South Brent

South Brent lies on the southern edge of Dartmoor where the River Avon comes down from the moor, beneath the distinctive cone of Brent Hill. The village was once a market town of some standing, with its own fair and a position on the main route west, and the church of St Petroc retains a Norman tower from the earlier building. Woollen mills along the Avon gave the village work for generations, and the arrival of the railway in the nineteenth century brought further trade, though the station closed long ago.

Today South Brent is a village with shops, pubs and a strong community, and it is one of the quieter ways onto the southern moor. Paths climb from the village onto Brent Moor and towards the Avon Dam, following the river up into country that is empty and little walked compared with the eastern tors. Brent Hill itself is a short but rewarding climb with views across the South Hams to the sea. The village sits close to the A38, which makes it easy to reach while remaining firmly on the edge of the moor.