These rows are typically between 100m and 200m in length. Fox, A Excavations at KestorT.D.A Vol. For example, another recent excavation in August 2011 of a cist at Whitehorse Hill, just over 3km north-west of Grey Wethers, results in an estimated "date between the 19th and 17th century BC"23 which fits in more with the generally accepted time frame of Dartmoor monuments i.e. This is discussed in detail in the article 'Dartmoor Site: Brisworthy Stone Circle' linked above in this listing. It would seem that most major prehistoric settlements on Dartmoor would have had their own monuments just as most villages in the historic period would have a local church, a centre for religious, ceremonial and social gatherings. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Flint tools found recently in Norfolk show that there were humans there around 900,000 years ago1. They are known as Grey Wethers as, it is said. 13For more on the Cut Hill stone row see The excavations at Fernworthy, Grey Wethers and Merrivale all produced evidence of substantial fires at the sites. Photo: White Moor (Little Hound Tor) Stone Circle. All the stones are quite small but they have recently been excavated by one of the Dartmoor volunteers so they are all quite visible. See also, Legendary Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle and HER MDV6122Nearby sites: SX65468740, OS Map: SX 63946 73187NMR record: SX 67 SW 23HER record: 6290Megalithic Portal: 1252PMD: Sherberton Stone CircleShort Name: SC SherbertonTurner: G5DPD: 101Dimensions (m): 29.5Notes: Remains of a 97 ft diameter stone circle with a stone wall passing through its western side. Only 34 stones remain of the original 65, and only 25 of those are standing . (Blue route) Into the valley of the North Teign River to Gidleigh then to Scorhill Down and the Tolmen Stone and back to Batworthy Corner. Once you pass the end of the forest carry on up the hill and at the top of the hill you hill come across a cross roads in the path where the double stone comes up from your left and crosses your way. Click here to view our full cancellation Policy. The path takes you steeply up and out into less dense woodland, in season bluebells carpet the area. HAZELL SILLVER met archaeologist Andy Crabb to find out more about these The footpath is part of the Two Moors Way with the distinctive MW sign on the finger-post indicating the way to Gidleigh and the Mariners Way, another long distance path Mariners Way is an ancient trackway supposed to have taken its name from the sailors who founded it. Two cart tracks run right through the ring, making its appearance even more impressive. It's a double stone row separated by a leat which is 263 metres long. Also there is useful coverage on the Legendary Dartmoor website, see: The Legendary Cut Hill of Dartmoor Pettit, Paul. 3Burl (1976) (p.8, 11) states that there are over 900 stone circles. Dartmoor Walk- Sheeps Tor, Down Tor, and a Pixie House Adventure. Haytor is the most famous of these rocks. Butler, Jeremy Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities five volumes (Devon Books, 1994) Head back round Batworthy Corner to take a look at the Round Pound. Popular Dartmoor circular walks include the wonderful climb to High Willhays, the highest point in the national park. The early Stone Age hunter-gather period, the Palaeolithic, encompasses around 99% of human history. It's believed that there may have been around 40 stones here once, but now only 16 remain. Source: There are 34 stones remaining, 23 standing and 11 fallen, though these only account for a portion of the circle. Published April 4, 2022. In 2012 tin beads were discovered when the Whitehorse Hill cist was excavated which perhaps for the first time gives an indication of tin working on Dartmoor during the Bronze Age16. The walk is divided into six stages and is signed en route, apart from on the moorland itself, where the tramway is still visible and therefore self-evident. Nearer is the narrow fir plantation leading down into the valley of the North Teign River, the trees leading right down to the location of the Tolmen Stone which is on our route shortly. Taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological . At the time only 9 stones remained standing in the north circle and 7 in the south circle. Ancient Stone Row From the stone circle continue to walk uphill you will come to the first double stone row. For a photo, see Megalithic Portal: Shovel Down NW stone circle. +44 (0) 7817 329584info@dartmoorsdaughter.comSign up to our newsletter here, Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher), The King Way Walk - Dartmoor Walking Festival. FEE: 25 per adult including taxi/minibus back to start point. They found that the interior of the circle was covered in a layer of charcoal suggesting that it had been the scene of very many fires - perhaps funeral pyres or feasts. I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.Steven Spielberg. The longest stone row on Dartmoor, with the rugged rocks leading walkers for 500m up the steady rise of Stalldown Hill, and ascending in height till they reach 2.5 metres. 12See for example; Worth, Petit, Gerrard, Butler, Newman A low rubble bank surrounds the circle which can be seen on LIDAR data. Petit (1974) refers to 12 circles (his list presumably excluding Shovel Down & Mardon). Creaber moor gate in Gidleigh. A cairn lies close to the circle, a heather covered mound about 8.5m across. It is formed by eleven stones spaced between 2.7m and 6.7m. . The walks featured are all based on the use of public transport, see Guide to Public Transport. SOLD FEB 16, 2023. A micro-expedition of the very best of Dartmoor. The best known of many prehistoric settlements on Dartmoor, Grimspound dates from the late Bronze Age (about 1450-700 BC). The circle is not the largest in terms of diameter but it is the most striking circle on Dartmoor with some of the largest standing stones. Now continue over the hill walking parallel with the edge of the forest on your left using one of the well-defined paths. The original circle appears to have been c. 30m across, although no stones appear to the west of the old wall. "The remains of a Bronze Age stone circle situated on level ground overlooking the valley of the North Teign River and Whitemoor Marsh. It is interesting to note that 7 (now 8, see below) of these stone circles form an arc, or crescent, with each site separated by around 2 kilometres, they are; Grey Wethers (2 circles), Fernworthy, Shovel Down, Scorhill, Buttern Hill and Little Hound Tor (White Moor). Newman (2011) refers to 12 circles with "some other doubtful examples" (presumably Shovel Down being considered a doubtful circle). They started to use stone building materials for their settlements and monuments. The original restored circle consisted of 16 stones in a 20.9m circle. The Tottiford circle was discovered in 2009 when there was lower than usual levels of water in Tottiford reservoir; it featured as part of a Time Team dig in 2010. The generally accepted number of stone circles on Dartmoor is 16 including the one discovered in 2009 under Tottiford reservoir (see table below) and the newly reported Sittaford stone circle. It is thought that the earliest Mesolithic farmers used slash and burn to create temporary clearings for hunting deer and for raising crops. Dartmoor sits upon a granite plateau, and occasionally bare granite "peaks" (called tors) break through the heather. I haven't After the Church continue along the lane to a T junction where you turn left signposted to Scorhill and Creaber. With the notable exception of the Scorhill stone circle most of the stone circles were in a poor state of disrepair with most of the stones fallen and worse still the monuments had been robbed as a source of stone for newtake walls and gateposts and some Dartmoor monuments were still prone to being robbed by road builders.13 The Langstone Moor circle was one of the first to be restored for this reason (see Extract from Second Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee). MARIGOLD AVE AND STEPPING STONE BLVD. 90 m. 90 m. Easy hike. 18See, Emmett, D.D., Stone rows: the traditional view reconsidered, D.A.S.P. Dartmoor National Park Authority A Guide to the Archaeology of Dartmoor (Matthews-Wright Press, 1978) The longest is the Stall Moor stone row which stretches for 3.1 km from The Dancers (Upper Erme) cairn circle over rough terrain with stones going up and down gullies all the way to a cairn on Green Hill. Hemery, Eric High Dartmoor (Robert Hale, 1983) Diagram p.34 site 1.Nearby sites: SX56476550, OS Map: SX 64949 88481NMR record: SX 68 NW 11HER record: 4371Megalithic Portal: 724PMD: Buttern Hill Stone CircleShort Name: SC ButternHillTurner: G7DPD: 147Dimensions (m): 24.8Notes: NNE of Scorhill about 2Km. Carry on down the other side of the hill along the wide grassy path until you reach a small bridge over a leat. The moorland landscape we see today is a direct consequence of this period. The remains of 24 stone roundhouses survive here, within a massive boundary wall about 150 metres in diameter. Pettit, Paul Prehistoric Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1974) There are taller stones at each end. The generally accepted definition of a stone circle is a circle of stones thought to be a ritual site that does not include a cairn or burial. With such lack of precision in their construction it would seem most unlikely that they had an astronomical purpose. Further coverage can be found on Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Prehistoric Langstone Moor. The Nine Maidens . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We also recommend bringing personal masks, a pair of disposable gloves, and a personal first aid kit. A short arc of seven stones remains in position on the south-east of the circle. Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Prehistoric Langstone Moor, Little Hound Tor (or White Moor) Stone Circle, Dartmoor Site: Little Hound Tor Stone Circle, Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Bronze Age Landscape of Whitmoor, Dartmoor Site: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns, Dartmoor Site: Merrivale Ceremonial Complex [Photo Set 2], Legendary Dartmoor: Merrivale Ceremonial Complex, Legendary Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle, Dartmoor Site: Shovel Down Ceremonial Complex, Megalithic Portal: Shovel Down NW stone circle, Megalithic Portal: Sourton Tors Stone Circle. This stone circle is one of Dartmoors finest: only thirty four stones remain of an original sixty five to seventy, and only twenty five of those are still standing. Clearly many, if not most, of settlement remains that can be seen today post date the stone rows but it is possible that many of these were built on sites or in localities which had been occupied for generations or even millenia before hand. Near the base of the Tor you will see a stone circle or cairn erected to surround a round burial barrow from the Bronze Age, or kistvaen, as they are named on Dartmoor. The churchyard is one of the few in Britain which has a stream running through it with a small bridge leading to a convenient seat, which has fine views of the nearby Gidleigh Castle ruins, on private land next to the Church. If you have a cold, flu, cough, temperature or are diagnosed with COVID-19 please do not join the walk. Route includes part of the Tarka Trail, ancient monuments & granite tors. Ascent: 510m. We have found that circular walks are the most well-loved, so here we have a large number for you to choose from! We will stop and spend time at each stone circle depending on our group pace. Sorry we know it seems onerous but, given current government guidelines,these are currently being proposed by all guides.). Thank you. 323 pp55-70. Click here for more information on cookies and our Privacy Notice. In terms of funerary practise it should be pointed out that cists often have cremation remains and they are widely distributed, often very distant from stone circles, although they could reflect later cultural practise. After Kestor Rock the route back to Batworthy Corner and your vehicle is down a well-worn path over the grassy slopes. Also known as the Throwleigh circle. And sharing lessens our impact on the environment. Grey Wethers had a partial excavation in 1898 which uncovered remains of charcoal. Hound Tor - An atmospheric Tor with the remains of a deserted Medieval Village called Hundatora close by and a number of Bronze age hut circles. Take the left fork where the modern standing stone . . Great for any fitness level. 16Baring-Gould, Fourth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. Photo by Zoe Lester taken on 04/09/22. from the northeast side and 0.3m high, is angled towards the circle and may be quite unassociated". Continue to the top of the hill, with views to your left of Kestor Rock and the trees where you parked your car a couple of hours ago. 37 pp. This leads to the lane taking you to the ruinous Manga Farm, well worth a visit. Lethbridge p14, diagram p13.Nearby sites: SX55647820, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Little Hound Tor Stone CircleOS Map: SX 63285 89611NMR record: SX 68 NW 2HER record: 4374Megalithic Portal: 528PMD: White Moor Stone CircleShort Name: SC White MoorTurner: G11DPD: 154Dimensions (m): 20.2Notes: The circle is in good condition today but only 13 stones remained standing when the Dartmoor Exploration Committee re-erected 5 of the stones in 1896. Wray Valley Trail 5. A moderate walk with one steep hill taking in woodland, ancient ruins and scenic views Distance: nearly 5 miles (over moorland and road, one . An excavation trench was dug right across the circle and was found "strewn with small pieces of wood charcoal". Both circles have 30 stones. The walls of this structure are huge, up to 4 metres in width and 2 metres in height, with an entrance made using large slabs. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. Langstone circle was another impressive restored site until it was badly damaged by troops stationed nearby who used it for target practise during the Second World War. Walking on Dartmoor Explore the beauty of the moors There are lots of ways to explore and enjoy Devon and Dartmoor, whether on foot, by bike or on the back of a horse; but by far the most popular is by walking. It would seem that most of the circles are located on unenclosed open land near the boundaries of settlements. +44 (0) 7817 329584info@dartmoorsdaughter.comSign up to our newsletter here, Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher), Kings of the Solar System - Jupiter & Saturn. We need to retain contact details for 21 days post-walk so please include your contact details (email and mobile/telephone when booking/paying.). It does seem to be one small piece of a larger landscape of sites, with associated stone circles; cists (stone coffin or burial chamber) and monoliths dotted around the surrounding moor. Gutter Tor 4. The walk covers a lot of moorland and prehistory and provides some awesome views. Gerrrad p. 24 uses c 4500-2300 BC. A six-mile walking route to the summit of White Tor in Dartmoor National Park. Clustered under the shadow of Belstone Tor just outside the village is a stone circle with a Bronze Age cist - a stone-lined burial chamber known as a kistvaen on Dartmoor - at its centre. These hunter-gathers came and went with the successive ice ages during the Palaeolithic period. Near the idyllic village of Chagford, Fernworthy Reservoir is an archaeological jewel in the heart of Dartmoor National Park. A number of Mesolithic flints were found and a burnt hazelnut shell which was carbon dated to the very late Mesolithic (calibrated date was 4590-4450 cal. The circle was first described by Dr Milles in 1772 who reported around 70 stones. [HER MDV6400]. National Grid Reference: SX5329 7512. Langstone Moor stone circle was restored in 1894. "situated on a gentle north facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Dart. The 8 stone circles form an approximate arc so, taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological approach, we will journey together - sometimes in silence and sometimes sharing our experiences - through this wild and beautiful landscape asking questions of the ancestors, stones, and land along the way. The day-to-day life and culture of prehistoric peoples would have remained lttle changed from the late Neolithic through to the early Bronze Age. 16See: Dartmoor tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists RISK: Walks and activities are at your own risk. Scorhill Stone Circle is now the commonly known name for Gidleigh Stone Circle or Steep Hill Stone Circle, one of Devon's biggest and most intact stone circl. After leaving the settlements continue south westerly to the wall leading down from Fernworthy Forest and cross it at one of the numerous gates or stiles, and carry on to the end of the forest on your left where you can see the small copse of trees at Teignhead Farm. In the 1970s a new dimension was added, with the recognition that the long-ignored reaves (ruined walls) are also prehistoric; Dartmoor now posed all sorts of questions about the . Burrator Reservoir Walk 5. Baring-Gould, Sabine, Fourth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. At the bend you leave the tarmac lane and turn left into a footpath and over a stile. These early farmers are thought to have used wooden shelters and no evidence remains of their settlements. 2See: Guardian: Humans ventured as far as Torquay more than 40,000 years ago and Nature: The earliest evidence for anatomically modern humans in northwestern Europe This 5.5 mile circular walk takes you from the village of Belstone, past intriguing Irish Man's Wall, over the hill and across a ford to Taw Plain. The circle is 26.8m (88 feet) across. The Grey Wethers, Brisworthy and White Moor (Little Hound Tor) circles were all restored and are impressive although they have smaller stones than Scorhill. These settlers were responsible for the remarkable construction of the widespread and systematic field boundaries known as reaves. The route from the farm is an easy track back north east to the magnificent Teignhead Clapper Bridge and your way takes you back diagonally across the slope to go through the wall that you crossed earlier leading from the forest down to Manga Clapper Bridge. Free Walk for download. Payments are refunded (less the booking fee) for cancellations no less than six weeks before your walk or experience. LEVEL: Strenuous - this walk requires a good level of fitness and is approximately 9 miles/14.5 km on open and hilly moorland terrain. The lads of . There has been considerable interest, not only in Devon, in the announcement this year of a recently discovered stone circle high on Dartmoor. Based on Redfin's Oceanside data, we estimate the home's value is $852,323. My walk starts from the Pork Hill car park on the B3357, and heads for Staple Tor with its rock towers, then nearby Roos Tor and across a wild stretch of moorland to the Langstone Moor stone circle. $300,000 Last Sold Price. Walk & Wild Camp Across Dartmoor Three days hiking and wild camping from the southern edge to the northern tip of Dartmoor National Park. Older children 16+ years are welcome if they have sufficient walking experience and fitness. The walk starts from the parking area at Scrohill Farm near Gidleigh. CANCELLATION: The event will go ahead come rain or shine. 30 pp.97-115 (1898) Moretonhampstead 1: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns ROUTE: Short walk. A piece of Homo sapien upper jaw disovered in 1927 was recently dated to a short interglacial period around 44,200 and 41,500 years ago2. Pub Stop: Converted into a tavern in 1832 and named in honour of a local logan stone, The Rugglestone Inn is the perfect journey's end for a weary wayfarer. LEVEL: Strenuous. At the next T Junction at the grassy triangle turn left signposted to Creaber and Scorhill, passing Greenaway Farm on your left, continuing up the hill and ignoring the left junction to Creaber, but instead continuing up the hill in the Scorhill direction. Park at Batworthy Corner by the bridge to Batworthy Farm taking care not to obstruct the turning circle for the local school bus. in a discussion about the rows on Shovel Down7. Rainbird, Paul A Guide to the Archaeology of South Devon (Three Barrows Books, 2010) This is a memorial to the Dartmoor author, Harry Starkey. The path takes you through the woods to an open clearing and vehicle turning area where the footpath sign indicates your way to a lane under some large Beech trees. Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to Fernworthy Stone Circle with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! 24Eogan, George & Simmons, J.G. At the top of the hill you can see Fernworthy Forest ahead of you and to the right of the forest is the small group of trees at Teignhead Farm. This is a hunter-gather period when the uplands were used as seasonal hunting grounds. After going through the wall turn down to the right instead of carrying on to the large Teignhead Clapper Bridge but go down the slope to the small clapper foot bridge over the steam. 4 Beds. Inside the pound are the remains of several walls connecting between the central hut and the outer wall. It is located in Kissimmee. Reaves cover vast expanses and were very carefully planned and constructed. Mardon Down. At the time only 4 stones remained standing whilst another 21 were lying roughly in place. There are 15 stone circles on Dartmoor (this is counting Grey Wethers as two circles) and they are all listed below with links to their location on the OS map, to their National Monument Records and to any coverage on this website. 5727 Dartmoor Cir is a 2,136 square foot house on a 7,560 square foot lot with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The Dartmoor stone circles are mostly of a similar local character and do not include characteristics such as central pillars found in some of the circles in Cornwall such as Boscawen-Un. This has some similarity with the Shovel Down Ceremonial Complex which has stone rows and a stone circle which are thought to date to the late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (approx 2500-1300 B.C.). It is reputed that any adult who passed through the hole would be cured of rheumatism. Newman, Phil The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage, 2011) Burnard, Robert, Dartmoor Pictorial Records Vol. Turn left out of the car park and follow the road up towards the village. The Manor of Gidleigh was owned by the Prouz family from the 13th Century until the 16th Century and it was William de Prouz who built the fortified Manor House, now known as Gidleigh Castle, in about 1324. Reproduced with kind permission - copyright remains with Zoe.Nearby sites: SX81108316, Dartmoor Resource: Guide to Dartmoor Cists, Extract from Second Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, Monuments within 4km of Quintins Man Cairn, The Disappearing Stone Monuments of Dartmoor, Report on the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor, Fourth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, Fifth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, The date and context of a stone row: Cut Hill, Dartmoor, south-west England, Excavations at the Whitehorse Hill cist, Dartmoor, Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Brisworthy Circle, Megalithic Portal: Buttern E - Stone Circle, Megalithic Portal: Down Ridge - Stone Circle, Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Fernworthy Stone, Dartmoor Site: Grey Wethers Double Stone Circle, Dartmoor Site: Langstone Moor Stone Circle, Stone Row & Settlements.
