Tiny ponies, rugged tors and beautiful valleys – Dartmoor is a dream come true for fans of the great outdoors. The Devon-based national park is the ideal place for hot tub holidays, combining the raw beauty of nature with the genial charm of the south east. Sprawling across 954 square kilometres, it is impossible to see everything in day – this is the sort of place which demands that you settle in for at least a few days and enjoy everything that the area has to offer.

Holiday cottages with hot tubs allow you to immerse yourself in the wilderness, with its granite tors, fast flowing rivers, and atmospheric bogs. The hills and valleys are perfect for walking tours or family picnics, while the unusual geography of the park is great for more extreme activities such as bouldering, tree surfing, and white water rafting. Daredevils can even sign up for a challenging survival course at the Bear Grylls Survival Academy. With so much action and adventure within reach, you will be grateful to have a cottage with a hot tub to return to at the end of the day.

First thing in the morning, there is no more iconic sight than a herd of wild Dartmoor ponies grazing happily nearby. These stunning ponies are utterly unique, and they are believed to have lived around Dartmoor for at least 3,500 years. Look out for wild ponies grazing near your hot tub cottage, or book a guided hack through one of the many local equestrian centres.

Cottages with hot tubs offer the perfect place to relax after a day on horseback. And when night falls, simply look up and enjoy some of the darkest skies in the south of England. Then light a few lanterns, pour some wine and share a few of the ancient myths and ghost stories that Dartmoor is famous for. Watch out for the black dog!