Dartmoor...

Dartmoor is NOT a place where you'd want to get lost. It's a vast wilderness, and the weather can be unpredictable to say the least.

Famous worldwide, and immortalised in the Sherlock Holmes classic The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dartmoor is one of Devon's priceless jewels.

It is easy to see why the moor is a mecca for millions of visitors and an addiction among outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

With hundreds of miles of rights of way and views to die for, it is one of the few places left in the county where you really can get away from it all.

Not surprisingly the moor also has groups set up to protect it, including the Dartmoor Preservation Association, the Dartmoor Society and the Dartmoor Trust. Then there are the groups whic have a special interest in the moor's wildlife - like the Dartmoor Pony Society. The Dartmoor Rescue Group helps with the annual Ten Tors expedition, and throughout the year they are on hand to help the police with search and rescue tasks.

And, as in all of Britain's national parks, there are scores of information points and centres run by the park authority that provide a wealth of information on walks and the moor itself. Hundreds of years ago, the moor was regarded as a savage place to be avoided - but that changed over time and the moor now attracts people from around the world.