Dee and Ed visited the Museum of Dartmoor Life this week after being invited to celebrate its post‑winter reopening. They were welcomed by Museum Curator, Kristy Turner, and several of the dedicated volunteer team who help run both the museum and Okehampton’s Tourist Information Centre (TIC).
Following a guided tour through the museum’s three floors of local artefacts, stories and hands‑on displays, Dee and Ed joined Kristy at the TIC to learn more about how visitors use the service and how it can continue adding value to local businesses.
The museum offers an engaging journey through Okehampton’s heritage, from social and industrial history to Dartmoor traditions. With opportunities for families to dive into interactive activities along the way, it’s a brilliant experience for residents and visitors alike—and they’d love to welcome anyone who hasn’t explored it yet.
During the visit, Dee and Ed presented Kristy and the volunteer team with a £1,500 contribution from Okehampton BID to support the Tourist Information Centre’s 2026 running costs. The TIC provides a vital service, offering up‑to‑date information on what to do, see and enjoy in and around Okehampton, and signposting thousands of visitors each year to local hospitality, retail and leisure businesses.
Both the Museum and TIC operate from the Museum of Dartmoor Life building and are run almost entirely by volunteers, with little to no core income to sustain their work. Dee and Ed particularly enjoyed speaking with Vivien, a long‑standing volunteer with deep local knowledge, who shared stories ranging from Australian visitors tracing their Okehampton ancestry to European travellers keen to explore the town’s heritage and dramatic landscapes.
The TIC remains an underused promotional channel for many local businesses—something the BID is keen to change so that this valuable resource can be fully maximised by both visitors and the business community.
If you run a hospitality, retail, leisure or visitor‑facing business—such as cafés, pubs, restaurants, accommodation, activity providers, visitor attractions, independent shops or event organisers—the Tourist Information Centre is ready and keen to promote you.
Please make sure the TIC has your latest:
- Leaflets or rack cards
- Menus or price lists
- Event dates
- Opening hours
- Contact details
- Any seasonal offers or updates
The volunteer team meet thousands of people each year looking for places to eat, stay, shop and explore. Keeping your information up to date helps them confidently direct visitors your way.
And if you speak to visitors regularly—whether you’re in hospitality, retail, transport or outdoor activities—please help spread the word about the Museum and TIC. Their expertise and enthusiasm make them a fantastic first stop for anyone wanting to get the most from their time in Okehampton.
You can contact them on 01837 52295 or enquiries@dartmoorlife.org.uk
