An old market and Stannary town on southern slopes of Dartmoor at SX 756 698. (See Crockern Tor for an explanation of the stannary system). Now by-passed by the A30, it was once on the London to Plymouth road and busy as coaches arrived, horses were changed and the passengers fed. Annie has a house here in Starting Over. More.

The Bedford Hotel, so called because the then Lord Tavistock, Duke of Bedford was responsible for much of the building carried out in the town in the nineteenth century, has been one of our favourite haunts for many years. Characters use it as a rendezvous - usually intentionally but there are sometimes unexpected meetings with interesting consequences. A bit like real life, in fact! Click here for the hotel web site. More.

The bridge crosses the East Dart River at SX 658 773. More.

This is an area of commercial woodland to the south of the Two Bridges to Postbridge Road. Not everyone was happy when the Forestry Commission planted swathes of fir trees on Dartmoor. Nowadays, when new woodland is planted there is usually a mix of fir and deciduous. When of a suitable size, the fir trees are felled leaving a much more natural landscape. More.

There are two Bigburys. When Marcia refers to Bigbury she actually means Bigbury-on-Sea at SX 650 443. This was once a fishing village - some of the old cottages have fish cellars - but is now heavily reliant on the tourist industry. Here is one of the largest sandy beaches in the county. The other is a few miles away at SX 666 463.

A public school in Tiverton where Oliver and Saul Wivenhoe were educated. The school was made famous by the book ‘Lorna Doone’. Click here to see their we site.

The navy has used the port of Dartmouth for training seamen officers for over one hundred years. Now housed in a magnificent shore establishment, the cadets once lived on board an old wooden ship of the line, HMS Britannia, from which the name of the college is derived. Most of the naval characters in Marcia’s books started their careers here.
Click here to see the Royal Navy’s web site for the college.

This island lies just off Bigbury-on-Sea (qv) at SX 648 438. Agatha Christie loved this island and set some of her books here (and some of the television series have been filmed here). It is connected to the mainland by a causeway but when the tide is in the usual way to cross is on the ‘sea-tractor’ - you really need a picture and if you click here you will see some.

The bridge crosses the River Plym at SX 554 646. It is a popular spot for families as children love playing in the river here - and so do dogs! More.

A moorland town at SX 702 874. It is one of the original four Stannary Towns, chartered in 1305, where tinners brought their metal for assay and stamping.

Not a submarine base but a dockyard where, in the past, submarines went for refits.

Clearbrook is a village on the south western edge of Dartmoor at SX 520 655. Like many villages in Devon, Clearbrook is no longer involved in the industries that created it - in this case mining and farming. It is in easy travelling distance of Tavistock and Plymouth where many of the inhabitants work. More.

A tor at SX 530 761. This is the first tor you see as you drive out of Tavistock towards Princetown. There is a very convenient car park at SX 530 750 from where it is an easy walk up to the tor itself. There is nearly always an ice cream van parked here - when we have had lunch in the Bedford we usually come here for our pudding: ice cream! More.

Crapstone is a village near Yelverton at SX 503 677. RAF Harrowbarrow, an airfield used during the second world war, was nearby. It remained in the ownership of the Ministry of Defence until the late 1980’s.

Crebers in Duke Street is Tavistock’s delicatessen in which we often shop - as do a number of Marcia’s characters. Click here for their web site.  More.

Crockern Tor at SX 615 757 has a very special place in the history of tin mining on Dartmoor. Mining on Dartmoor (once hugely important to the economy of the area) was controlled by the Stannery Parliament which met on this tor in the open air when required. If you are interested in the history of mining in the area, click here for a good introduction to the subject.

The river has two sources, the East Dart which rises on the open moor in an area of marshland at SX 607 854  and the West Dart which rises at SX 602 816. The two come together at Dartmeet (qv): SX 671 731. From there is drains southward through Buckfastleigh, Dartington and Totnes before joining the sea at Dartmouth. To be accurate, the name ‘River Dart’ applies only to that part from Dartmeet down to the sea.

The largest of the three moors in the west, Dartmoor is underpinned by granite. This has shaped the landscape with dramatic tors and deep river gorges. The moor is a national park. More.

The town is situated on the west bank of the River Dart at SX 877 513. It was once two small communities separated by a valley - Hardness to the north on the hard spur of land that juts out into the river and Clifton on the steep cliff to the south. How they became the town of today is a fascinating story which I wrote about in a contribution to ‘The Heart Of Dartmouth’ published by AQ & DJ Publications some years ago. The book is out of print and I hope to put my contributions on the web with a link from here in the near future. More.

Situated on the coast just to the west of the Exe Estuary, it is of interest because the trains from London to Plymouth pass through the town. As the line approaches Dawlish, it hugs the coast and this causes problems in bad weather. Trains sometimes have to stop running when the tide is very hard and gales are venting their fury to the coast. Every now and then, sections of the track are undermined by the sea and the defences have to be rebuilt. Click here for a web site with some interesting railway pictures.

The Royal Navy has used Devonport as an important base ever since it was created. It houses HMS Drake, the submarine shore establishment.

Royal Naval shore establishment at Gosport in Hampshire.

A village in the north western part of Dartmoor at SX 536 689 where Marcia used to live - but not in one of the big colonial bungalows but in a very modern one near the Princetown Road. Even so, she could jump over the back garden fence out onto the open moor - and she did!

Royal Naval shore establishment at Devonport.

A suburb of Southcea near the Portsmouth dockyard where there are various married quarters for naval personnel.

One of those rivers that rises almost on the north coast of the peninsula but runs down to the south coast where it meets the sea - not surprisingly - at Exmouth.

County town of Devon. There has been a community here from ancient times. It was the most westerly fortification to be built by the Romans who called it Isca.

Home to HMS Neptune, the submarine base on the Gare Loch.

A reservoir near Chagford at SX 668 838. When my father was alive, Marcia used to try to take him out for a trip along the coast or up onto the moor at least once a week. This was one of his favourite places to stop for coffee or lunch That is probably why she decided that it would be visited by Kate and The General on the latter’s last journey. More.

The loch in Scotland where the submarine base at Faslane is situated.

Town on the opposite side of the harbour from Portsmouth. HMS Dolphin, the submarine base is situated here.

The area of Dartmoor rising to Hameldown Tor at SX 703 805 is known as Hameldon Down.  More.

A tor at SX 757 770.  This is one of the most distinctive tors on the moor and, being close to the road, a great favourite with visitors. You can usually buy an ice cream from a van parked in the nearby car park! More.

Town near the submarine base in Scotland where many naval families lived.

A small community in the middle of the moor at SX 655 725. It is noteworthy for the Forest Inn (which does not appear in the books) and for the bridge over the River Dart where one can often see a dipper. More.

Village at SX 705 695. More.

A tor at SX 752 790 which, as the name suggests, is supposed to look like a sleeping dog. More.

This island off the south coast of England gets a mention simply because Kate looked at it when wandering in Stokes Bay. Hmmm.

The odd thing is that no matter when you visit, the flowers on this grave at SX 732 799 will be fresh and yet no one is ever seen putting them there.

There are various versions of the story but basically an orphan called Kitty Jay was sent from the poor house to work at Canna Farm near Manaton. In due course she found herself pregnant by the farmer’s son - who naturally denied everything. She was thrown out of her home and killed herself shortly afterwards. She was buried here, at the junction of three parishes, as none of them would take her body. Mysteriously, the flowers began to arrive and her resting place has become a famous landmark. More.

Much favoured by the navy, this old inn not only features in Marcia’s book but in many which deal with naval exploits during the Napoleonic War.  Click here for their web site.

Town on the same side of Portsmouth Harbour as HMS Dolphin, the submarine base.

Fictional house to the west of Cox Tor and of Michael Barrett-Thompson.

Town where Cassandra and Nick went when she was staying with him: they would dine at the Bear.

A village at SX 541 672. More.

The Meavy is a tributary of the River Plym which it joins at SX 533 635. It rises at SX 592 722 on the flanks of South Hessery Tor and flows through Burrator Reservoir on its way to join the Plym.

A parish on the edge of the moor. The junction below is at SX 513 746. Moorshop is actually the name of the parish but when we use the name we usually mean the staggered cross roads at SX 513 746 on the main road from Tavistock to Princetown before you arrive at the turning in front of Cox Tor leading to the fictional home of the Barrett-Thompsons, Lower Barton.

A hamlet on Dartmoor at SX 526 738. It was here that Harriet rented a cottage.

Village on the north eastern edge of Dartmoor at SX 753 860.

Preparatory school at Tavistock. SX 493 749.  For boys only during the period covered by this book, it is now co-educational. Click here to see their web site.

Marcia is referring to the Permanent Joint Headquarters (one of the inter-service military headquarters) where Commander Naval Forces North is based. Click here if you would like to see the Ministry of Defence web site dealing with this facility.

Town on the northern edge of Dartmoor at SX 600 954.

Behind the Guildhall in Bedford Square is the old pannier market. We have used this market for years. A lot of our cutlery came from here as has ironmongery and, in the past, pet food. The stalls are permanent and open daily except Monday. Others visit once a week and offer a huge range of goods made locally in small craft units.

This cottage belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall and is close to Crockern Tor. For some years the tenant was a friend of ours and when he died we seriously considered buying the lease but, to be honest, we couldn’t afford it at that time.

A fairly level area of Dartmoor near Whitchurch at SX 514 724.

City in the south west corner of Devon situated between the River Plym and the River Tamar - the boundary between Devon and Cornwall. There has been a community here since the bronze age and it is one of the great natural harbours in the south west of England - hence its long and continuing association with the Royal Navy.

A high level area overlooking the sea where, famously, Francis Drake was playing bowls when the Spanish Armada approached the English Channel.
Portsmouth

Hamlet at SX 647 789. The hamlet is an ideal centre for walkers having a good car park at SX 646 789 where there is an information centre and toilet facilities.  More.

Powderham Castle with its deer park is the ancestral home of the Courteney Family and is visible from the train as it passes between Exeter and Starcoss alongside the Exe estuary.

The highest community on Dartmoor, famous for HM Prison, Dartmoor. SX 590 735. More.

A town on the road between Yelverton and Plymouth on the outskirts of the latter at SX 508 615.

A tor at SX 750 763. The tor is just to the west of Haytor Rocks. There are two car parks nearby at SX 747 761 and SX 754 765. During the summer there is usually an ice cream van in one or other.

The church in the centre of Tavistock by Bedford Square. At the end of every term, all the boys from Mount House School together with their parents collect in this church for the end of term service. This is a very minor happening at this church which is particularly renowned for hosting some truly wonderful musical concerts. Click here for the church’s web site. More.

The pub where Nick - rather reluctantly - agreed to meet Cassandra. Click here for their web site

This is a fresh water lagoon separated from the sea by a shingle bank in Start Bay at SX 822 430.  More.

A very simple bridge on the road between Postbridge and the Warren Inn at SX 667 805.

The bay south of Alvestoke where Kate used to walk in the early days of her marriage.

A market town at SX 485 745, Tavistock has a long history - a Benedictine Abbey was founded about 975 AD, The town takes its name from the River Tavy - a tributary of the River Tamar. Many visitors to the town do not find the river as it runs to the south of the shopping centre. There is a footpath along the river behind the Bedford Hotel which is well worth exploring. One the of town’s main car parks is built further down the river bank near the Wharf - an Arts and Leisure Centre: Click here for their web site. More.

Village on the south coast of Devon at SX 823 422 (car park).  Torcross Line,is the name given to the shingle bank that separates Slapton Ley from the sea and runs from Torcross to Strete Gate.

A town at SX 805 605. There has been a bridge at Totnes from before the Norman invasion and it is still the first to cross the River Dart. As such, it was of great military importance and a walled town, protected by a castle, was the result.  More.

Hamlet where two bridges which cross the West Dart at SX 607 750. More.

Reservoir at SX 687 711. There are a number of small reservoirs on the moor and each has a charm of its own. There are two car parks near the dam at SX 685 712 and 688 709. From either you can walk around the reservoir and, of course, there are plenty of other places to explore from here. There is one oddity you may come across and find a bit of a puzzle. At SX 689 710 (or thereabouts) you will find a pipe, about sixteen inches in diameter, coming up out of the ground at about 45 degrees. The odd thing is that water will be flowing out of that pipe into the leat rather than the other way around. The explanation is that when the reservoir was built, Holne Moor Leat ran through the site. To overcome the problem, an inverted siphon was built - and the water enters into the siphon on the hill the other side of the reservoir at SX 683 713 just beside the road. Since this end of the pipe is slightly higher than the outflow water actually is flowing ‘uphill’ just before it leaves the siphon. More.

The fictitious village to the south of Meavy generally situated about SX 543 662 (but you won’t find anything of interest there).

A village near Tavistock at SX 532 697. Kate's first cottage was just to the north of this village. She would walk the dogs on Walkhamton Common from where, on a clear day, you can see the sea beyond Plymouth.  More.

Village near Tavistock at SX 489 727.

This lovely old village at SX 718 768 attracts many thousands of visitors every year and is famous for the song about Uncle Tom Cobley. When I was a boy we had an illustrated copy of the song over the mantle in the old kitchen. I have no idea where it went but the words are reproduced below for those of you who are interested in old folk songs. More.

Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare.
All along, down along, out along lee.
For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

And when shall I see again my grey mare?
All along, down along, out along lee.
By Friday soon, or Saturday noon,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

So they harnessed and bridled the old grey mare.
All along, down along, out along lee.
And off they drove to Widecombe fair,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

Then Friday came, and Saturday noon.
All along, down along, out along lee.
But Tom Pearce's old mare hath not trotted home,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

So Tom Pearce he got up to the top o' the hill.
All along, down along, out along lee.
And he seed his old mare down a-making her will,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

So Tom Pearce's old mare, her took sick and died.
All along, down along, out along lee.
And Tom he sat down on a stone, and he cried
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

But this isn't the end o' this shocking affair.
All along, down along, out along lee.
Nor, though they be dead, of the horrid career
Of Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

When the wind whistles cold on the moor of the night.
All along, down along, out along lee.
Tom Pearce's old mare doth appear ghastly white,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

And all the long night be heard skirling and groans.
All along, down along, out along lee.
From Tom Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

It is not unreasonable to suggest that the ‘skirling and groans’ were more likely to be heard on returning home from the pub than on the outward journey.