About Harford Bridge Park

In 1985 Gerald and Irene Williamson bought Harford Bridge Park from the Plumptre family. For more than 25 years the Williamsons have built on the foundations of a park that was first developed from the late 1940's by Major & Mrs Plumptre.

Our business strategy has always been to re-invest profits into the park's landscape and facilities so that guests achieve maximum value and enjoyment. We have strong belief in the ethos and values of sustainable tourism.

Since 2009, Lydia, Nigel and Paul have taken operation of the park forward. They continue to build on the vision and energy invested by their parents who remain the Directors of Harford Bridge Park Ltd.

The David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme

It was conceived in 1996 so is really quite young. The first awards took place in 1997 when Harford Bridge Park gained silver. Since then we have achieved gold in consecutive years to date, being one of first few parks in the country to do so.

The aims and objectives of the David Bellamy Conservation Award Scheme should speak for themselves, but the underlying drivers are not quite so obvious.

It is of great importance that tourism, particularly in unique Dartmoor does not harm the countryside, rather do everything possible to enhance, improve and sustain it. Hence the term sustainable tourism.

We on the park have felt this way from the beginning of our ownership in 1985. It was therefore relatively easy for us to become fully involved with the scheme.

Conservation is very good business practice - it helps save money and provides an enduring foundation element to our business strategy.

We are blessed with a large population of bats along the river together with otters, salmon and trout. You will also see the many English oak trees we have planted as well as some that are centuries old. The oak tree is our most important as it attracts as many as 240 different species of insects and an important source of food for birds, fish and bats.

The History of Harford Bridge Park

It began as a modest camping facility in the 1930's on what was then part of a farm attached to Harford House. It was taken over by the Royal Engineers at the beginning of the 1939 war, when a guardroom was built at the main gate and an ablutions block constructed in the centre of the park, near to old mine workings.

These two buildings still exist. The old guardroom has been preserved and is now a store. The ablution block, much enlarged by the previous owner, has been brought up to a high standard by ourselves. Up until 1850 the park was part of a tin mine, Wheal Union.

One of the boundaries of the park is formed by the River Tavy, which is the fastest flowing river in England. The lane from the main road to the village of Peter Tavy forms a second boundary (this gets its name from its church, St Peter's on the Tavy).

The bridge over the Tavy, at the corner of these two boundaries, is Harford Bridge. This is a classical moorland bridge. In 1891 this bridge was washed away by storm flooding and the river changed course below it, altering the park area. It stopped against a granite cliff where it exposed a disused Elizabethan horizontal mine shaft where otters live.

The original bridge was built around 1290-1300 and the arch nearest to the village remains to this day with the destroyed arches rebuilt in 1892; the difference in construction is noticeable. The river along our boundary has several deep holding-pools for salmon and trout.

The old mine workings are now the site of the children's play area. The mine shaft lifting equipment was driven by horses and the level they walked around is the site of the play tower.

Enjoy the spectacular views around you. Cox Tor climbs away from us in the east. A worked-out quarry with rock faces, glinting through an abundance of trees and vegetation, is to the south. Wild and unspoiled meadows lay to the west, looking towards Tavistock and to the north are rolling Devon hills. The park is 400 feet above sea level in a very sheltered valley. We are indeed very fortunate to be within Dartmoor National Park.

Obviously, its unique setting, its spectacular river and its location in the moor near to the picturesque village of Peter Tavy and the award winning market town of Tavistock, birthplace of Sir Francis Drake.

Little features on the park such as a model of Harford Bridge by main entrance, a model of Wheal Betsy (moorland engine house) and the ornamental topiary complement the park's unique ambience.