Things to do on Dartmoor and beyond
Perfect for large family celebrations & hen parties
Short and long strenuous walks around the gorge and the magical 30-metre-high Whitelady Waterfall! – walk through the gorge to Lydford village, stop at the Castle Inn for a pint, visit the old Castle and church before wandering back through the gorge to Whitelady House.
Dartmoor is one huge playground
Offering an enormous range of activities for the adventurous – canoeing, riding, gorge scrambling, fishing, rock climbing, epic cycle rides on the Granite Trail, gliding….. the sky’s the limit!
Planning your visit to Dartmoor
England’s last wilderness, teaming with myths, legends and mystery. 360 square miles to explore with amazing far-reaching views, rugged tors to climb and wildlife a-plenty. Discover it for yourself, we can supply maps for some great walks or join up with an experienced guide who can take you to some of the remotest spots so you can experience the vastness of Dartmoor. So, pack your walking boots.
One of the best ways to discover Dartmoor is on horseback. If you’re a novice or a beginner there is a trekking centre close by offering an hour or two pony trekking.
Explore the epic Granite Trail, take Route 27 (which runs past the house) or join a cycle tour with knowledgeable local guides and discover the grandeur of Dartmoor from a bike. The area has numerous quiet lanes, moorland tracks and remote villages for you to explore. Cycle or mountain bike hire is available, with a delivery and collection service to Whitelady House.
On the southern reaches of the moor is Dewerstone rocks an outcrop of grey slabs and buttresses. With more than 100 routes across the rocks, the climbing is uniformly granite, and the personalities of the climbs are varied delivering as many rewards as challenges. For those new to climbing there is an excellent ‘Introduction to Rock Climbing’ course that run over 2 days.
Get wet and enjoy Devon’s wild rivers. This is an exciting ascent of a Dartmoor river plunging into pools, wading across the river and scrambling up waterfalls.
An adrenaline-pumping, heart-thumping bird’s eye experience. Recommended by all who have tried it!
Take a journey from the historic Quay at Cotehele up river, past the village of Calstock and into the wilds of the upper tidal limits of the Tamar.
Enjoy the wide-open moorland expanse of the course at Tavistock; the parkland-style course at Okehampton or a round at Yelverton, a moorland course where old mine workings are natural hazards.
Shooting
Clay pigeon shooting on the next-door farm with a personal instructor overlooking the moor. Also (in season) within a 5-mile radius we have a number of excellent shoots. The high pheasants over our steep valleys are world-famous. Driven snipe is a speciality, and there is mixed rough shooting or evening duck flighting. Deer stalking is also now available locally.
Opposite Whitelady House is Lydford Gorge Alpacas where the alpaca boys – Batman, Bubbles, Barney, Penfold, Macca, Mr Sharps and Mr T – are waiting to give you a warm Devon welcome to their home. Spending time with these gentle, curious and affectionate animals will lift your spirits, restore your energy and wellbeing, all whilst breathing in the fresh Dartmoor air. Prepare to have your hearts well and truly stolen!
Fishing
The Tamar and six of its tributaries are a few miles away. Wild brown trout abound in all the rivers, while the Tamar and Lyd hold salmon and sea trout. We can arrange tuition for beginners or advisors for the experienced. There is also excellent trout fishing, from bank or boat, at nearby Roadford Lake or on Bodmin Moor at Colliford Lake and Siblyback Lake. There are also many ‘put and take’ fisheries in the region. Or exciting sea fishing by boat from plaice to blue sharks (with bass being a speciality).
Eight miles away, Roadford Lake is the South West’s largest lake for water sports. Offering brown trout angling, sailing, windsurfing, rowing & kayaking, raft-building, WOWballs, Wakeboarding, Archery Climbing, High Ropes, Orienteering, and Slack-lining. With instructors on hand for tuition.
Take a tour of the oldest Gin Factory in the UK, sample the many cocktails, then wander around Plymouth Hoe and see where the Mayflower set sail from.
Enjoy an adrenalin-packed fun day with paintball games, Battlefield Live laser games and tank-on-tank paintball with 4 paintball panzers.
Adventurous high-speed Rigid Inflatable Boat Rides, include wave blasting around the beautiful Plymouth Sound.
Less strenuous
Soap-making and natural cleaning workshops
Crafts by You
Crafting workshops and parties
Cookery Classes
- Devon Cookery School, Cullompton
- Ashburton Cookery School, Ashburton
- Manna from Devon, Kingswear
A relaxation company that provides a range of wonderful therapies in the comfort of Whitelady House.
As seen on “Big Brother” why not book their cheeky semi-naked butlers for your Hen Party or any other event?
Other activities we can organise
Wine tastings, murder mystery evenings, cheese tasting, cocktail making, cupcake decorating, fascinator making, candle making, flower arranging workshop, quilting & basket making.
Other houses and places of interest:
Castle Drogo
Buckland Abbey
Cotehele
The Garden House
Rosemoor Garden
Eden Project
Legendary Dartmoor
Museum of Dartmoor Life
Dartmoor Prison Museum
Morwellham working village, mine and craft centre
Why book Whitelady House for your self-catering holiday in Devon?
Downstairs
Downstairs at Whitelady House is a spacious modern kitchen, a large dining room which seats 12 guests with original slate floor. There are 2 sitting rooms, each with a wood-burner and a ground floor twin bedroom with ensuite shower room. Two separate oak staircases lead up to first floor.
Upstairs
There are 5 further bedrooms on the first floor, 3 with twin beds and 2 with king sized beds and their own ensuite. A third bathroom is shared by the twin rooms. The landing offers a light quiet reading area.
Activities
Whitelady House offers free Wifi and a hot tub in the large garden along with a firepit with BBQ attachment. We provide table tennis and croquet. Next door to Lydford Gorge we boast of 2 village pubs and Dartmoor on our doorstep. Dogs are welcome. We have a vast array of things to do in the local area and beyond.
Riding
One of the best ways to discover Dartmoor is on horseback. If you’re a novice or a beginner there is a trekking centre close by offering an hour or two pony trekking.
History
The Whitelady house dates back to the 1600’s. It was the farm house to the Manor hence its original name of Manor Farm. This was changed when the house was renovated to reflect it's position next to the Whitelady Waterfall in Lydford Gorge, the deepest gorge in the South West.
Catering
At Whitelady House we offer self-catering with the option of meals made to order ahead of your arrival, or a "chalet" style catering where we come in and cook for you at Whitelady House. For cooking alfresco there is a firepit with BBQ grill or (for an additional charge) wood-fired ovens are available.
“We all loved Whitelady House”
Read 10 reasons why you should make a “beeline” to book our “grand rental home near Lyford Gorge.”
