History & Heritage in Dartmoor National Park
Lydford The Norman Castle, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park
An information board on site reads: 'The earthwork is all that remains of a small Norman castle which was probably built in the late 11th century in the years of consolidation after the Norman conquest. It holds a dominant position in the corner of the defended Saxon town. The castle was a 'ri...
Huccaby Stepping Stones/Huccaby Steps, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park
If you locate Dartmeet on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, you'll see a green path crossing the West Dart River running to/from the Combestone Tor area. This is the location of Dartmeet Stepping Stones. Follow the West River Dart upstream as it bows towards Hexworthy and Huccaby and...
Lydford Viking Rune Stone, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park
'VIKINGS 997-1997. The stone was raised when the men of the North came again, this time in peace. Erik the Red carved the runes.' The stone is just across the road from the Battle of Lydford Memorial. Both commemorate a battle that took place between invading Vikings and Saxons defending the fortifi...
Battle of Lydford Battlefield, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park
In 997 AD, as recorded in the 'The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle', a Viking army sailed up the River Tamar 'until they came to Lydford, and burned and killed everything that they met, and burned down Ordwulf's monastery at Tavistock, and brought indescribable war-booty with them to the ships.' The...
Coffin Stone, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park
Study the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map and you'll come across lots of evocative place names. There's the Heap of Sinners and Deadman's Bottom, Mount Misery and the Coffin Stone. All these names tell fascinating stories about Dartmoor's past. Once, the dead were carried in coffins...
Moor Brook Stepping Stones, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
In the western section of Halstock Wood, near Lower Halstock, is a small set of stepping stones next to what looks like a ford that you can use to cross Moor Brook. They are impassable after heavy rain. When they are impassable, use the public footpath that runs through Lower Halstock. Paths are mar...
Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
Drive the B3212 from Two Bridges to Princetown and you come to a lay-by offering views of the formidable Dartmoor Prison. Today, it's a prison housing low risk inmates. At the beginning of the 19th century, it was built to house French and American prisoners of war. During the Napoleonic Wars, Fr...
Whiteworks, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
A road runs from Princetown to the edge of Foxtor Mires. Whiteworks is at the end of that road. Whiteworks is a disused tin mine. When you visit, you'll see extensive ruins and old mine shafts fenced off from the public. These are next to some modern buildings. Kids can often be seen chargin...
Shipley Bridge, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
This is one of the major access points to Dartmoor's south moor. There's a car parking area, toilets and information boards. A tarmac road (not open to vehicles owned by the public) winds its way up the Avon Dam Reservoir Valley to Avon Dam Reservoir. The road follows, and crosses, the River Avon. M...
Princetown St Michael & All Angels Church, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park
The beginning of the 19th century saw French and American prisoners of war arrive at Dartmoor Prison. Between 1810 and 1814, these prisoners of war built Princetown St Michael & All Angels Church. After decades of hard weather, the fabric of the building fell into a bad state of repair...
Eastern White Barrow, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
This is arguably the most distinctive barrow in Dartmoor National Park. Many barrows are larger. None has such an exaggerated shape. The views from the top are immense. It's also relatively easy to get to. We've positioned Eastern White Barrow on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to...
Western White Barrow, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
There are two White Barrows above the Avon Dam Reservoir on Dartmoor's south moor. Eastern White Barrow is an extraordinary shape. Western White Barrow is less remarkable. Zeal Tor Tramway (Dismantled) and the Red Lake Railway (Dismatled)/Puffing Billy Track run nearby. The latter is the route of th...
Huntingdon Clapper Bridge, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
The River Avon (or Aune) flows from boggy ground close to the highest point on Dartmoor's south plateau down towards Huntingdon Warren before arcing through a steep moorland valley on its way to Avon Dam Reservoir. Huntingdon Clapper Bridge spans the river in this steep moorland valley. We've positi...
Red Lake China Clay Works, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
Drive the A30 through Cornwall and you'll see the impressive sky tips of the Cornish Alps or White Alps created by the local china clay works. Walk the moor above Plymouth and you'll look down on the huge china clay works at, among others, Shaugh Lake, Lee Moor and Whitehill Yeo. Smaller, more...
Tavistock Abbey (Ruin), Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor's south moor was fringed by abbeys and a priory which were connected by a number of ancient travel routes that crossed remote, high moorland. Today, two of the abbeys are popular visitor attractions. Buckfast Abbey is to the east. Buckland Abbey, managed by the National Trust, is to th...