Located in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, Chagford is set in some of the area's most beautiful moor, river and woodland scenery. The town is an unusual combination of old and new, with its narrow streets and thatched houses, as well as its lively community and comprehensive range of shops and facilities. The town is off the main routes that circuit the edge of the moor and this comparative isolation has built a community which is quite self-contained and virtually self-sufficient.

There are thirty-four retail shops with only one currently empty, a post office, two banks, four public houses, two churches, one chapel, a primary school, fire station, public library, two public halls, medical centre, veterinary surgery, plus tourist accommodation, cafes, restaurants and an information centre.

Man has lived here for thousands of years and there are many early Bronze and Iron Age settlements nearby. Chagford was probably established in Saxon times. The name means 'the ford where the gorse grows'.

In 1305, Chagford became a Stannary town, one of only four in Devon. To this day Chagford strongly defends its designation as a town rather than a village. A Stannary town was where miners bought their tin for weighing and valuing. The last tin mine closed in 1903. The eight-sided Market House, a focal point in Chagford, is on the site of the old Stannary Court.

Wander around and you'll see many old thatched granite buildings. Endecott House (next door to the Three Crowns Hotel) dates from the 16th Century. It is named after John Endecott, a Pilgrim Father who emigrated to the USA and later became governor of Massachusetts. The building was probably once the town's church house. For 300 years it housed the local school.

St. Michael's Parish Church dates back to the 15th Century, although it was originally dedicated in 1261. The old Market Cross is now part of the War Memorial which stands in the lovely church grounds. Take Store Street beside the Globe Inn, the narrowest street in Chagford (known as 'The Drang') and you'll find what used to be the Old Rex Cinema. As you stroll through the town you will discover all sorts of interesting alleyways and hidden treasures.

Chagford has something unique for a town of its size: two world-renowned emporia side by side. James Bowden & Son and Webber & Sons have been in existence for over 100 years, and are both family run. Today they are known locally as 'the shops that have everything'. Bowdens also houses a small museum illustrating the early days of the shop and Chagford life over centuries.

Browse among antiques, paintings, art and books. Discover the fine crafts of rushwork and woodturning in Wood & Rush, where sustainably grown local materials are used. Watch local potters and jewellers at work.

Chagford boasts the best outdoor swimming pool in Devon, a children's play park, two tennis courts, a bowling green and a superb pavilion beside a football and cricket ground set against the spectacular backdrop of Meldon Hill.

Located at the heart of Devon, Chagford is the perfect base for the horserider, photographer, walker, naturalist, historian, fisherman, cyclist or golfer; indeed anyone who is looking for a special place to stay or somewhere to 'get away from it all'.

A short drive away, or reached by a beautiful riverside footpath, is a favourite lunchtime spot, The Angler's Rest at Fingle Bridge. On your walk, you will see a granite sculpture by the famous local artist, Peter Randall-Page. National Trust owned Castle Drogo, the last castle ever built in England, is nearby. Within four miles are the charming villages of Drewsteignton, Gidleigh and Throwleigh.

Many more attractions are only an hour away. Visit the spectacular North Devon coast; the 'English Riviera' beaches to the south; or plymouth, with its National Aquarium and recently renovated Quayside and Barbican areas.

If you are looking for a combination of a warm welcome, comfortable accommodation, good food and a little liquid sustenance, every one of the four pubs/hotels in Chagford will take good care of you. They'll also provide you with that extra special angle on the town's history and its characters.

Make the most of Chagford's wonderful food outlets. Try Blacks Delicatessen, sample local cheeses at the dairy, enjoy a lunchtime snack or cream tea at The Old Forge Tea Rooms, or try organically grown produce at The Courtyard Cafe. For an extra special evening, visit the international award-winning restaurant '22 Mill Street'.