Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park

Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park

[Main photo: the entrance to Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre]

 

Whitehorse Hill excavation and Dartmoor’s remarkable prehistory

In 2011, on Dartmoor’s north moor close to the headwaters of the Dart and Teign, a team of archaeologists excavated a rare prehistoric burial site. They discovered ‘the cremated remains of a young woman along with her burial goods’. The items were displayed at Plymouth Museum (now The Box Plymouth) and years later a new visitor centre was built at Postbridge on Dartmoor to bring the excavation’s story to a wider audience. This story now provides an introduction to Dartmoor’s remarkable prehistory spanning 10,000 years of life. It’s a superb place and essential visiting.

 

Location of Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre is located in the heart of Dartmoor National Park on the B3212. The village is famous for its ancient clapper bridge that spans the East Dart River.

There’s a pub and village shop in addition to the visitor centre.

Bellever Forest is nearby and is packed with prehistoric sites. Bellever Tor provides some of the best panoramic views in the national park.

Paths, as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping, gently rise to the north moor and other notable Dartmoor prehistoric sites including Whitehorse Hill.

 

Directions to, and parking at, Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Postbridge and Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre are very easily accessible via the B3212 that cuts across the national park.

There’s plenty of parking on site. Charges apply.

The area does get very busy in summer so note that there’s parking across the road at the entrance to Bellever Forest.

 

Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

The visitor centre is split into two sections. There’s a shop to the right of the entrance and the museum section is to the left. You’ll also see a desk with a member of staff in front of you. We’d recommend starting with the information boards by the desk ‘Life, death and landscape. The story of prehistoric Dartmoor’ and moving anti-clockwise around the room. 

Information boards move from stone tools to the Bronze Age including amazing replicas of a bronze sword, daggers, spearheads and axes. The highlight is the replica of the Hameldon dagger used around 1,700 BC.

You’ll then discover a landscape of field systems, agriculture and settlements with artist’s reconstructions, photographs and plenty of artefacts including whet stones, spearheads and palstaves.

The far end of the museum section covers the Whitehorse Hill excavation. There are artist’s reconstructions of cremation and burial scenes and a hologram telling the story of the burial. The replica necklace and wrist/arm band with maps showing how trade and travel dated back to the time of the burial are remarkable. As part of the story of the Whitehorse Hill excavation, there’s a general information board on ‘a landscape of ceremonial places’.

One of the most fascinating displays is a cast of a trackway. ‘This cast was taken from a trackway covered with animal footprints dating from around 1,500 BC.’

In the centre of the museum section, there’s a reconstruction of a hut circle in which people lived on Dartmoor. Interactive touchscreen displays provide information on the Mesolithic to Iron Age periods. Take time to study the map of Bellever before heading out to see prehistoric sites in the nearby landscape.

Last, there’s a great kids’ area where children can dress up or build a hut circle.

 

The area around Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Postbridge Clapper Bridge is one of Dartmoor’s most famous visitor attractions and is a short walk up the road from Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre.

Cross the B3212 and you’re in Bellever Forest.

A forestry track and then grass path leads to Bellever Tor. This Dartmoor beauty spot is know for its panoramic views.

Postbridge is located on the edge of Dartmoor’s north moor. Paths, as marked on Ordnance Survey mapping, take you to the high ground with its moor, tors, rivers and prehistoric sites.

 

Recommended walks from Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Postbridge Clapper Bridge. This is a very short walk. Head left out of Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre car park and you’ll come to the ancient clapper bridge spanning the East Dart River.

Bellever Tor. As mentioned above, cross the B3212 and you’re in Bellever Forest. You’ll see a gate and information boards. Whilst there are many routes you can take, the most obvious is the forestry track that runs to open moor. Bellever Tor is in front of you. It’s a ten minute yomp up a gentle hill to get to the granite stacks.

There’s a path behind Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre. Using Ordnance Survey mapping, follow this up to the East Dart River Waterfall. If you’re an experienced walker then we’d recommend a day’s walk to Fur Tor in the heart of the north moor.

Alternatively, there’s another path on the far side of the main bridge spanning the East Dart River. This takes you up to Grey Wethers Stone Circles and Sittaford Tor. If you’re an experienced walker then you can push on up to the north plateau to see the site of the Whitehorse Hill excavation. Again, refer to Ordnance Survey mapping. We usually plan for 30 minutes per mile on the high moor for plenty of photo stops.

 

Other national park visitor centres near Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Princetown National Park Visitor Centre. Princetown is just down the road from Postbridge.

Haytor National Park Visitor Centre. This visitor centre is on the eastern side of the moor at the foot of Dartmoor’s Haytor Rocks.

 

Other visitor attractions near Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Dartmoor Prison Museum. This fascinating museum is opposite the entrance to Dartmoor Prison.

 

Places to eat and drink near Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

The East Dart Hotel is located over the bridge from Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre if you fancy a pint.

There’s a shop in the centre of the village by the bridges. Wander over from Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre.

 

Other museums and attractions in the wider area

If the museum section of Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre is of interest then we’d recommend visiting the following museums and attractions in the wider area:

Museum of Dartmoor Life. Super Dartmoor museum in Oekhampton. Note there’s an English Heritage castle there as well.

Lydford Gorge. Impressive National Trust property on the west side of Dartmoor. Also visit Lydford Castle.

The National Trust’s Buckland Abbey was Sir Francis Drake’s home. Information boards tell the story of the abbey and Drake’s life.

The National Trust’s Castle Drogo is in the north eastern section of Dartmoor. The last castle to be built in England, it overlooks one of Dartmoor’s most beautiful valleys.

Exeter’s RAMM.

The Box Plymouth.

Torre Abbey. This is one of our favourite museums in the West Country. Located in Torquay on The English Riviera.

Whilst you’re there, visit Torquay Museum and Kents Cavern.