Museum of Dartmoor Life

The museum is currently closed and will open on 18th March 2024

We are proud recipients of the Silver Award in the Best Small Visitor Attraction category for 2023 to 2024 at the 14th Devon Tourism Awards held on 16th November at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay. The night witnessed the gathering of Devon’s tourism elite, celebrating resilience, innovation and excellence in the face of a challenging few years.

The Museum of Dartmoor Life is a gateway to the rich history of Dartmoor. Situated in a cobbled courtyard in Okehampton, the museum exhibits a vast collection of objects spanning 5,000 years of life on Dartmoor from the Bronze Age through to the mid-20th Century. We also provide The Visitor Information Point for Okehampton.

explore our collection

Nature

Dartmoor’s protected landscape is abundant with wildlife on its granite tors, peat bogs, ancient woodlands, sweeping moorland and wildflower meadows.

Prehistoric Dartmoor

If only stones could talk! Humans have made Dartmoor home for 10,000 years, and its archaeology tells their stories.

Living on Dartmoor

From the Bronze age onwards Dartmoor has been a busy place. Both locals and invaders have helped shape life as it is today.

Working on Dartmoor

Starting with the first hunter gatherers and followed by millennia of farming, mining and the wool industry, Dartmoor has always been a working landscape.

Myths & Legends

Oral traditions explain how people perceive the world, they transmit customs and values and also can help shape behaviour.

Transport & Travel

People have always traversed the moor, with packhorses carrying goods on the Jobbers Road, locals carrying their dead along the coffin trails and railways bringing opportunities.

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NEWS

Silver Award at Devon Tourism Awards

We are thrilled to share the exciting news that our museum has been awarded the Silver Award in the Best Small Visitor Attraction category for 2023 to 2024 during the Devon Tourism Awards ceremony held on November 16th. Debbie Pritchard and Jan Goffey, both trustees, graciously accepted the award on behalf of the museum.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, particularly our Museum Manager, Kristy Turner and dedicated volunteers whose contributions have been instrumental in earning this recognition.

The Devon Tourism Awards stand as a commendation of excellence within the tourism industry in Devon. This initiative seeks to showcase the best attractions, accommodations, events, and services that collectively enhance Devon’s attraction as a tourist destination.

Covering various categories, the awards entail a meticulous judging process, incorporating expert assessments, mystery visits, and customer feedback. The success of our museum in clinching this Silver award is a collective achievement reflecting our commitment to providing an exceptional and memorable experience for our visitors.

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