Things To Do near Avon Dam Reservoir
492, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
On the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, in a remote and featureless section of moorland on Dartmoor's south moor, is a trig point. This is 492. We've positioned 492 on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. There's not much up there but if you have the...
Goldsmith's Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Goldsmith's Cross is one of a high number of crosses marking the route of the ancient Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route as shown on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. Goldsmith's Cross is located just south of the infamous Foxtor Mires that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used as in...
The Forest Inn, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
High moor, rivers and stepping stones The Forest Inn sits at the foot of Dartmoor's south moor. The West Dart River flows below on its way to meet the East Dart River at Dartmeet. Numerous sets of stepping stones span the rivers here. The extraordinary Dart Gorge is to the east. The Forest Inn is...
Evil Combe, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
The moor around Plym Steps is full of points of interest with evocative names. There's Grim's Grave, Deadman's Bottom, Giant's Hill and Great Gnats' Head. Arguably the best, and appropriately named, is Evil Combe. The upper section of the combe is steep and scarred by the remains of the tin mining i...
Plym Steps, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
'Steps' on Dartmoor usually refer to stepping stones. Stepping stones are often necessary to cross the National Park's many rivers. However, stones are often moved by the power of the water when rivers are in spate. When this happens, the stones can either be repositioned or the set of stepping ston...
Lower Hartor Tor, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
It's great fun to walk the River Plym from source to sea. As you wander the west bank downstream from Plym Head, having avoided Evil Combe, you come to Lower Hartor Tor. A cluster of outcrops sit at the top of the steep slope that's covered with granite boulders all the way down to the River Plym an...
Sharp Tor (Dartmeet/East Dartmoor), Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Many of Dartmoor's classic views are provided by tors overlooking steep-sided wooded valleys and gorges. There's Sharp Tor in the Teign Gorge, Ger Tor above Tavy Cleave and the Dewerstone above the Dewerstone Valley. Perhaps the best of the lot is the view from Sharp Tor above Dart Gorge. If you can...
Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel), Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
A wheal is a mine. A leat is a man-made waterway used to channel water from, say, a river down to a mine, mill or town/city. Wheal Emma Leat is the now dry channel of a leat built in 1859 that once collected water from near the source of the River Swincombe as it flows past the eastern side of Foxto...
Hexworthy Bridge, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Hexworthy is a hamlet located at the foot of Dartmoor's south moor. The West Dart River flows by Hexworthy on its way to meet the East Dart River at Dartmeet. There are numerous sets of stepping stones on this stretch of the West Dart River. The safest crossing point is the pretty Hexworthy Bridge....
Dartmeet Stepping Stones, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
The East Dart River and West Dart River converge at Dartmeet to form the River Dart or Double Dart. At Dartmeet, a bridge spans the East River Dart next to a ruined clapper bridge. To cross the West River Dart here, you need to walk across an arc of stepping stones. Whilst these stepping stones p...
Sharp Tor (Dartmeet/East Dartmoor) Circular Walk, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
This is a short walk but it takes you to one of Dartmoor's classic viewpoints. From the outcrops at the southern end of Sharp Tor, you look down the Dart Gorge to the South Devon coast area beyond. It's a super place for a picnic. Note that in the morning the light comes up the gorge so if you want...
River Swincombe, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
By Dartmoor standards, this is a short river that rises on the edge of the National Park's south plateau and meets the West Dart River in Dartmoor's central bowl near Hexworthy. The river rises at Swincombe Head above what the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map refers to as Suns...
Swincombe Headweir Ford, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
The River Swincombe and Strane River (having been fed by Nun's Cross Brook) meet at the eastern end of Foxtor Mires near the beginning of the old Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel). Just before they meet, there are two fords spanning each waterway. After a spell of dry weather, the ford across th...
Dartmeet Clapper Bridge, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Dartmeet Clapper Bridge is one of Dartmoor National Park's many attractions and we'll be adding more information shortly.
Swincombe Reservoir, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...