Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Buckfastleigh (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Buckfast Abbey, Pennywell Farm, and South Devon Railway. Also, be sure to include Joint Mitnor Cave in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Buckfastleigh (England).
Table of Contents
Buckfast Abbey
12th-century riverside abbey buildings. Buckfast Abbey forms part of an active Benedictine monastery at Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, Devon, England. Buckfast first became home to an abbey in 1018. The first Benedictine abbey was followed by a Savignac abbey constructed on the site of the current abbey in 1134. The monastery was surrendered for dissolution in 1539, with the monastic buildings stripped and left as ruins, before being finally demolished. The former abbey site was used as a quarry, and later became home to a Gothic mansion house.
In 1882 the site was purchased by a group of French Benedictine monks, who refounded a monastery on the site, dedicated to Saint Mary. New monastic buildings and a temporary church were constructed incorporating the existing Gothic house. Buckfast was formally reinstated as an Abbey in 1902, and the first abbot of the new institution, Boniface Natter, was blessed in 1903. Work on a new abbey church, which was constructed mostly on the footprint of the former Cistercian abbey, started in 1907. The church was consecrated in 1932 but not completed until 1938. The abbey continues to operate as a Benedictine foundation today, and is a registered charity under English law. As of 2020, the abbey has 13 monks.[1]
Address: Buckfast Rd, TQ11 0EE Buckfastleigh
Pennywell Farm
Amusement park in England. Pennywell Farm is a farm tourist attraction just outside the town of Buckfastleigh in South Devon, England. It is a farm 600 feet above sea level with views over Dartmoor National Park.[2]
South Devon Railway
Heritage railway. The South Devon Railway is a 6.64-mile heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon. Mostly running alongside the River Dart, it was initially known as the Dart Valley Railway. The railway is now operated by the South Devon Railway Trust, a registered charity.
The railway's headquarters and museum are located at Buckfastleigh railway station.[3]
Address: The Railway The Station Dart Bridge Road, TQ11 0DZ Buckfastleigh
Joint Mitnor Cave
Cave in England. Joint Mitnor Cave, also known as Bone Cave, is a limestone cave situated in the now disused Higher Kiln Quarry near Buckfastleigh, in Devon, England. The cave is one of a number at the quarry and in the surrounding area, and is managed by the Pengelly Trust.[4]
Reed's Cave
Reed's cave is a cave in Higher Kiln Quarry near Buckfastleigh, Dartmoor, Devon. It has many formations including the unique Little Man formation, which is beyond Easter Chamber. Devon's only true troglobite collembolan Pseudosinella dobati is recorded from this cave.
People are generally not allowed to enter Reed's Cave, but some entries are permitted during the summer months. Reed's Cave was once connected to Bakers pit but the connection has been filled in with concrete. Because of entry restrictions, the cave has become an important roosting site for Greater Horseshoe Bats.[5]
Jellyfish Community Arts Hub
Museum
Address: Widecombe, 34 Bossell Road, Buckfastleigh