Things To Do near Hamel Down
Dinna Clerks Longhouse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Dartmoor is known for its longhouses. Higher Uppacott is a superb example of an extant longhouse. The ruined medieval village at Hound Tor is famous for its medieval longhouse foundations. We include the lesser known Dinna Clerks because it's a great excuse to encourage you to visit one of Sout...
Blackslade Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
According to the Dartmoor expert William Crossing, it was on Blackslade Down 'that the wicked Jan Reynolds once entered into a compact with a stranger, who turned out to be the Prince of Darkness, and failing to keep it became his victim. Seven years after the meeting Jan was discovered indulgin...
Manaton St Winifred Church, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
A local information board says of the church: 'The Church, dedicated to St Winifred, dates from the 15th century and is built in the perpendicular style of the period. Inside is a fine rood screen dating from about 1490 which, although restored, retains much of the original ornamentation'. Locate...
Manaton to Heaven's Gate via Hisley Bridge Circular Walk, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Walking a section of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve and Lustleigh Cleave This walk takes you from the pretty village Manaton through a section of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve to Lustleigh Cleave. This can be done as a walk or on horseback. How far is it and...
Manaton Rocks Walk, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Start at the car park near Manaton St Winifred Church and go through the churchyard. Follow the fenced path to the right up the hill. Clamber up the rocks for 360 views of Bowerman's Nose (very small from this distance on the side of Hayne Down), North Bovey and Hunter's Tor (Lustleigh Cleave/East D...
Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
This double stone row runs along the rise of Assycombe Hill at Hurston Ridge in the eastern section of Chagford Common. Just off the Two Moors Way, by Fernworthy Forest, it's easily accessible. We've positioned Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' s...
Holwell Tor Quarries Hut, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
You often see a line of schoolkids following the Haytor Granite Tramway to Holwell Tor. Whilst their teachers are introducing them to the history and beauty of the area, they are also taking their pupils to see the quirky Holwell Tor Quarries Hut. Quarry workers sheltered in the hut when using...
Holwell Tor, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Visit the South Devon coast around Teignmouth and you'll see the distinctive granite outcrops of Haytor Rocks on the horizon to the west. Granite was quarried at Haytor Rocks and the surrounding tors and then transported down to the coast on a tramway and canal. Holwell Tor is at the western end of...
Holwell Tor Quarries, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
When exploring Holwell Tor, you'll see quarries cut into its rocky outcrops. The granite extracted from these quarries was transported on the Haytor Granite Tramway down to Stover Canal where it was taken by water to Teignmouth at the eastern end of the Teign Estuary. We've positioned Holwel...
Hemsworthy Gate, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
We include Hemsworthy Gate on 'Holiday in Dartmoor' as a reference point. As is the case with Nun's Cross Farm and Batworthy Corner, it's a great starting point from which to discover Dartmoor's landscape and history. There's a small car parking area and paths run off in all...
Smallacombe Rocks, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Haytor Rocks is arguably Dartmoor's most famous and visited tor. It's located on Haytor Down which is home to a large number of other rocky outcrops. Saddle Tor is close to the B3387 and its car parking areas and always seems to have people wandering over and around it. Holwell Tor is frequently vis...
Wittaburrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
In his excellent 'The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor', Phil Newman notes that 'the term 'barrow' may be defined as a mound of earth or stone, usually covering one or more inhumations or cremations. On Dartmoor, where the majority of these monuments are constructed mostly from ston...
Emsworthy Local Nature Reserve, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Nature Emsworthy Local Nature Reserve sits below Haytor Down in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park. It's very easily accessible and is known for its Spring bluebell showing and cuckoos. We've positioned Emsworthy Local Nature Reserve on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite'...
Haytor Circular Walk, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
If possible, we'd recommend this walk on a bright autumn day (say, early October). The colours are exceptional. That said, we've walked it every month of the year and it's gorgeous any time the weather's behaving. Use the Ordnance Survey OL28 Dartmoor map to help plan your walk in tandem with our...
Dartmoor Hawking, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
We'd put this high on our list of essential Dartmoor experiences. Whilst it's a remarkable experience to fly owls, falcons and eagles from Dartmoor Hawking's base near the luxury hotel Bovey Castle, it's a particular joy taking Harris Hawks out onto the moor. On the day we spent...