Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor is an 80-square-mile granite moorland in northeast Cornwall, containing Brown Willy (1,378 feet) and Rough Tor (1,313 feet) - the two highest points in the county. The landscape is open and treeless on the higher ground, with tors, bogs, stone circles, and Bronze Age hut settlements scattered across the moor. Dozmary Pool, a natural lake near Bolventor, is linked to the Arthurian legend of Excalibur. The Jamaica Inn at Bolventor, made famous by Daphne du Maurier’s 1936 novel, operates as a pub and small museum.

The moor is criss-crossed with walking routes. The most popular approach to Brown Willy starts from the car park at Roughtor Road, with a round trip of about 4 miles. The Cheesewring, a natural granite formation near Minions on the moor’s southern edge, is another popular walking destination, with the Hurlers stone circles nearby. The Bodmin and Wenford Railway operates heritage steam and diesel services from Bodmin General through the moor’s edge.

Holiday properties on Bodmin Moor range from isolated farmhouse conversions to cottages in moorland villages like St Breward, Blisland, and Altarnun. The moor sits between the north coast (Polzeath and Port Isaac are about 30 minutes) and the south coast (Fowey and Looe about 30 minutes). The A30 crosses the moor, providing fast road access, and there are dark sky areas away from the main road that are good for stargazing.