Things To Do near Best Dartmoor Picnic Spots
Hamel Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Drive along the A30 that skirts the northern boundary of Dartmoor National Park and you'll see the unmistakable dome of Cosdon Hill topped by Cosdon Beacon. Further south, towards the heart of the National Park is the equally vast Hamel Down topped by a tor, barrows and its own beacon. The views fro...
Fernworthy Assycombe Stone Row, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
One of Dartmoor National Park's more understated stone rows, Fernworthy Assycombe Stone Row is tucked away in a clearing in the Assycombe section of Fernworthy Forest. We've positioned Fernworthy Assycombe Stone Row on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its lo...
Dartmoor Live Firing, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
If you see one of these flags then the army are using the area for live firing. You'll hear the gunfire well before you see red flags but, still, do look out for them. They're positioned on the highest ground so you can't miss them. Dartmoor has three army ranges: Okehampton, Wilsworthy and Merri...
Hamel Down Cross, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
In his 'Guide to Dartmoor', William Crossing notes that 'Hameldon Cross consists of a granite slab rather over four feet in height and about two feet in width, rudely fashioned into the form of the sacred symbol, and probably has never served any other purpose than that of a boundary sto...
Broad Barrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Numerous cairns and barrows run along the spine of the vast Hamel Down. Broad Barrow sits on the highest ground 532 metres above sea level. The views up top are awesome. It's a particularly impressive place when the heather and gorse flower purple and yellow in early Autumn. A barrow is a mound o...
Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
This double stone row runs along the rise of Assycombe Hill at Hurston Ridge in the eastern section of Chagford Common. Just off the Two Moors Way, by Fernworthy Forest, it's easily accessible. We've positioned Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' s...
Skir Ford Cross, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Skir Ford Cross is one of the many wonderful stone crosses waymarking the Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route across Dartmoor's National Park's south moor. The cross takes its name from nearby ford which is on the north side of Skir Hill. We've positioned Skir Ford Cross on Google maps...
Fernworthy Assycombe, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Fernworthy Forest is a big place. It's surprisingly easy to get lost in its maze of forestry tracks and uniform conifers. As such, the forest is split into a northern and southern section. Fernworthy Assycombe is to the south and is named after Assycombe Hill that peaks at 497 metres above sea level...
Hameldown Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Grimspound is an English Heritage site located in a dip between Hamel Down and Hookney Down towards the heart of Dartmoor National Park. Two tors stand guard over the prehistoric settlement. To the north west is Hookney Tor. To the south east is Hameldown Tor. The views from the cairn and trig point...
Luckey Tor, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
If possible, buy a copy of Harvey's British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. It was edited by the Dartmoor expert Eric Hemery and includes tracks and paths that aren't marked on the more popular and well-known Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. A couple of these tracks and paths lead to a sup...
Grimspound (English Heritage), Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
There are a number of amazing facts about the prehistory of Dartmoor National Park.* It has the greatest concentration of Bronze Age sites in Britain. It's home to the longest stone row in the world. It has 60% of England's stone rows. It's home to more than 5000 hut circles or ancient homes. Despit...
Mel Tor, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The Dart Gorge is one of the most beautiful areas in Dartmoor. It's lined with tors north and south of the river. Mel Tor is north of the river roughly half between Dartmeet and New Bridge. It's by Dr Blackall's Drive and the Two Moors Way. There's also a car parking area very close to Bel Tor Corne...
Hookney Tor, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
English Heritage's Grimspound sits in a saddle of moorland below two tors. Hameldown Tor is to the south east. The superb stacks of granite that form Hookney Tor are to the north west. Hookney Down pushes east to King Tor and is beautiful when covered in heather in late summer. Headland Warren Farm...
Rough Tor, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Every year, large numbers of visitors wander up the West Dart River valley from Two Bridges to explore Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve. Many of these visitors also climb to the top of nearby Longaford Tor for its sensational views across Dartmoor National Park. From the top of Longaford Tor,...
Swincombe Reservoir, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Most Dartmoor reservoirs are large, impressive and reasonably easily accessible. Swincombe Reservoir is small and fenced off from the public. The moorland around the reservoir is flat, boggy and tussocky. Whilst there's a metal bridge at the eastern end of the reservoir, it's closed to the public so...