Mardon Down, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park
There are a number of islands of open access moorland rising from surrounding farmland just south of the Teign Gorge and Fingle Woods in the north eastern section of Dartmoor National Park. The largest is Mardon Down.
At Mardon Down, two domes of moor are connected by a thin strip of land in which you'll find Mardon Down Headless Cross. Other points of interest on the down include Mardon Down Stone Circle and Cairn Circle and Mardon Down Giant's Grave.
Arguably the best reason to visit are the views from the west and south west side of the down over Moretonhampstead to the Haytor Rocks and Hamel Down area and across to the National Park's north moor. A particularly fine viewpoint is marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map.
We've positioned Mardon Down on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
To visit, drive or walk up from Moretonhampstead. If you're coming by vehicle, there are plenty of parking spots along the road that skirts the western dome of Mardon Down. The largest is marked on the Ordnance Survey map.
Lots of paths and wide grass tracks run across the down.
If you're coming on foot, follow the path that rises east from Moretonhampstead to Yarningale and then north to the viewpoint on the south west edge of Mardon Down. It takes a little bit of effort as you're climbing from a valley floor to Mardon Down. We've also walked up from the Fingle Woods area. Start from the Fingle Woods Sawmill Car Park. Drop down to the stream in Halls Cleave then climb up through Coleridge Wood to Mardon Down. Again, it takes some effort.
The view from Butterdon Down to the north west of Mardon Down are also superb. Arguably the best views in the area are from Blackingstone Rock to the south east of Mardon Down.
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