Gidleigh Park lies within Dartmoor National Park, a rare and singularly beautiful area of moorland that extends over some 953 square kilometres.

The majority of Dartmoor lies on a high granite plateau that rises to over 600 metres above sea level. Much of the moor is covered in gorse and bracken with strange granite rock formations and outcrops known as Tors.

Dartmoor features some of the bleakest, wildest, most atmospheric country in England, especially with the vagaries of weather conditions that can change literally in minutes. By virtue of its beauty and grandeur, Dartmoor was designated as one of the National Parks of England and Wales in 1951. It is named after the River Dart, whose source rises on the moor.

Main settlements in and around Dartmoor National Park include Ashburton, Buckfastleigh, Moretonhampstead, Princetown, Tavistock, Yelverton, Horrabridge, South Brent and Chagford.