Stall Moor Stone Row, Cornwood, Dartmoor National Park
Stall Moor Stone Row is said to be the longest stone row in the world. Roughly speaking, it runs north/south in the heart of Dartmoor's south moor. About 3.4 kilometres/2.1 miles long, it's an extraordinary sight. There's an impressive stone circle called The Dancers at the southern end and a cairn to the north. The River Erme cuts the stone row in half. The stones are small. In sections they are difficult to see. By far and away the most striking section is at the southern end of the stone row.
We've positioned Stall Moor Stone Row on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
Walking the stone row. This is one of the most remote stone rows in Dartmoor National Park. The terrain is tussocky and the moorland grass long. Where the stone row crosses brooks and streams, the moor is boggy. The area around the middle of the stone row is flanked by mires. Most difficult, however, is the River Erme which cuts across the stone presenting a formidable barrier for those wanting to walk the length of the row.
We wouldn't recommend walking the stone row from end to end. As mentioned, the best section runs from the stone circle to the River Erme. That said, we've walked the row a couple of time now. We've also watched others walk it in the hope of finding an easier route! Crossing rivers is dangerous. You do so at your own risk.
If you're determined to walk the entire length of Stall Moor Stone Row, head to Dartmoor after a period of dry weather. The terrain is less boggy and the water level in the River Erme is relatively low. If you try after a period of wet weather, it's likely you'll have to turn back as the water is deep and the current too strong. We've turned back on a few occasions now owing to water levels.
This route description runs south to north. It takes in other stone rows.
Start from the car parking area at Harford Moor Gate. Wander back down to the church and turn right towards Harford Bridge. Continue past the first gate and you'll come to another one where the moor meets Hall Plantation. Follow the track up to Burford Down and then up to Stalldown Stone Row as marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map.
From Stalldown Stone Row, walk north to Bledge Brook/Blatchford Bottom and then trend north east to Stall Moor The Dancers Stone Circle. Follow the line of the stone row up to the River Erme by Erme Pound. Note that there is a very boggy area on Erme Plains on the western side of the River Erme from Hook Lake. The stream in this boggy area is marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map but is unnamed. We always walk west and around this.
Once you arrive at the Erme Pound area, cross the River Erme. The stone row runs through a flat, boggy stretch of moorland. Keep to the east where the flat, boggy stretch meets rising moorland. Continue to Red Lake. This area can be very boggy and unpleasant. Finally, follow the stones to the cairn at Green Hill. Again, the terrain here is difficult.
Return on Red Lake Railway (Dismantled)/Puffing Billy Track. This winds its way down the moor east of the River Erme. When you are roughly level with Spurrell's Cross, a path drops west to Harford Moor Gate car park. As ever, consult the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map for detail.
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