Buckfastleigh Attractions
Buckfastleigh
Buckfastleigh is extremely well-situated, being both on the edge of Dartmoor but still easily accessible from the A38. The town is home to the historic Buckfast Abbey, where the monks produce the famous Buckfast Tonic Wine.
Although it is a relatively small town, Buckfastleigh still has many useful amenities, all within close walking distance of the bunkhouse. There is a small Co-op supermarket for groceries and opposite this is a cashpoint machine within the car park. There is also a convenient petrol station in the town.
There are three pubs in the centre of Buckfastleigh (The Globe, The White Hart and The Kings Arms), each with its own character, so you are sure to find one to suit your needs. The Abbey Inn (a favourite of Devon Spalæological Society) is just on the outskirts of Buckfastleigh and has a pleasant outside seating area by the river. Should you not wish to cook, there is a wide choice of takeaways and some restaurants, ranging from curry to fish and chips.
Please Note: The bunkhouse is located in a residential area, so please be considerate of our neighbours on your way back from the pub!
Further information can be found on the official town website Buckfastleigh Town Website or the Wikipedia article Buckfastleigh – Wikipedia.
Buckfast Abbey
Buckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery. Dedicated to Saint Mary, it was founded in 1018 and run by the Cistercian order from 1147 until it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1882 monks began living there again, and today it is a Benedictine foundation.
The Abbey is self-supporting, with a farm where vegetables are grown and bees, pigs and cattle are kept, a shop which sells wine, honey beeswax, fudge and other items made by religious communities throughout the world, and a gift shop, book shop, and restaurant.
The South Devon Railway
The South Devon Railway is the longest established steam railway in the south west. It is a seven mile former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872, which runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes. Running steam trains with heritage rolling stock.
Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies
Wander around the otter sanctuary and butterfly farm and see new butterflies emerge in tropical surroundings. See the otters swimming underwater in specially built glass enclosures.
Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies website
The Valiant Soldier
The Valiant Soldier was an active pub in Buckfastleigh which closed in the late 1960s and never re-opened. Everything was literally left as it was and today, it’s open as a museum, giving visitors a glimpse of the past.
The Eden Project
The Eden Project close to St Austell in Cornwall is also within easy reach.