Museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton

Explore real objects, uncover local stories, and hear short audio guides recorded inside the Museum, bringing Dartmoor’s past to life.

Ancient echoes

Step inside Dartmoor’s distant past and discover how Iron Age communities lived, gathered, and survived on the moor.

Mining the moor

Unearth the story of Dartmoor’s mines and quarries, where generations carved livelihoods from the rugged landscape.

Victorian life

Explore the sights and routines of Victorian Dartmoor, where family, work, and community shaped everyday life.

The dark days of the war

Reflect on how war touched Dartmoor’s towns and families, bringing hardship, resilience, and lasting change.

Explore the Museum

Discover Dartmoor through six themes

Our collections explore the people, industries, folklore and landscapes that make Dartmoor unique

Dartmoor moorland landscape with lone tree and stone wall

Nature and Landscape

Learn about the wildlife, geology and dramatic landscapes that shape Dartmoor’s unique environment.

Bronze Age hut interior reconstruction at Dartmoor museum

Prehistoric Dartmoor

Stone rows, hut circles and burial cairns reveal the lives of Dartmoor’s earliest communities more than 4,000 years ago.

traditional Dartmoor kitchen items and domestic objects on display

Living on Dartmoor

Explore domestic life, homes, crafts and traditions from medieval Dartmoor to the Victorian era.

historic farming and workshop tools used on Dartmoor

Working the Moor

From tin mining and farming to wool, quarrying and trade – discover how generations made a living from the moor.

Dartmoor folklore scene with figures on rocky tors

Myths & Legends

Piskies, ghostly hounds and strange happenings — Dartmoor folklore has fascinated visitors for centuries.

historic railway and transport equipment display at Dartmoor museum

Transport & Travel

Turnpike roads, packhorse routes, railways and motor cars transformed how people crossed the moor.

Accessibility

We aim to make the museum welcoming and accessible to all visitors. The museum provides level access, lift access to all floors, accessible toilets, large print and braille information, seating, quiet spaces and support for visitors with additional needs.

👉 Plan your visit: Download the Accessibility Guide

  • Free entry for personal assistants

  • Assistance dogs welcome

  • Silent tours available

  • Touch tours for visually impaired visitors

museum of dartmoor life
museum of dartmoor life

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Local Storytelling

The Round House of Okehampton

Duration: 18 minutes

At first glance, it’s just a small round house. But its story is anything but ordinary. This film explores how one modest building helped shape Okehampton’s road system—an influence still visible in the town today.

Created by two students from a local Okehampton school, the project uncovers a remarkable piece of local history and shows how powerful community storytelling can be.