In and Around Okehampton

Okehampton is a town and civil parish in Devon, England, at the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the River Okement. The border of the Dartmoor National Park is just south of the town.


Okehampton - A view from above!

Like many towns in the West Country, Okehampton grew on the Medieval wool trade. Notable buildings in the town include the 15th century chapel of St. James, and Okehampton Castle. There is the site of a Roman fort close to the Town at SX5996. The town is also home to the Museum of Dartmoor Life. Okehampton elected two members to the Unreformed House of Commons. The Reform Act 1832 abolished its representation as a rotten borough.

 

Gorse Bushes


The substantial army training camp on Dartmoor is reached via Okehampton, and is referred to as "Okehampton Camp". It is managed by the Defence Training Estate, and used by a variety of military units, predominantly the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM), Lympstone, Devon and many cadet training units. The Ten Tors event is run by the Army each year in early May from Okehampton Camp.