Bronze Age Cairn, Bovey Tracey

Grid reference SX767793

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Black Hill is a Bronze Age burial Cairn situated on the northern slopes of Black Hill on the eastern side of Dartmoor. Associated with the cairn is a 16 stone row leading northwards. Another 12 cairns lie just over 700 metres to the southwest at Grid Reference SX762788.

Bronze Age Settlement, Ivybridge

Grid reference SX635638

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Situated on the south of Dartmoor, Blatchford Brook Foot Settlement is a well preserved ancient village on the eastern slopes of the River Erme where the Blatchford Brook joins the main stream. The settlement consists of a large circular enclosure surrounding several hut circles on its uphill side, and a number of other walled off areas on the lower area beside the river. The village lies just over a mile south of Erme Pound.

Iron Age Hill Fort, Plympton

Grid reference SX544596

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Boringdon Camp is an almost circular Iron Age earthwork in Cann Woods, just to the east of Plymouth Airport near Plympton. It lies 140 metres up atop a hill with commanding views down the Plym Valley to Plymouth Sound. Later reused by the Romans.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Yelverton

Grid reference SX565655

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Brisworthy Stone Circle lies northeast of Brisworthy Farm and west of Legis Tor on the southwest of Dartmoor near Yelverton. Formerly boasting 42 stones, just over half, 24, remain standing. The circle formed has a diameter of just under 25 metres. The stones apparently graded from south to north. The tallest northern stone standing 1.1 metres tall. Access is by a 400m walk from Brisworthy Farm.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Chagford

Grid reference SX64958848

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Buttern Hill East Stone Circle, is located at Grid Reference SX 6494 8848, on the western slopes of Buttern Hill, northeast Dartmoor. Fomerly there was another, 20 metre diameter Stone Circle some 660 metres to the west. This circle, Buttern Hill West, lies at Grid Reference SX643886 and was apparently destroyed some time after the late nineteenth century. Buttern East Circle has a diameter of about 25 metres, with only 5 of the 23 current stones remaining erect. This is not an eyecatching Stone Circle as even its tallest stone is now taller than 0.6 metres. Nearby lie a number of hut circles and cairns, all of which can be easily accessed from nearby Scorhill.

Bronze Age Stone Circle, Okehampton

Grid reference SX643916

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Cosdon Hill Cairn Circle lies just to the east of Cosdon Hill at the southern end of the Cosdon Hill Multiple Stone Rows at Grid Reference SX643917. The cairn is in a reasonable state of preservation. It has a diameter of 8 metres and although robbed out, there are traces of a double cist in the centre of the cairn. The lower of the two chambers still has its capstone largely in place. Outside the cairn there are the remains of an outer ring, that some people claim are a stone circle.

Neolithic Stone Row, Okehampton

Grid reference SX644916

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Cosdon Stone Row is probably one of the best examples of a triple stone row on the whole of Dartmoor. Located just to the east of Cosdon (or Cawsand) Hill near Okehampton. Large blocking stones mark the ends of the stone rows and are set at 90 degrees to the alignment of the row.

Iron Age Hill Fort, Drewsteignton

Grid reference SX739889

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Cranbrook Castle is one of three Iron Age hill forts situated on the sides of the Teign Valley. It lies on open ground just south of Fingle Bridge and its ramparts cover an area of about 10 acres (4 ha.) Only the southern ramparts remain of what must have been a most impressive Iron Age fort. A trig point lies on its ramparts. Nearby lie the hill forts of Prestonbury Castle (SX746900) and Wooston Castle (SX764896), again Iron Age in date.

Bronze Age Cairn, Princetown

Grid reference SX58646931

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Down Tor Cairn lies to the east of Burrator Reservoir. Situated about 50 metres to the northwest of Down Tor Cairn Circle. Down Tor Cairn, is 14 metres in diameter and stands more than a metre high. There are no indications of the usual kerbing around the cairn. The surrounding area is strewn with tinners pits, but, luckily for us, they seem to have left the cairn alone.

Neolithic Cairn, Yelverton

Grid reference SX5915867217

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Situated to the east of Sheepstor near Yelverton on the west of Dartmoor, Drizzlecombe Cairn is 12 metre diameter and stands 1 metre high. It has a large cist or stone-built coffin-like box in its middle. The cist has dimensions of 2 metres x 1 metre x 0.7 m deep. The large capstone has been knocked off to the western side, but still lies adjacent as if it has been just hinged back.

Neolithic Hill Fort, Yelverton

Grid reference SX5905766860

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There are three longstones or menhirs in the Drizzlecombe complex. The first known as Drizzlecombe Menhir 1 or Drizzlecombe Menhir A, stands over 3 metres tall and is an imposing triangular shape. It stands as a marker at the southwestern or downhill end of Drizzlecombe Stone Row A. The stone is in line with the row suggesting an intended alignment. Menhir 2 lies 209 metres away to the northeast, whilst Menhir 3 lies 148 metres away to the northeast.

Neolithic Menhir, Yelverton

Grid reference SX5921167002

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There are three longstones or menhirs in the Drizzlecombe complex. Drizzlecombe Menhir 2 or Drizzlecombe Menhir C, stands 4.2 metre tall at the downhill end of the Drizzlecombe Stone Row C. The standing stone is thought to have been brought here from Higher Hartor, about half a mile away. This menhir is the tallest on Dartmoor. 209 metres to the southwest lies menhir 1, whilst menhir 3 lies 77 metres west.

Neolithic Menhir, Yelverton

Grid reference SX5913566986

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There are three longstones or menhirs in the Drizzlecombe complex. Drizzlecombe Menhir 3 or Drizzlecombe Menhir B, is a pink granite longstone standing 2.3 metres tall and is the smallest of the Drizzlecombe group. Located 148 metres northeast of Menhir 1, it lies at the downhill (SW) end of the Drizzlecombe Stone Row 3. It is in alignment with the row. Drizzlecombe Menhir 2 lies 77 metres away to the east.

Bronze Age Settlement, Ivybridge

Grid reference SX638657

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Erme Pound is a wonderfully preserved Bronze Age Settlement situated on the east of the upper River Erme valley. The settlement has its walls still protecting the interior, and there is at least one entrance into it, from the north. The interior exhibits several hut circles clearly, one or two of them still with the remains of their doorways, and at least one with an external extra room.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Chagford

Grid reference SX65458415

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Fernworthy Stone Circle lies within Forestry Commission land, close to the twin circles at Grey Wethers. Fernworthy Circle has a diameter of 19.8 metres. Its twenty-seven stones are graded in height from north to south. The tallest stone standing about 1.2 metres high.

Bronze Age Cairn, Moretonhampstead

Grid reference SX767874

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An ancient burial cairn most likely to date from the Bronze Age. It lies on Mardon Down near Moretonhampstead. Legend says that the cairn marks the grave of the giant Maximager. A short distance away to the northeast lies Maximager's Stone, a moorland longstone or menhir sometimes known as Headless Cross.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Chagford

Grid reference SX638832

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Grey Wethers Stone Circles are a pair of closely spaced stone circles situated just to the west of Fernworthy Reservoir and Forest near Chagford on Dartmoor. The circles were excavated in 1898 and were restored in 1909, containing bits of charcoal. The circles lie almost exactly north-south of one another and lie less tahn 5 metres apart. The northernmost circle is just over 32 metres in diameter, the other is just 20cm larger.

Neolithic Cairn, Princetown

Grid reference SX6124066423

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Grim's Grave is a Bronze Age burial cairn. The cairn has a diameter of about 5 metres with a circle of 9 kerb stones surrounding a well preserved cist or burial chamber. The large cist measures 1.5m x 1m x 0.9m deep making it one of the larger cists known. The slabs which lined the cist remain in position and there are one of two capstones survive. The other capstone is believed to have been broken up by tomb raiders.

Bronze Age Settlement, Moretonhampstead

Grid reference SX701809

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Grimspound Ancient Settlement lies in the middle of Dartmoor near Moretonhampstead. Probably the best known ancient settlement on Dartmoor it is also one of the easiest to reach. The village dates from the Late Bronze Age and is in an excellent state of preservation. The 'Grim' part of the name is thought to derive from the Anglo Saxon God of war, Grim - better known as Woden, or Odin. Grimspound Settlement lies on a saddle of land between Hameldown and Hookney Tor, at a height of 450 metres above sea level. Inspection shows the remains of at least 24 stone hut circles within the 4 acre enclosure. The whole site is enclosed by a very substantial stone wall, with a large, paved south facing entrance.

Neolithic Menhir, Moretonhampstead

Grid reference SX771878

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The Headless Cross on Mardon Down to the north of Doccombe, near Moretonhampstead lies on relatively level ground south of the River Teign. Its name comes down the centuries and implies that this was an ancient cross whose head has been lost. Recent historians feel that the monument was never a cross and had no head to lose and consider it to be a far more ancient longstone or menhir. Also known as Maximager's Stone. A little distance away to the southwest lies the Giant's Grave, an ancient burial cairn.

Neolithic Settlement, Chagford

Grid reference SX66558625

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Kestor Settlement lies on the slopes of Kestor, Chagford Common, on the north of Datmoor. This large settlement enclosed an area of about 27 hut circles. A large number of Bronze Age artifacts have been found, as well as some evidence of Neolithic settlement. Apart from the remains of the huts there are also impressive field systems and boundary walls. The striking Round Pound settlement lies about 600 metres away.

Neolithic Quoit, Chagford

Grid reference SX725869

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Meacombe Cist is a small Burial Chamber near Chagford on Dartmoor. Dating from the Neolithic, it stands in a field near Meacombe Farm. It is also known locally as Cleave Burial Chamber.

Neolithic Quoit, Princetown

Grid reference SX5549074762

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Merrivale Cist is part of the Merrivale area of ancient monuments in western Dartmoor, near Princetown. The burial chamber or burial cist lies to the south of the central avenue at Merrivale. The large cist has a broken capstone, broken by stoneworkers hundreds of years ago. The centre section has been removed allowing us to peer into the stone lined chamber below.

Neolithic Menhir, Tavistock

Grid reference SX5536074590

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Part of the large Merrivale complex of ancient sites on the western fringes of Dartmoor near Tavistock, this large Standing Stone or Menhir stands 3.1 metres high. It lies 42 metres south of a stone circle, and is close to several cairns and stone rows. Also nearby lies a 2 metre long stone which at one time may have been a partner to this menhir.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Tavistock

Grid reference SX5535574633

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Part of the large Merrivale complex of ancient sites on the western fringes of Dartmoor near Tavistock, this Stone Circle lies at Grid Reference SX5535574633. The Stone Circle consists of 11 small stones, ranging in height between 0.3 metres and 0.5 metres. The circle is somewhat flattened with approximate diameter of 20 metres in the east-west axis by 18 metres. A 3 metre tall Standing Stone located 42 metres away is aligned at an angle of 182 degrees from the centre of the circle - almost due south.

Bronze Age Cairn, Princetown

Grid reference SX59196945

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Narrator Brookhead Cairn is a well preserved cairn situated just to the east of Burrator Reservoir. It is aligned with Down Tor Stone Row about 200 metres away to the west. The cairn is quite large, about 20 metres in diameter and is also up to 2 metres high. To the untrained, the cairn looks like a jumble of granite rocks, but further inspection shows a definite structure to it. Nearby lie the remains of two much smaller cairns.

Bronze Age Settlement, Princetown

Grid reference SX591695

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Narrator Brookhead Enclosure is an oval shaped enclosure measuring roughly 50 metres by 30 metres. The area is defined by large stone walls, some 3 metres wide by almost a metre high. Within the walling, a number of upright stones can be seen. An opening in the southeast section of the wall is marked by large upright slabs, facing directly towards the large cairn. English Heritage have allocated the settlement with the Monument ID No. 438586 in their Pastscape database and it has the following information attached to it: 'A sub-circular enclosure with an approximately level interior and no trace of hut circles. The internal diameter is 40-43m and the enclosure covers an area of 1400m square. The wall is constructed from large moorstone blocks though now collapsed and spread and partially turf covered. The wall is up to 5m wide by 0.6m high. A possible entrance on the east side has an orthostat post in situ 1.4m high. '

Bronze Age Cairn, Okehampton

Grid reference SX612928

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Otherwise known as the Seventeen Brothers, Nine Maidens Circle lies on Belstone Common near Okehampton on the north of Dartmoor. Situated below Belstone Tor, this supposed stone circle is more likely to be the remains of a Bronze Age round burial cairn, as traces of the burial chamber can be seen within the circle. Gaps in the circle imply that there were originally about 40 stones. The stones are all less than a metre in height and the middle of the circle is quite jumbled, indicating that its centre has been robbed out. Access is via a half mile walk up from Belstone Church to Cullever Steps.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Yelverton

Grid reference SX563658

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Ringmoor Stone Circle lies on the south of Ringmoor Down, about 350 metres northwest of Brisworthy circle in the southwest area of Dartmoor. Its 'provenance' is unsure as large numbers of the stones found here were transported to the site by well-meaning amateur archaeologist Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould in 1909 during his 'reconstruction' of the site.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Chagford

Grid reference SX65458739

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Scorhill Stone Circle lies on Scorhill Down, roughly midway between Gidleigh Common and Scorhill Tor on the northeast side of Dartmoor. Its dramatic moorland setting makes a visit to the circle both worthwhile and special. The Stone circle of almost 27 metre diameter has 34 of its original stones remaining. The rugged angular appearance of its massive stones, stand in complete contrast to those at Grey Wethers Stone Circle at Sittaford Tor, which are of a squarer and more truncated form. The two main stones, stand almost at opposite points of the circle, the tallest standing 2.4 metres tall, its opposite just under 2 metres. The remaining stones stand about 0.9 metres high, enclosing a stone free area amongst the rocky moorland. This is possibly one of the best examples of an Early Bronze Age stone circle on the whole of Dartmoor.

Bronze Age Settlement, Bovey Tracey

Grid reference SX69488226

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Three distinct Bronze Age settlements of hut circles and their associated enclosures lie on Shapley Common. Situated some 770 metres south of Challacombe Cross, 16 hut circles lie on the western flank of the valley. The northern group consisting of 3 huts, are all in a good state of preservation. They average about 6.5 metres in diameter and have walls 1.5 metres thick by 0.6 metres high. The southern group is made up of 13 huts in a poor state of repair. As with the northern group their entrances face south.

Bronze Age Stone Circle, Walkhampton

Grid reference SX558707

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Actually a Cairn Circle rather than a Stone Circle, the site includes a stone burial chamber or cist and is located on the slopes of Sharpitor in the west of Dartmoor near Walkhampton. Beyond the downhill ends of the Sharpitor NW rows is a nice little cairn which survives in a reasonable condition, with remains of a central cist, and a surrounding stone kerb.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Chagford

Grid reference SX65958603

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Shovel Down Fourfold Circle is a Stone Circle situated on Shovel Down near Chagford on the north of Dartmoor. The circle is unusual in that it is one stone circle enclosing three others. It has an overall diameter 8.8 metres enclosing a circle of 2.4 metres. The number of stones are 10, 6, 8, and 5 for the innermost circle. A stone row nearly 154 metres long and 1.2 metres wide leads up to the circle. The whole area is littered with ancient monuments and is well worth visiting.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Chagford

Grid reference Grid Ref

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Shovel Down is an area with a large number of ancient monuments in the north of Dartmoor near Chagford. Nearby items of interest include the Fourfold Stone Circle, a number of Stone Rows, the Shovel Down ancient settlement and the Longstone menhir, 500 or so metres away to the southeast. What's left of the 18 metre northwestern stone circle at Shovel Down lie on the hillside to the west of the northern end of row 3. Only 3 of the original stones remain erect within the circle although three others lie nearby. The Stone Circle is unusual in that it is not sited on level ground but is built on quite a slope. The large numbers of ancient sites in this immediate area makes the site well worth a visit.

Neolithic Quoit, Drewsteignton

Grid reference SX70109079

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Spinster's Rock is a Neolithic burial tomb or quoit. It is situated on the north of Dartmoor near Drewsteignon. Otherwise known as a Dolmen, the burial chamber is composed of a large 16 ton capstone supported on three uprights. Dating from about 3000 BC, the tomb collapsed in 1858 and was rebuilt. It is thought however that it was reconstructed not exactly as it had been before. Local folklore states that the structure was apparently erected by a group of spinsters on their way to market. Early one morning they decided to build the dolmen before they ate breakfast, as part of a tryst, each trying to outdo the other.

The sign states that this is 'A Neolithic Burial Chamber erected around 3500-2500 B.C. The chamber probably contained many burials and would originally have been covered by a large earthen mound. The stones fell down in 1862 and were re-erected in the same year. Traditionally, the monument was erected by three spinsters one morning before breakfast.'.

Bronze Age Menhir, Peter Tavy

Grid reference SX5502578766

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The Langstone Menhir is a spectacular Standing Stone situated on Peter Tavy Great Common just to the east of White Tor on the western fringes of Dartmoor. requiring a reasonable walk, its 'lightning strike' shape makes it quite memorable. The Langstone stands 2.73 metres tall and stands beside the Lich Way. It lies on open ground in a saddle between the many local highpoints of the moor. The stone was re-erected in its original socket hole, in 1893 by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee. It is about 0.7m wide and up to 0.5m thick and stands at an altitude of 438 metres, making it third highest of the twelve remaining menhirs on Dartmoor. It is also the 7th tallest. Please be aware that what on first impressions seem to be possible cup marks in the stone are in fact bullet marks as the stone was used for target practise prior to the D-Day landings of World War 2. The Langstone is relatively easy to reach on foot. It requires a three mile round trip but is surely worth the effort. The best route is to walk east along the Lich Way from parking at Godsworthy, past White Tor.

Bronze Age Stone Row, Tavistock

Grid reference SX556750

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Part of the Merrivale Complex of ancient monuments these strangely named dwellings are ancient hut circles. When plague ravaged nearby Tavistock in 1625, they were used as a market, the inhabitants of the town depositing provisions and money in them. Another theory states that the victims of the Great Plague were removed to this area and healthy townsfolk brought provisions to feed those suffering. The original settlement is thought to date from the Bronze Age and lies on the north of the Merrivale complex. Care should be taken however not to confuse certain structures with far more recent mining remains dating from the 17th century found nearby.

Neolithic Settlement, Chagford

Grid reference SX664868

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The Round Pound is an impressive but little known ancient settlement on the north of Dartmoor. Situated low down on the northwest slopes of Kestor, near Batworthy Corner. The structure is built so well that even the local road makes a curve around its outer limit. The Round Pound consists of an oval enclosure measuring about 40 x 30 metres surrounding a large central hut. The walls of the pound are huge, they are up to 4 metres wide and 2 metres high. An entrance lies to the northwest marked by large slabs. Within this pound are the remains of several radial walls connecting between the central hut and the outer wall, with another smaller hut circle in the northeast sector. The large internal hut has a diameter of about 12m, with walls a metre thick and a metre high. The paved entrance with its stone sill and steps are still in place at the south. Situated outside the pound to the north is a large walled drove or lane, again made using massive slabs. This lane is about 10 metres wide leading away to the west, and slightly smaller leading first north then northeast in the opposite direction. A 'must see' if in th area.

Neolithic Stone Row, Chagford

Grid reference SX663849

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A Stone Row Alignment on Thornworthy Down just to the north of Fernworthy Reservoir in the north of Dartmoor. A nearby cairn at Grid Reference SX667843 lies just a few metres from the edge of Fernworthy Reservoir. When it was excavated in the 1870's it was found to contain two kists.

Bronze Age Barrow, Yelverton

Grid reference SX577641

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Trowlesworthy Barrow Cemetery is part of the large Trowlesworthy megalithic complex in the southwest of Dartmoor. There are a number of subsites making up the complex including two cairn stone rings, stone rows or avenues, several long barrows as well as a very clear cairn.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Okehampton

Grid reference SX633896

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Otherwise known as Little Hound Tor Stone Circle, this a very striking 20 metre stone circle. It lies miles away from civilisation in the middle of the desolate Dartmoor. In fact extreme care should be taken if visiting as the whole area is extremely boggy especially in the saddle of land between Little Hound Tor and Kennon Hill. Access is via an uphill two and a half mile walk on boggy moorland so adequate gea and a map is essential if visiting. The circle was rebuilt in 1896 after years of being robbed out. Nowadays the circle has eighteen of its original nineteen stones, with the majority of the metre high stones still erect. Two diametrically set stones buck this trend with the northern stone 1.3 metres tall and its opposite standing 1.3m high.

Neolithic Stone Circle, Yelverton

Grid reference SX57486784

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Yellowmead Stone Circle lies on a hillside facing Sheepstor. A 'fourfold stone circle' the site consists of four concentric stone circles. The site was restored in 1921 and lies a 20 minute walk over boggy terrain from the car park. The inner circle has a diameter of about 6 metres. The outer circles are made from larger stones, none larger than 1.5 metres tall however.