Things To Do near Shipley Bridge
Haytor National Park Visitor Centre, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 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...
King's Tor, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
King's Tor is a superb collection of granite outcrops roughly 3km west of Princetown. The tor overlooks the prehistoric complex at Merrivale and provides top views of this section of the National Park in addition to the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Cornwall. The Granite and Ge...
Dartmoor Live Firing, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 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...
Houndtor Down, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 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...
Wistman's Wood Weir, Two Bridges, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 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 Medieval Hamlet, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Dartmoor's most famous deserted medieval settlement sits below Hound Tor towards the eastern side of the National Park. An English Heritage site, it attracts plenty of visitors and bus loads of school kids learning about Dartmoor's past. Clearly, it's not the only deserted medieval settlement on Dar...
Hamel Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
Drive along the A30 that skirts the northern boundary of Dartmoor National Park and you'll see the unmistakable dome of Cosdon Hill topped by Cosdon Beacon. Further south, towards the heart of the National Park is the equally vast Hamel Down topped by a tor, barrows and its own beacon. The views fro...
Walkham Valley, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 miles away)
[Main picture: the Walkham Valley seen from the moorland road near Withill. View up to Vixen Tor and the Staple Tors] Spectacular wooded valley between Merrivale and Horrabridge Many of Dartmoor’s most famous rivers rise on the north moor. The rivers Tavy, Taw, Teign and Dart have...
Single Barrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 10 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...
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...
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...
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&...
Templer Way, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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. 11 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...
Ilsington Manor House (Ruins), Ilsington, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
In the north eastern corner of Ilsington St Michael's Church are the remains of Ilsington Manor House. A Dartmoor National Park Authority information board tells the story of the manor house and provides floor plans and drawings. George Ford 'is thought to have rebuilt the house in...