It’s always The South Devon Hunt’s pleasure and privilege to parade our Hounds at Widecombe Fair, and this year was no exception.
The beautiful village of Widecome-in-the-Moor lies in the heart of our hunt country. As the photographs show, the village is nestled between green fields and high moorland hills in a sheltered valley on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, and boasts St Pancras Church, affectionately nicknamed the Cathedral of the Moor.
Run entirely by volunteers to raise money for local good causes, Widecombe Fair takes place on the second Tuesday of September each year and attracts visitors from far and wide. It’s a fantastic celebration of all things Dartmoor, with local livestock, produce, craft, folk singing and dancing, drinks, and a fantastic main ring programme of dog racing, Dartmoor Hill Ponies, vintage vehicles, and of course, Hounds. Many of our Farmers and Followers came away with rosettes and silverware, and a few more with sore heads! Even the horses our Huntsman and Whipper-In were riding, which belong to our Trail Layer, had been placed earlier in the day.
The Hounds draw a huge and highly supportive crowd. Trail hunting remains a vital part of the fabric and living cultural heritage of our rural community, and these ever-popular parades afford us wonderful opportunities to showcase our cherished Hounds to the public. We can’t wait to return for Widecombe Fair 2024!
