The first mention of a settlement at this location is in a Duchy of Cornwall record from 1355 which gives the name of a farm here as Welford, a contraction of wielle (spring) and ford.

The farm gained a reputation for the introduction of Galloway and Aberdeen Angus cattle onto Dartmoor.

[4] The coniferous plantation known as Bellever Forest[4] surrounds the hamlet on its north, west and south sides.

[5] As of 2019 the hamlet is served by a daily bus service that runs between Yelverton, Princetown, Postbridge and Tavistock.

[6] During the summer Forestry England run a small visitor centre by the East Dart river.