Things To Do near East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve
Pil Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Pil Tor is the largest tor on Blackslade Down. Roughly speaking, two walls of granite are separated by a strip of moorland. We've positioned Pil Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. The tor is situated by Top Tor. Click through to that listing...
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...
Tunhill Rocks, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 3 miles away)
Tunhill Rocks is the most dramatic tor on Blackslade Down. A jumble of giant, rocky outcrops located on moorland that drops down reasonably steeply to farmland and hamlets south of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Tunhill Rocks is just south west of Pil Tor. The prehistoric barrow Wittaburrow is a short strol...
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...
Kennick Reservoir, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Largest of three reservoirs near the north eastern border of Dartmoor National Park Trenchford, Tottiford and Kennick reservoirs 'lie within Dartmoor National Park. Created between 1861 and 1903 these beautiful lakes, along with Fernworthy, supply the Torbay area with the highest quality dri...
Berry Pound, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
'On the Widecombe side of the little stream, which runs through a hollow, is the enclosure known as Berry Pound ... The area covered is very much smaller than that occupied by Grim's Pound, and the vallum is low and not of great width'.
Battle of Bovey Heath Battlefield, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Near the eastern border of Dartmoor National Park, on the outskirts of the gateway town Bovey Tracey, is Bovey Heathfield Local Nature Reserve. In the seventeenth century, during the English Civil War, this was the site of the Battle of Bovey Heath. There's an information board on site that reads:...
Wittaburrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 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...
Hamel Down RAF Memorial, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
At the northern end of Hamel Down, where the moor drops down to Natsworthy, is a memorial to a RAF bomber that crashed after a raid in March 1941 during the Second World War. The memorial is by the side of a path that cuts across the moors to/from English Heritage's ancient settlement Grimspound....
Hennock St Mary's Church, Hennock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Most of the church we see today dates from the middle of the 15th century. The tower dates from around 1250 and the stone building most probably replaced a Saxon church. The church is known for the paintings on its rood screen. Though restored during the twentieth century, these date back to the...
Wray Valley Trail in Dartmoor, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Within Dartmoor National Park, the Wray Valley Trail runs from Mill Marsh Park at Bovey Tracey along the dismantled railway line to the end of Parke Estate. From there, a new section of the trail takes you to the edge of the popular Dartmoor village Lustleigh. The trail then runs to&n...
East Webburn River, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The East Webburn River rises near Hameldown Tor and English Heritage's Grimspound on the vast back of Hamel Down. The headwaters are close to Hamel Down Cross and Broad Barrow. From its source, the river cuts deep into moorland and tumbles past Berry Pound before arcing through Natsworthy. It flo...
The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Award-winning pub The Rugglestone Inn was voted one of the best UK country pubs in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2018. It's a great pub in a superb setting. Widecombe-in-the-Moor Situated on the edge of Widecombe in the Moor in the east section of Dartmoor, The Rugglestone I...
The Uncle Tom Cobley Horse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
When visiting Widecombe St Pancras Church, look out for The Uncle Tom Cobley Horse. Inspired by the Devon folk song Widecombe Fair, 'in the late 1950's a retired sailor from Drewsteignton made a mechanical model of Uncle Tom Cobley and the Grey Mare. The automation was exhibited at Widecombe Fair...
Widecombe St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The 'Cathedral of the Moor'. In East Dartmoor, and dominating the popular moorland village of Widecombe in the Moor, Widecombe St Pancras Church dates from the 1300s. Wallboards within the church tell a story of a fire-ball passing through the church and killing four people as a result of a light...