When it comes to artistic talent, Dartmoor has an excess! Peace and quiet and beautiful surroundings seem to act as a magnet to creative people and we think you will have no problem sourcing ALL your Christmas presents from this lovely area.
This young company has got people worked up into a real lather over its products. The artisan soaps are handmade using natural ingredients which, wherever possible, are sustainably sourced and harvested on Dartmoor. How good is that? They produce a wonderful range of soaps including aromatherapy soaps, soaps for men and even soap for pets! There is definitely a soap for every member of your family – a perfect stocking filler. And even better still you get FREE delivery on all boxed gift sets!
Clare’s Preserves is a true artisan producer of multi award winning marmalades, jams, jellies, chutneys and relishes. Based in the foothills of Dartmoor, all products are handmade by Clare in small batches, using traditional open pot methods. Clare’s preserves include some wonderful flavour combinations – Beetroot & Orange Chutney, Blackcurrant & Lime Jam, Lemon, Dartmoor Honey and Ginger Marmalade and many more! You’ll be spoilt for choice.
This publication is an absolute must for all Dartmoor fans! Full of interesting articles about the people, places and pursuits you’ll find in this ancient landscape, a subscription to this quality quarterly publication would make a fabulous gift.
As the only brewery on the moor producing Dartmoor branded beer, the brewery is passionate about preserving and promoting Dartmoor and its traditions. Since brewing its first pint of the popular Jail Ale in 1994, it has grown to become Devon’s second largest brewery. The Brewery’s own shop at its HQ in Princetown sells everything from its popular beers — including Jail Ale, Dartmoor IPA, Dartmoor Best and Legend — to Dartmoor Brewery branded goods such as T-shirts, rugby shirts, hoodies and beer gift packs, and now all the Brewery products are available online too.
Carrying on with the Real Ale theme, we have just partnered up with Tich at Proper Dartmoor Tours to offer all our Dartmoor Real Ale Trail fans a unique way of visiting some of the pubs on the trail without having the burden of driving. Discover some of the pubs with Tich who is an award winning dialect speaker, you'll be glad of his company when you meet some of the locals. Travel around at a leisurely pace in Tich's luxury Land Rover enjoying ales brewed at The Dartmoor Brewery in Princetown and hear from Tich about how it is made. Ghost stories are a big part of Dartmoor, The Hairy Hands, The White Bird of the Oxenhams and Lady Howard to name but a few. There are many variations of this tour. Special price if you quote Dartmoor Accommodation - Tour for six people just £200.
Sounds lovely – and it is lovely! Super sustainable twool products are made in Devon from the ‘lustre’ long wool of the rare breed Whiteface Dartmoor sheep. Versatile twool yarn is the eco-friendly British alternative to jute. Their online shop is full of lovely gift ideas from garden twine to posh woolly bags to dog leads. They also have some special Christmas gifts including a ‘Chelsheepensioner Dumpling’ hand knitted from twool – you’ll have to go and look at their website now just to see what that is!
Beekeeper Peter Hunt’s bees produce delicious Dartmoor Wildflower Honey. With hives at Blackaller, near North Bovey, his bees collect pollen from the unspoilt moorland producing a wonderful floral flavour. You can buy Peter’s Honey from various outlets including Country Cheeses in Tavistock and on Peter's stall at the Exeter Farmer's Market every Thursday (9am-2pm).
The Swaddlecombe Mysteries
And finally… how about a bit of light Christmas reading material? Local author Julia Wherrell and her co-author Joanna Sheen, have just published the fourth book in this fun murder mystery series – yes, it really is murder and mirth! Set in the imaginary Devon village of Swaddlecombe, the latest episode is entitled ‘The Proof is in the Pudding’ and has a Christmassy theme. You can buy this one, and the previous three from Kindle or in paperback