Drewsteignton: Hotels and trails near Dartmoor

Drewsteignton in Devon is a starting point for walks along the River Teign and visits to historic sites on the edge of Dartmoor. When choosing a hotel, you can distinguish between trails starting from the village, a visit to Castle Drogo and destinations in the surrounding area. The actual location of an accommodation determines how well it suits your day’s plans. Facts about the area do not establish the amenities or availability of any individual hotel.

From the village to Fingle Bridge

The Two Moors Way runs through the centre of Drewsteignton. Fingle Bridge is within walking distance of the village. From the bridge, trails run for miles along the river; a climb takes walkers to viewpoints overlooking Dartmoor. This offers a different route from a short walk around the village centre. The trails and viewpoints mentioned do not establish a particular walking time, an accessible route or the current condition of every section. Check the route and conditions for the walk you choose.

In the area around Drewsteignton, Fingle Woods has 45 kilometres of new trails. This figure refers to the network of trails in the woods, not the distance from the village to any individual destination. If you want to walk there, choose an appropriate access point and a realistic section of the route. This allows you to choose accommodation based on the actual starting point, rather than assuming that the total length of the trails makes up one long circular route.

Castle Drogo and traces of the past

Castle Drogo is a Grade I listed house. Sir Edwin Lutyens originally designed it in 1911. Trails around the house offer views of both the wider landscape and Castle Drogo itself. These two types of view may appeal to visitors interested in architecture and landscape. However, the listed status and trail description do not guarantee that the interiors are open or that a particular walk is available on the day of your visit.

Prestonbury Castle is a small multivallate hillfort on a prominent ridge overlooking the valleys of the River Teign and a tributary. It is well preserved and unusual on Dartmoor because of its size. This is an archaeological destination, not another name for Castle Drogo. Plan visits to the two sites separately and check the actual route before arranging a walk.

Spinster’s Rock is a protected portal tomb. Three upright stones, about two metres high, support a capstone up to five metres long and three metres wide. After collapsing in 1862, the monument was re-erected ten months later. According to local legend, three unmarried women once built it in a morning before breakfast. This is a legend, not a verified account of its construction. The verified facts do not establish that the monument is within Drewsteignton; treat it as a separate destination requiring its own journey.

Buildings in the village

The Church of the Holy Trinity is a 15th-century Perpendicular-style granite church and is Grade I listed. The church and its grounds form an important focal point in the village. The Church Rooms date from the 16th century, are Grade II* listed and now serve as a community hall. The Drewe Arms is also a Grade II* listed building: its architectural character has remained largely unchanged since the late 19th century. These three places illustrate different functions and periods of construction in the village, rather than forming a single museum offering.

If you mainly want to stay in the village, a different hotel address may suit you better than one for long walks starting from Fingle Bridge. Compare the location, price, amenities and availability of each listing for your dates. Check current access arrangements for buildings and trails that are especially important to your trip.