Monday 1st November 10.30 - 1p.m. Christmas Workshop at Castle Drogo. Make Your Own Christmas Card Delight your friends and family with individual home made cards by you ,especially for them. Marcia Horsley will show you how it is done in this hands on workshop for all abilities. £19.00 per person to include a light lunch. Booking essential on (01647) 434144.
Tuesday 2nd November 10.30 – 1p.m. Lecture Lunches at Castle Drogo. Stir it Up!Join Head Chef Alan Loman and spend the morning making your traditional Christmas pudding ready to take home and steam yourself. £16.95 to include a light lunch. Booking essential on (01647) 434144.
Tuesday 2nd November 7.30p.m. every Tuesday Salsa and Argentinian Tango 8.30p.m. - 10p.m. Tavistock Town Hall. Bar available, free parking. For further details telephone 07974 095275 or 07884 381296.
Wednesday 3rd November 9 - 1p.m. Teign Valley Farmers Market, held every Wednesday at Community Hall, Christow. Contact Bryony Falch for further information telephone 01647 252887.
Wednesday 3rd November Curry night every Wednesday night at The Victoria Inn, Ashburton.
Telephone 01364 652402 for further information and to book a table.
Click here to read my review of an evening at the Victoria Inn.

Thursday 4th November 9 - 1p.m. Buckfastleigh Farmers Market at the Town Hall, every Thursday near the Globe Inn, in the town Centre.

Friday 5th November The brilliant Sticklepath Fireshow –This year called 'Dangerous Intent' is always held at the Finch Foundry Field at Sticklepath near to Okehampton. Full directions on the show website. Gates open at 6pm for the 7.30 start. Entry is £7 per adult and £3 for children. Tickets are available in advance. Free buses from Okehampton plus parking nearby. Refreshments are available on the field and at the 2 good nearby pubs (where you will also find the toilets).
Do wear warm and waterproof clothing. The Fireshow is never postponed due to rain or normal windy conditions. Only in the eventuality of extremely severe wind conditions prevailing in the direction of the audience and local buildings is the show ever postponed. If this were to occur it would be announced
on local radio and on the show website on show day. The revised date would then be Saturday 13th November. FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL, NO ALCOHOL, NO SPARKLERS, AND NO EXTRA FIREWORKS ARE ALLOWED ONTO THE FIELD. For further information email the organisers and for the show website click here. This is by far and above the best firework display that our children have ever been to. I recommend it -Jill.
Friday 5th November Don't miss the Weekly Flea Market at Chagford from 10 to 1 Jubilee Hall, next to the car park. Stuffed with great bargains. You will find homemade cakes, chutneys, local vegetables.
Saturday 6th November 8.30 - 1p.m. Produce Market takes place in the centre of the Bovey Tracey every other Saturday. Meat, fairtrade goods, cheeses, preserves and plants. Marion on 01626 834109 for more information.
Saturday 6th November Jumpcross at Chagford. An interesting Course which includes purpose built water complex, ditches and steps, easy view for spectators, a thrilling ride around with fantastic Dartmoor views. A well organised and safe ride for all ages and abilities. Teaching riders to ride with rhythm and balance.Young horses and young riders welcome. Course at the farm of Kathryn Northway, where livery is available. E-mail Kathryn. Telephone 01647 432089 Broadhalls Farm, Chagford. TQ13 8EH for horseboxes with sat nav !
Saturday 6th November Produce market on the 1st Saturday of each month at the Victory hall in Lewdown (between Exeter and Moretonhampstead) 10 to 1p.m. Stalls include Locally Baked Bread, Beef, Lamb, Pork, Poultry, Fish, Fruit & Veg, Herbs & Spices, Fresh Eggs, Tasty Cheese, Hand Made Fudges, Home made Preserves, antiques and bric a brac.
Saturdays and Sundays 6th November to 21st November Hibernation Hunt. Castle Drogo is put to bed in the winter but what happens to the wildlife that lives on the Estate? Follow our trail around the gardens and grounds to find out! Normal admission prices apply and £1.50 per child (including prize).

Saturday 6th November Moretonhampstead’s annual bonfire and firework night will take place at King George V Sports and Community Centre Playing Fields in Moretonhampstead. Starting at 6.30 pm and setting light to the bonfire at 7pm. Fireworks to music begins at 7.30pm. with a licenced bar, mulled wine, burgers, hot soup and much more! A spectacular evening of fun and bonfire entertainment for all the family! They say it's ‘The best firework display in all of Devon’…and the bonfire too! For more information please contact the Centre on 01647 440107.

 

Saturday 6th November

Bonfire Night at Chagford with plenty of fireworks. In the Brettville field - opposite the school.

Hot food available. Barbecue. The gates open at 6p.m. and the bonfire will be lit at approximately 6.30. So get your gloves and scarves out, put your woolly underwear on, and don several extra layers so that you keep warm, and come along to see the fireworks. This event is in aid of the Exeter West Lions Club. Further details from Mr. Bob Blackmore on telephone number 01647 432226

 

Wednesday 10th November Curry night every Wednesday night at The Victoria Inn, Ashburton. Telephone 01364 652402 for further information.

Wednesday 10th November 9 - 1p.m. Teign Valley Farmers Market, held every Wednesday at Community Hall, Christow. Contact Bryony Falch for further information telephone 01647 252887.

Thursday 11th November 9 - 1p.m. Buckfastleigh Farmers Market at the Town Hall, every Thursday near the Globe Inn, in the town Centre. A wealth of local goods including meat, vegetables, home made cakes and quiches. Pickles, preserves, jam and home cooking at fair prices.

Thursday 11th November 1 - 3p.m. Upper Plym Archaeology, Blackabrook Bridge. Discover the history of Dartmoor through the remains of Bronze Age houses, Medieval boundaries and carved blocks of granite. Adult £4, child £2 (children must be accompanied by an adult). Meet at Blackabrook Bridge, Grid Ref SX 564 644. Booking essential (Monday to Friday only) on 01752 341377 or email the National Trust for more details.
Thursday 11th November 10.30 - 1p.m. Lecture Lunches Yule Log for You at Castle Drogo. Decorate under the watchful eye of our chef and take home a traditional Yule Log ready for your Christmas celebrations.£16.95 per person to include a light lunch. Booking essential on (01647) 434144.
Friday 12th November Don't miss the Weekly Flea Market at Chagford from 10 to 1p.m. Jubilee Hall, next to the car park.

Stuffed with great bargains. You will find homemade cakes, chutneys, local vegetables.
Saturday 13th November At the Jubilee Hall in Chagford. A Bazaar in aid of the Cat's Protection Okehampton branch.

Setting off at 9.30 to 12 noon, you are welcome to come along and enjoy this morning of stalls, tombola, and an exhibition of local photos !!!! Refreshments available. More information on this closer to the date. If you could kindly bring a donation tin of cat food for the Cat's Protection they would be very grateful. Free admission.

Saturday 13th November - Most important DO COME TO Jill & Rob Pendleton and Mark Sheridan's very interesting .....

EXHIBITION OF PHOTOS at the Jubilee Hall from 2pm to 10 pm. A most interesting collection of photos taken in the Dartmoor area... Jill (ME !) is a photographer of people, Rob is technically brilliant and enjoys close up work, and Mark takes brilliant pictures of the local flora and fauna, with the odd man on a tractor ploughing a field. All in all it should be a good array of photos. If you came to Chagford Show, then take a look at the slideshow of over 400 pix and if you ran in the Two Hills Race at Chagford, then you will most definitely feature in our slideshow. FREE ENTRY. Refreshments available. In the morning we shall be sharing the hall with the Cat's Protection Okehampton branch coffee morning. They will be running a raffle and cake stall and all the usual bric-a-brac stalls, so well worth coming along. See you there!

Saturday 13th November 10 - 12 noon, Hittisleigh Market held in Hittisleigh village hall, every 2nd Saturday. There will be available produce, meat, cheese, plants, cakes, preserves etc. Telephone for further information 01647 24453.
Saturday 13th November Tavistock Farmers Market in Bedford Square 9 til 1p.m. Stall holders are all Farmers, growers or producers themselves. Tavistock Farmers Market website.
Sunday 14th November Jumpcross at Chagford. Jumpcross course including purpose built water complex, ditches and steps, easy view for spectators, and a thrilling ride around with fantastic Dartmoor views. A well organised and safe ride for all ages and abilities. Teaching riders to ride with rhythm and balance. Young horses and young riders welcome. Course at the farm of Kathryn Northway, where livery is available. e-mail Kathryn. Tel 01647 432089 Broadhalls Farm, Chagford. TQ13 8EH for horseboxes with sat nav !

Monday 15th November 10.30 – 1p.m. Christmas Workshops: Make Your Own Gift Boxes at Castle Drogo. Plan now to make your own individual 'gift boxes' for those special Christmas gifts, Marcia Horsley shows you how in this hands on workshop for all abilities. £19.00 per person to include a light lunch. Booking essential on (01647) 434144.
Tuesday 16th November Manaton Market third Tuesday of the month, where you can buy lots of local goods including cakes, puddings and pies, honey, fresh eggs, cheese, meat from local farms, pork, lamb, bacon, even locally made fudge. Get yourselves along to the Parish Hall to find all these wonderful goodies.
From 10.30 to 12.30. Contact Mrs. Christina Everett on 01647 221302 for further details.
Tuesday 16th November 11 – 4p.m. Christmas Calligraphy & Illumination Workshop with Judith Richardson-Dawes at Castle Drogo. Glad Tidings of Great Joy! How was the feast of Christmas celebrated in Medieval Times ? A rare chance to enjoy some truly beautiful early Christmas images, The Nativity, and the Giving of Gifts. Meet Saint Nicholas, the 4th Century Father Christmas! Let Medieval Music evoke a Christmas from centuries ago as you create a unique Christmas Greeting Card and illuminate it with brilliant gold leaf! For all abilities. Includes coffee and tuition. £30 including light lunch, £25 without lunch. Booking essential on (01647) 434144.
Wednesday 17th November
From 9 - 1p.m. Teign Valley Farmers Market.
Held every Wednesday at the Community Hall in Christow.
Contact Bryony Falch for further information. Her telephone number is 01647 252887.

Wednesday 17th November Curry night every Wednesday night at The Victoria Inn, Ashburton. Telephone 01364 652402 for further information. Pass my the poppadoms please !
Thursday 18th November 9 - 1p.m. Buckfastleigh Farmers Market at the Town Hall, every Thursday near the Globe Inn, in the town Centre. support our loacl farmers by buying locally produced food. You know it makes sense....

Friday 19th November Dhevdhas Nair and friends, otherwise known as the Dairymen for this occasion, invite you to a private preview gig especially for Chagford in the Barefoot Barn, before they perform at the Teignmouth Jazz Festival the following day. This is an invitation only event and everyone is invited! There is no charge but guests are requested to give a generous donation for the band on the door. They will be joined by local singing stars The Wild Violets. The band comprises Andy Christie - (Curved Air, Pee Wee Ellis) guitar Dave Sheen - (Soft Machine, Kevin Coyne, Paz, Morrisey-Mullen) drums Raph Mizraki - (Maddy Prior, Bobby Wellins, Dufay Collective) bass Otto Caretta - (Monkey's Uncle, Cutting Edge, Blake's Heaven) Sax Dhevdhas Nair - (Pia Sukanya, Limbic System, Rick Thorn)on piano. The doors open at 7.30, and the music starts at 8.30 to 10.45 Bar 7.30 - 10.45pm. For directions to + details about see website information.
If driving please park in the village. NO PARKING AT EAGLEHURST OR ON THE ROAD OUTSIDE.
Friday 19th November Don't miss the Weekly Flea Market at Chagford from 10 to 1p.m. - Jubilee Hall, next to the car park. Stuffed with great bargains. You will find homemade cakes, chutneys, local vegetables etc.
Saturday 20th November 8.30 - 1p.m. Produce Market takes place in the centre of the Bovey Tracey every other Saturday. Meat, fairtrade goods, cheeses, preserves and plants. Marion on 01626 834109 for more information.
Saturday 20th November 9 'til 1p.m. Okehampton farmers market has over 20 stalls in the centre of town on the third Saturday of each month. When the weather is right, there is a fresh fish stall, and every week you can buy locally produced meat, free range chicken, venison, bread and cider along with vegetables, herbs and yogurt. Contact Ruth Kelsey 01837 811762 for any more info. Okehampton Market website should you wish to see more information.
Saturday 20th November 10.30 - 4.30p.m. St Clements Day, Finch Foundry, nr Okehampton. Blacksmiths from across the country meet in competition to celebrate Blacksmiths’ Saints Day. See the ‘firing of the Anvil’ and the blacksmiths in action. The shop will be open for Christmas shopping. A great FREE day out for all the family. Further information on 01837 840046 or email The National Trust at Finch Foundry for further details.
Sunday 21st November 10.30 Drogo 10 Run. One of the most spectacular cross country races in England. This is a challenging 10 miles up and down the beautiful Teign Gorge. Organised in co-operation with the South West Road Runners. For info and to register contact SWRR on website.
Monday 22nd November 10.30 – 1p.m. Lecture Lunches at Castle Drogo. Winter Preserves. Lets get pickling with our chef in time for Christmas. Roll back the clock for some nostalgic tastes. £16.95 per person to include a light lunch. Booking essential on (01647) 434144.
Wednesday 24th November 9 - 1p.m. Teign Valley Farmers Market, held every Wednesday at Community Hall, Christow. Contact Bryony Falch for further information telephone 01647 252887.
Wednesday 24th November 10 – 12noon come along to a Riding fo rthe Disabled Coffee Morning. Coffee morning at Castle Drogo in aid of Hittisleigh Riding for the Disabled. A super organisation dedicated to letting less able kids to have a go at horse riding.
A bargain at only £1 per person for the entry.

Do come along and support this very worthy cause. Bring a cake for the cake table if you can.

I shall try to be there to say hello.
Watch out, I'm bound to have my camera with me!

Wednesday 24th November Curry night every Wednesday night at The Victoria Inn, Ashburton. Telephone 01364 652402 for further information. Read my food review of the Victoria Inn.
Thursday 25th November From 9 to 1p.m. Buckfastleigh Farmers Market at the Town Hall, every Thursday near the Globe Inn, in the town Centre.

Thursday 25th November The North Dartmoor Garden Club welcomes all to the Belstone Village Hall at 7.30pm for a talk ‘The Garden at Andrew’s Corner’. Robin Hill takes a look at over 40 years of gardening on the northern edge of Dartmoor. Do come along as a new member or a welcome guest.
Friday 26th November Don't miss the Weekly Flea Market at Chagford from 10 to 1p.m. Jubilee Hall, next to the car park.Stuffed with great bargains. You will find homemade cakes, chutneys, local vegetables.
Saturday 27th November 9.30 - 3p.m. Village Market usually the 4th Saturday of the month. The market is held in the Church House, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, owned by The National Trust. With a wide range of produce, from olives, olive oil to locally grown vegetables and plants. Cheeses, apple juice, honey, home made bread, cakes, jams, chutneys, beef, lamb and pork from local Widecombe farms. Contact Diana Cameron or Richard Holmes on 01364 621218. See Widecombe market's website for more information.

Saturday 27th NovemberA Charity Cabaret with all proceeds going to Amnesty International. In The Long Room at The Drewe Arms, Drewsteignton. Admission is £5 on the door with a prompt start at 8.00 p.m. (Don't miss the first act - it's a good un!) and finishing at midnight. Doors will be open 7.30 p.m. so that you can come in and get settled. Seating limited, children, cushions and dancing shoes welcome.

Once again a star-stuffed line up  to include - The Wild Violets, Dhevdhas Nair, Clive Pig, Cock-a-Hoop, Johnny Fuller, Pete Lowe and Jamie Kay, Stanya Diffey, Jacqui Spiers, Chris Back and Ann Stoke plus special guests. Doors open at 7.30 p.m. followed by a prompt start at 8.00 p.m. Early birds will secure the seats.
Saturday 27th November Tavistock Farmers Market in Bedford Square 9 til 1p.m. Stall holders are all Farmers, growers or producers themselves. Tavistock Farmers Market website.
Saturday 27th November 10 - 12. Whiddon Down Produce Market is held every 4th Saturday of the month in the Village Hall. Vegetables, late Summer fruits, lots of jams and chutneys in season. Quiches and tasty home made cakes. Fresh chicken from free range supplier. Cheeses, cream and milk. Gifts for Christmas including framed photos of Dartmoor scenes. Christmas cards for sale. Refreshments including very popular bacon baps. Free entry and parking alongside. Your chance to stock up with local goodies in time for Christmas.
Saturday 27th November - Antiques and Collectors' Fair The Jubilee Hall, Chagford. There is adequate car parking adjacent, from 10am until 4pm and refreshments are available all day. Admission is free, visitors are able to make a charitable contribution if they wish. This event is organised by Hyson Fairs Limited, in aid of Leukaemia Research.
Saturday 27th November and Sunday 28th November 11 – 4p.m. Christmas is Coming! A chance to see parts of Castle Drogo decorated for Christmas, enjoy the festive food served in our cafe and buy some special gifts from our Shop. You can also follow our Christmas Trail around the Castle and grounds and find out how different National Trust properties across the nation will be celebrating Christmas. Winter admission charges apply. Trail £1.50 per child (incl. prize).

Sunday 28th November from 6.00 to 8.00pm. Carol Singing + Music Workshops in St James Chapel, Fore Street, Okehampton EX20 1HH. Devon's folk and community arts development charity Wren Music, in association with All Saints Parish Church, Okehampton, presents a series of free workshops for all singers and musicians who want to come along and learn, sing and play carols from the Westcountry tradition. The carols workshops are free, thanks to generous support from the Okehampton United Charity, and will lead up to this year's Carols at St James' evening, to be held on Tuesday 14th December at 7.45pm in St James Chapel. For further information, please contact Wren Music, 1 St James Street, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1DW, telephone 01837 53754, or email or find us on www.wrenmusic.co.uk
Monday 29th November 10.30 – 1p.m. Lecture Lunches at Castle Drogo. Sweet and Truffle Making. Learn the art of traditional sweet making for Christmas from history to the 'making' and 'tasting' of such indulgence in the company of our Chef and take home to share if you dare. £16.95 per person to include a light lunch. Booking essential (01647) 434144.