Princetown: Prison History and Moorland Experiences

Princetown combines an unusual local history with the open landscape of Dartmoor. Between the prison museum, historic buildings, moorland trails and cycling routes, you can enjoy very different kinds of holiday days: you can explore the town's past, take an easy walk or plan a longer route across the moor to Burrator Reservoir.

Prison History and Historic Traces

The Dartmoor Prison Museum presents more than 200 years of prison history. The exhibition covers Dartmoor's beginnings as a prisoner-of-war camp for French and American prisoners, its later period as a penal institution and the present day. There is a dedicated free car park in front of the museum building. The National Park Visitor Centre in Princetown closed in October 2025; this information is therefore part of current orientation in the town.

You can also encounter Princetown's history outside the museum. The Plume of Feathers was built in 1785 by Charles Tyrwhitt of Tor Royal and is considered the oldest significant building in Princetown erected during the settlement's foundation. The original building of the Old Duchy Hotel was constructed between 1809 and 1810 as accommodation for officers. They guarded the nearby prison holding prisoners of war and commanded the associated military barracks, which opened in 1809.

Moorland Walks and Cycling Routes

The Ball and Chain Historic Trail is an easy walk from one end of Princetown to the other. Along this route, you can discover characteristic features of the town. It is therefore suitable as an independent exploration between historic sites and as an alternative to the longer cycling routes. If you want to plan days with different activity levels, Princetown offers various ways to explore the town.

The Granite & Gears Princetown Railway route offers 10- or 30-kilometre options along the disused railway line from Princetown. It passes granite quarries on the way to Burrator Reservoir. Another option is the 20-kilometre Granite & Gears Princetown & Burrator route. It begins in Princetown and crosses open moorland on permitted bridleways to Burrator Reservoir. For your planning, the different route lengths and landscape impressions are particularly interesting: here, you can choose between two options along the old railway line, while there is also a set route across open moorland.

Moorland Landscapes, Views and Wildlife

South Hessary Tor can be reached via a short, easily accessible route across the moorland. From there, you have expansive views across the moors to the sea. Anyone wishing to combine a day of landscapes with a distinctive viewpoint will find a clear focus here away from the town's history.

The moorland habitats along the Princetown Walk also deserve attention. They provide suitable habitats for skylarks, meadow pipits, common lizards and Fox Moth caterpillars, among others. The route therefore combines experiencing the landscape with nature observation, without requiring you to focus your stay exclusively on historic attractions.

Further Discoveries Around Princetown

The Princetown War Memorial is a cross unveiled in 1921 to commemorate the First World War and was later extended; Grade II listing was recommended. At Merrivale are the remains of a Bronze Age settlement and a complex ritual site comprising three stone rows, a stone circle, standing stones and several burial mounds. A bridleway also runs through this location as part of the Abbot’s Way, an ancient route through southern Dartmoor that is thought to have connected the medieval monastic foundations at Tavistock and Buckfast.

The Right Accommodation Idea for Your Trip

If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Princetown, you can base your accommodation search on your preferred focus for the trip. For days centred on local history, the museum, historic buildings and memorial are the main attractions. If you mainly want to experience the landscape, you can plan to visit South Hessary Tor and the Princetown Walk. For active days, the 10-, 20- or 30-kilometre routes are options. This allows you to connect your choice of accommodation with the planned mix of culture, nature, walking and cycling, without limiting the trip to just one attraction.

Further Places to Search

For further orientation, you can also visit the following place pages: Swimbridge, Umberleigh, Saint Giles in the Wood, Washfield, Chagford, Blackawton, Ottery Saint Mary and Brixton.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.