Lydford, Devon
A beautiful village on the very western fringe of Dartmoor National Park. Lydford grew on the site of a Saxon town founded by Alfred the Great in AD 890. In the centre of Lydford stands a medieval castle that was once infamous as a grim gaol. You can still trace the outlines of the original Saxon town layout.
Just behind the parish church of St Petrock are the partial ruins of a Saxon and early Norman earthwork that was the precursor of Lydford Castle. In the churchyard is the grave of George Routleigh, a watchmaker whose inscribed tombstone (now inside the church) carries a famous verse. Also inside the church is a very simple late Saxon tub font.
A short walk from the village centre is the National Trust property of Lydford Gorge, where the swiftly flowing River Lyd passes through a steep-sided valley. Over the course of 1.5 miles, the river has peaceful walks, a dramatic whirlpool known as the Devil's Cauldron, and a 30-metre waterfall known as The White Lady.
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