PROFILE: Tavistock

Winner of the 'Best Market Town in Britain' award from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Tavistock lives up to its reputation in all respects.

This classic Devon town boasts a thriving market scene dating back to 1105, with a covered pannier market seven days a week with everything from local produce to antiques and art and crafts. A twice-monthly farmers' market in the town square recently won the award for the Best Farmers' Market in the South West.

The town also gained the accolade of Best Food Town in the West Country, with its fine selection of food outlets, including a delicatessen, multi award winning Country Cheeses, independent butchers, greengrocers and fishmonger, and numerous restaurants and cafes to suit all pockets and tastes.

A shopper’s delight, old books, the art scene or smart clothes can be found among the variety of independent specialist shops and small outlets of national chain stores.

The history of Tavistock stretches back more than 1000 years to the founding of a Benedictine Abbey, the remains of which can be seen the grounds of the 15th century parish church.

Its industrial past was based on tin, cloth and copper and it was one of four stannary towns in Devon where ingots of locally-mined tin were weighed and stamped. The birthplace of Sir Francis Drake, his statue within the town is the original of the replica to be found on Plymouth Hoe.

It is to the 7th Duke of Bedford that Tavistock owes its present form. Putting his mining wealth to good use, he became Tavistock's greatest benefactor, funding extensive town restoration and building workers' houses. The town hall he built in 1864 dominates the main square with its elegant gothic windows.

The town stands in the heart of an area of outstanding countryside, being the gateway to Dartmoor to the east and having the Tamar Valley — a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — to the west.

For transport, the A30 to Exeter and the M5 is a short drive away and Plymouth is only 25km south, providing access to rail transport.