With its stunning scenery and unique atmosphere, Dartmoor has been the inspiration for more than its fair share of literary greats. The following are just a selection of novels and poems set in this most special of places. Why not read them during your stay – you can even visit some of the locations.
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
This creepy tale, based on a local myth, is probably the most famous novel inspired by the dramatic and brooding Dartmoor landscape. In the book, the death of Sir Charles Baskerville leads Sherlock Holmes to Dartmoor to unlock the secrets of the family legend and the monstrous hound that roams the moors by night. The novel is set in the Princetown area and the author emphasises the eerie and mysterious atmosphere of the setting. Fox Tor Mire almost certainly provided the inspiration for Grimpen Mire, while Baskerville Hall was probably based on either Hayford Hall or Brook Manor, both located close to Buckfastleigh. Brook Manor was once inhabited by Richard Cabell, a local squire with an evil reputation. Legend has it that when he died, black fire-breathing dogs raced across the moors, howling.
The Sittaford Mystery by Agatha Christie
With her strong connections to Devon, it’s not surprising that the Queen of Crime set one of her 66 novels in the county. The action takes place in the town of Exhampton and the nearby village of Sittaford. Exhampton can clearly be identified as Okehampton, and it’s likely that Belstone was the inspiration for Sittaford, although Throwleigh, where Christie owned a house, is also a possibility. The fictional name of the village was taken from an existing tor of the same name. The novel gives several nods to The Hound of the Baskervilles, as both are set on Dartmoor, both involve an escaped convict from Dartmoor Prison and a naturalist, and supernatural events are at the heart of both stories. Furthermore, Conan Doyle is even mentioned in Christie’s novel.
Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson
This charming children’s novel charts the life of an otter living in the rivers of Mid and North Devon. Readers can follow the adventures of Tarka, from his first swimming lessons and attempts at hunting to his encounters with the local otter hunt. This book provided inspiration for several other authors, including the poet, Ted Hughes. First published in 1927, it has never been out of print since and was made into a film in 1978. You can retrace the route travelled by Tarka in the book by following the Tarka Trail, a 180-mile figure-of-eight network of walking and cycling paths. The lower half of the trail takes in the northern fringes of Dartmoor.
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Although ostensibly a children’s book, this moving tale of a boy and his horse going off to war will also appeal to adults. The book follows the early relationship between Albert and his horse Joey, their departure for France, and their survival through the horrors of the trenches, until they are reunited and eventually return home to their Dartmoor home. The book was inspired by conversations the author had in the local pub with a village resident, who described his experiences in the First World War. A Hollywood film, directed by Steven Spielberg, and long-running stage play, made famous by its use of incredibly life-like puppetry, were inspired by the original novel.
Moortown Diary by Ted Hughes
Although born in Yorkshire, Ted Hughes lived in Devon from 1961. After marrying a farmer’s daughter in 1970, Hughes and his father-in-law ran Moortown Farm, near Winkleigh, and this collection of poems, named after the farm, details the daily life of a working Devonshire farm. The poems were written over a period of several years, during which Hughes spent almost every day outside, either gardening or farming and are widely thought to contain some of Hughes’ finest work. Hughes, who was Poet Laureate between 1984 until his death in 1998, is buried on Dartmoor in a grave marked with a simple memorial. The Ted Hughes Memorial Walk leads from the village of Belstone to this memorial, which is sited at the rising of the Taw, Dart, East Okement and Teign rivers.
