Things To Do near Shapley Common

Throwleigh St Mary the Virgin Church, Throwleigh, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

According to the 'Church of St Mary the Virgin Throwleigh' guide, 'the first recorded rector was in 1248, but most of the present church dates from the 15th and 16th centuries'. On the edge of Dartmoor's high north moor, the church is close to Shilstone Tor and the vast bulk of Cosdon Hill which is...

Saddle Tor, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

Some Dartmoor tors are difficult to get to. Fur Tor, said to be the most remote spot in Dartmoor National Park, is a fine example. Other tors are exceptionally easy to get to. Saddle Tor is probably the best example. Located by the B3387 road that runs between Haytor Vale and Widecombe-in-the-Moo...

Mardon Down Giant's Grave, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

According to Phil Newman in his excellent 'The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor', 'it was Dean Jeremiah Milles of Exeter, President of the Society of Antiquaries, who first undertook archaeological fieldwork on Dartmoor barrows in 1752 on Mardon Down (Grinsell 1978, 87), and the literature of the early...

Fingle Bridge, Drewsteignton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

Fingle Bridge is an exceedingly popular and well known Dartmoor beauty spot. Whilst the bridge that spans the River Teign below steep sided wooded valley walls is the focal point, Fingle Bridge as a beauty spot refers to the wider area. Situated in the Teign Gorge (National Trust), this is one of th...

Bovey Valley, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

The River Bovey flows, roughly speaking, from the high moor north east of The Warren House Inn down to the River Teign near Stover Country Park. On Dartmoor, the Bovey Valley is usually taken to mean the beautiful wooded valley between Foxworthy Bridge and Drakeford Bridge. You could spend a holiday...

Haytor Down, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

This is probably the most popular area of moorland in Dartmoor National Park. In high Summer, or after a good dumping of snow in Winter, its many car parking areas are rammed full with vehicles. Its popularity is partly owing to its location on the eastern side of Dartmoor near the large towns of So...

Kit Steps, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

It's easy to cross the East Dart River after a long period of dry weather. After heavy rain, the river becomes a formidable barrier. If water levels are high, as a rule of thumb, it's best to head upriver to find a safe crossing place. In these conditions, Kit Steps is a potential candidate. A set o...

Haytor Rocks, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

Dartmoor National Park's most famous tor Haytor Rocks is probably Dartmoor National Park's most famous tor.  It can get exceptionally busy on the rocks during the summer months, on long bank holiday weekends or after snow owing to its location on the eastern fringe of Dartmoor above populate...

Fingle Bridge Inn, Drewsteignton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

Fingle Bridge beauty spot Fingle Bridge is one of Dartmoor National Park's most popular beauty spots. The bridge spans the River Teign at the eastern end of the sublime Teign Gorge (National Trust). Fingle Bridge Inn sits on the north bank of the river overlooking bridge and water. Heavily wooded...

Teign Gorge and Fingle Woods to Steps Bridge Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

You can pretty much follow the River Teign from the mouth of the Teign Gorge below the National Trust's Castle Drogo all the way east to Steps Bridge at the far end of Fingle Woods. Whilst it seems like a long way, you're walking by a river so it's reasonably flat. About 20km there and back (detours...

Mardon Down Cairn Circle, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

There are many heavily weathered cairns on Mardon Down. In addition, there's a particularly fine cairn circle.

Wittaburrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...

Best Dartmoor Walks With Kids, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

How difficult are Dartmoor walks with kids? Dartmoor is a great starter National Park for kids. The terrain is relatively gentle. Our youngest daughter wandered up to High Willhays (the highest point on Dartmoor and in southern England) when she was four. Every year, children as young as 13* comp...

Hisley Wood, Lustleigh, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

The heavily wooded section of the Bovey Valley runs for about 4km, as the crow flies, from Foxworthy in the north west down to Drakeford Bridge in the south east. The upper section of the valley is dominated by the magnificent Lustleigh Cleave. The lower section is a collection of woods called Bovey...

Hangingstone Hill, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)

At 603 metres above sea level, Hangingstone Hill is the joint third highest point in Dartmoor National Park (Cut Hill is also marked 603 on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map). It's topped by a small, rocky outcrop and an army hut. Whilst there are superb views across Dartmoor's n...