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Spielberg's Dartmoor

Author: Beverley Holidays
Date: Thursday 16th February 2012

Dartmoor is set to become a must see destination for 2012 thanks to the release of Steven Spielberg film ‘War Horse’ and 'We Bought a Zoo'.

War Horse is the epic tale of a Devon Farm boy who joins the army in search for his beloved horse Joey after he is sold into the cavalry and shipped to France during the First World War.

Many weeks were spent filming on Dartmoor, with locations including Haytor, Combestone Tor, Venford Reservoir, Meavy and Sheepstor, with the Hollywood director praising the beauty of Dartmoor, saying "I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor... And, with two-and-a-half-weeks of extensive coverage of landscapes and skies, I hardly scratched the surface of the visual opportunities that were offered to me."

'We Bought a Zoo' starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson is based on the memoirs of Benjamin Mee owner of Dartmoor Zoological Park.

Set in 33 acres of beautiful woodland with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, Dartmoor Zoo is a unique, family owned zoo with a fantastic collection of animals including the widest variety of big cats in the south west of England.

In the Hollywood adaptation Dartmoor Zoological Park becomes, "Rosemoor Wildlife Park" set in California.

The living, breathing, working landscape of Dartmoor holds the secret to a past that stretches back over the centuries, and a future that is both sustainable and green. This wild, beautiful environment – the largest area of open country in southern England – is dotted with bustling market towns and villages, and home to 33,500 people.

If you want to experience the landscape which inspired Steven Spielberg why not join a guided walk and see for yourself some of the locations used in the film. If you prefer to venture out on your own the National Park Authority produces a number of publications which will help you enjoy this inspiring landscape.

More information on Guided Walks on Dartmoor

More information on Self Guided Walks on Dartmoor

There is even an Dartmoor iphone App!

More information about the making of War Horse in Devon

More information about Dartmoor Zoological Park