Things To Do near Avon Dam Reservoir Circular Walk

Houndtor Down, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

Houndtor Down is home to Hound Tor, Hound Tor Abandoned Medieval Settlement (English Heritage) and Holwell Lawn. The latter has one of the best bluebell showings in Dartmoor National Park. Houndtor Down was used for crops and livestock during the medieval period when the abovementioned settl...

Haytor National Park Visitor Centre, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

At present, Dartmoor has three National Park Visitor Centres. The largest and most impressive is up in Princetown. Next is Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre with its special display relating to Dartmoor's rich prehistory. The smallest is at the foot of the hill that rises to Haytor Rock...

Single Barrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

The Dartmoor expert William Crossing writes 'this tumulus was opened in 1873 by the late Mr. C. Spence Bate, and was found to consist of earth with the exception of a low hedge of stones which encircled it, and a low cairn in the centre. About six feet from the latter a small heap of burnt human...

Dartmoor Live Firing, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

If you see one of these flags then the army are using the area for live firing. You'll hear the gunfire well before you see red flags but, still, do look out for them. They're positioned on the highest ground so you can't miss them. Dartmoor has three army ranges: Okehampton, Wilsworthy and Merri...

Holming Beam Bridge, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

There's a car parking area at Holming Beam offering access to the Merrivale Range area of Dartmoor National Park. This is a British Army firing range but it's open to the public for large chunks of the year. The car parking area is above a beautiful valley cut by the River Cowsic as it fl...

Wistman's Wood Weir, Two Bridges, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

There's a weir north of Wistman's Wood National Nature Reserve on the fringe of Dartmoor's north plateau. Given that Wistman's Wood and Wistman's Wood Ford are both relatively close by, we've named this Wistman's Wood Weir for ease of reference when walking in the area. T...

Challacombe Down, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)

If you go for a drink or bite to eat at The Warren House Inn on a clear day at the end of Autumn, you'll enjoy one of the best moorland views in Dartmoor National Park. Giant waves of rusty moorland roll east. The huge bulk of Hamel Down shapes the horizon. Challacombe Down hunkers down below. In ad...

Wistman's Wood Ford, Two Bridges, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Wistman's Wood is an extraordinary National Nature Reserve located in a valley cut by the West Dart River on the egde of Dartmoor's high north plateau. Wistman's Wood Ford is a place where you can, in good conditions, cross the West Dart River. The ford is roughly one kilometre north of...

Templer Way, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Haytor Rocks is, arguably, Dartmoor National Park's most famous tor. The rocks rise from Haytor Down which is peppered with disused quarries and crossed by an old tramway on which granite was transported from the moors down to Stover Canal and then to the coast at Teignmouth from where the rock was...

The Rock Inn, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Haytor Rocks beauty spot Haytor Rocks is Dartmoor's most popular tor. It's also the National Park's most popular beauty spot. Situated on the east flank of the moor, Haytor Rocks overlooks stunning South Devon countryside and coast. The Rock Inn is located in the village below this famous to...

Greator Rocks, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Houndtor Down is packed with points on interest. Hound Tor is one of Dartmoor's most popular rocky outcrops. Beyond its south east side is English Heritage's Hound Tor Abandoned Medieval Settlement. South of Hound Tor and the settlement is Holwell Lawn which is known for its astonishing bl...

Broad Barrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Numerous cairns and barrows run along the spine of the vast Hamel Down. Broad Barrow sits on the highest ground 532 metres above sea level. The views up top are awesome. It's a particularly impressive place when the heather and gorse flower purple and yellow in early Autumn. A barrow is a mound o...

Ilsington St Michael's Church Lych Gate, Ilsington, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Just west of Ilsington St Michael's Church is Ilsington St Michael's Church Lych Gate. A local information board reads: 'The first building on this site that we know of was likely to have been of medieval origin, for in the year 1639 it was being used as a schoolroom for about 30 b...

Smallacombe Rocks, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 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...

Ilsington St Michael's Church, Ilsington, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)

Another Dartmoor church rebuilt in the 15th century, Ilsington St Michael's Church is thought to have been first constructed during the 11th century. Look out for the ruins of Ilsington Manor House in the north eastern corner of the churchyard. There's also an alarming story associated with&...