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Museum Of Dartmoor Life, Devon

In 5800BC when Britain was separating from the continent, temperatures were two degrees higher in winter and one degree higher in summer than they are now. At this time the moors of the south west: Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and Exmoor were open grassland, and were good places to live. The moors and heaths of south west England contain some of the best preserved prehistoric landscapes in north west Europe. There are burial barrows, stone circles, mysterious lines of standing stones, outlines of ancient fields, individual standing stones, and the remains of houses and small villages. There around eleven thousand individual ancient monuments on Dartmoor. Then from the late Bronze Age, around 1000BC, the climate cooled. The ancient settlements were progressively abandoned. Today the moors are empty, bleakly beautiful places. Dartmoor is really a picture of a civilisation lost to climate change.

The Museum of Dartmoor life in Okehampton is a good place to explore the history of Dartmoor, from the age of prehistoric settlement, to more recent times. There are tours and educational activities, for individuals and groups. The Museum has been in existence since 1982, when it was founded by a group of local volunteers. There is a shop and tea room.

Opening Times: The museum is open until the end of October, Monday to Saturday, 10.15am - 4.30pm, last admission at 4pm. Closed over Easter. For winter, and Sunday opening please ring the contact number below.

Directions: The museum is in the centre of Okehampton, off the A30 west of Exeter, Devon. Look for the junction of West Street and George Street. Click here for an interactive map centred on the Museum of Dartmoor Life.

Access: there is a lift serving all three floors, adapted toilet facilities, and a Braille guide. A limited amount of disabled parking is available.

Contact:

phone: 01837 52295

web site: http://www.museumofdartmoorlife.eclipse.co.uk/index.html