrative, recorded with a variety of local residents and specialists, which guides the online visitor around the area.
Once on this virtual tour the online visitor will learn about the origins of the clapper bridge; hear from residents about life in the village both past and present and discover what this central part of Dartmoor has to offer a range of visitors, from the keen moor walker to the more sedate picnicker. The tour extends to nearby Bellever where the conifer plantations offer alternative sheltered opportunities for walkers and where there is an impressive array of prehistoric archaeological features to discover. For those interested in more recent history there’s an excursion to the remains of the 19th century gunpowder factory at Powdermills and for those who enjoy a good story there’s a section that recounts a selection of the many the myths and legends that have arisen from this part of Dartmoor.
This virtual tour of the Postbridge and Bellever area is the third tour to be added to the Virtually Dartmoor website which already includes a tour of Princetown and a tour of Higher Uppacott, a Grade I listed medieval longhouse.
Becky Newell, Oral History Project Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority, said:
‘These tours provide a unique opportunity for those who are unable to visit Dartmoor in person to get a flavour of the place; it offers those who are planning a visit to the moor the chance to find out more about the area and be able to enjoy their visit from a more informed perspective, and it gives those who have visited in person the chance to revisit and learn in more detail about what they have seen.’
Ends
For Further Information
Becky Newell, Oral History Project Officer
Mike Nendick, Communications Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Agendas for full Dartmoor National Park Authority meetings and Dartmoor National Park Authority planning meetings are now available on the Authority's website
You can receive an e-mail notification each time a News Release is issued by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (see www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk and click on News).
News Releases from all UK National Parks
Notes for Editors
Virtually Dartmoor was created by Dartmoor National Park Authority with the help of the Dartmoor Trust, and funded by the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund and English Heritage www.english-heritage.org.uk (external link, opens new window).
Since it was launched in November 2005 Virtually Dartmoor has received over 30,000 online visitors from over 70 countries around the world.
Virtually Dartmoor was designed and built by Ashburton based web design company Integralvision www.integralvision.co.uk (external link, opens new window). Immersive, panoramic and selected still images used on Virtually Dartmoor were taken by Sphereworks Ltd, specialists in high quality photography www.sphereworks.co.uk (external link, opens new window).
National Parks cover 10% of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,400 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
Return to General Interest News Releases
This page last updated 30 January 2007
© Copyright Dartmoor National Park Authority
Send comments, enquiries, etc. to communications@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
Page updated 30 January 2007
