AN imaginative new event showcasing West Devon's spectacular scenery and outstanding local produce was launched last week. The Delicious Drake's Trail is described as 'a food festival on the run', guiding food-loving trail runners on a gastronomic tour of Dartmoor between Yelverton and Tavistock. The event will take place on Sunday, October 5, in aid of children's charity CHICKS, which provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children. The trail will start at Buckland Abbey and head north to Tavistock before looping south to finish at the Moorland Garden Hotel near Yelverton. The 15-mile route will follow footpaths and surfaced trails across scenic moorland and farmland, stopping at a dozen local pubs, hotels, cafés and pop-up caterers along the way. By the time they reach the finish, participants will have tasted a mouth-watering variety of locally produced food and drink, sweets and savouries. A shorter route of 10 miles is also on offer. Event organiser Kate Treleaven said: 'Runners who sign up for the Delicious Drake's Trail are in for a real treat. 'Some highlights of the route so far include the wonderfully-named Elizabethan favourite, Farts of Portingale — pastry pockets filled with spiced honey or mutton, courtesy of the Ox Yard Restaurant at Buckland Abbey, a bitesize barbecue with local beef and pork by the Drake Manor Inn, a variety of dainty canapés inspired by the traditional ploughman's lunch conjured up by the chefs at the Bedford Hotel and miniature redcurrant and Dartmoor lamb pies from Taste of the West's 2013 Best Restaurant in the South West, the Wildflower Restaurant at the Moorland Garden Hotel.' Local businesses have been quick to support the event and make the most of a unique opportunity to promote the area and specifically the top quality food and drink produced and served within it. The event is limited to 350 runners and online entries opened at 6pm on Tuesday, July 1 at http://www.deliciousdrakestrail.co.uk">www.deliciousdrakestrail.co.uk Kate added: 'Places are expected to run out fast but there will be plenty for spectators to enjoy on the day if they are not lucky enough to secure a place — or not quite fit enough to want one! 'There's an Elizabethan fancy dress theme so the sight of 350 runners dressed up in ruffs and tights will be worth turning up for in itself.' Many of the pubs and hotels along the route are planning to encourage spectators with special food and drink offers and live music. Buckland Abbey will be giving special tours of the grounds and gardens and the Moorland Garden Hotel is hosting a food festival at the finish with market and cookery demos from noon to 5pm. Full details of the event, including online entry, is available online at http://www.deliciousdrakestrail.co.uk">www.deliciousdrakestrail.co.uk now. Businesses wishing to support the event should contact Kate on 01548 521540 or [email protected]">[email protected] For more information about CHICKS visit http://www.chicks.co.uk">www.chicks.co.uk