Things To Do near Western Beacon
Hembury Woods (National Trust), Buckfast, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
The River Dart rises in two places on Dartmoor's north plateau. The East Dart River and West Dart River merge at Dartmeet and the combined River Dart flows through the stunning Dart Gorge on its way to the south eastern border of the National Park. The National Trust's Hembury Woods provides the bes...
Foxtor Farm, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
Foxtor Farm is a collection of ruined buildings and enclosures east of the infamous Foxtor Mires. Fox Tor, a series of rocky outcrops on the edge of Dartmoor's south plateau, is to the south. Today, the farm ruins are in a remote and quiet area of the National Park. On the route of ancient paths and...
The Dewerstone Carrington Inscription, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
Nicholas Thomas Carrington, or Nicholas Toms Carrington, was a poet. Born in Plymouth in 1777, he is known for two long poems called 'The Banks of the Tamar' and 'Dartmoor'. His name and the date of his death are cut into a rock at the top of Dewerstone Hill above the Dewerstone Crags. As you can se...
Dewerstone Fort/Neolithic Enclosure, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
In his superb 'The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor', Phil Newman writes: 'Two somewhat enigmatic sites that may offer evidence of a Neolithic presence, apart from burial monuments, are the stone tor enclosures at Dewerstone and Whittor.' Nemwan notes that 'a curving double stone wall enclos...
Dewerstone Hill, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
Down by the south western border of Dartmoor National Park is a finger of moorland pushing out from Wigford Down. This is Dewerstone Hill. It's one of Dartmoor's most popular beauty spots offering stunning views over South Devon, Plymouth, the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and...
Nun's or Siward's Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
Probably the most famous stone cross on Dartmoor, Nun's or Siward's Cross sits on the intersection of a number of ancient travel routes. Nun's or Siward's Cross is one of a high number of crosses on the Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route. It's also on what the Ordnance Survey Explorer...
Plym Valley (National Trust), Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
If you look at the Ordnance Survey Landranger 191 'Okehampton and North Dartmoor' map, you'll see three blocks of moorland and wooded valley demarcated as National Trust land. This is what we refer to as Plym Valley (National Trust). Roughly speaking, and following the OS map, ...
Down Tor Stone Row (Hingston Hill Stone Row), Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
This is arguably the most extraordinary stone row on Dartmoor. Whilst Stall Moor Stone Row is the longest in the world and Stalldown Stone Row has the tallest collection of stones, for sheer presence it's hard to beat Down Tor Stone Row (Hingston Hill Stone Row). This is essential visiting when...
Hutchinson's Cross/Devonport Leat Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
In his 'Walking The Dartmoor Waterways: A guide to retracing the leats and canals of the Dartmoor country', Eric Hemery writes: 'Above the right bank [of the Devonport Leat] stands a modern granite cross erected in 1968 by Lieutenant Commander B. Hutchinson of Stoke Fleming, in memory of his moth...
Saltram (National Trust), Plymouth, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
Saltram (National Trust) is one of Dartmoor National Park's many attractions and we'll be adding more information shortly.
Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
This is a superb long distance walk between Buckfast Abbey on the east border of Dartmoor National Park and Tavistock Abbey on the west. Monks once followed routes across the moors to visit the local abbeys and priory which is why it's called the Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route. The Buc...
Foxtor Mires, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
There are some places on Dartmoor that are best avoided. Raybarrow Pool by Cosdon Hill on the north moor is a dangerous place. Down on the edge of the National Park's south plateau, Foxtor Mires is another. Said to have been the inspiration for Grimpen Mire in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of...
Holne Woods (National Trust), Holne, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 8 miles away)
The River Dart is particularly beautiful between Dartmeet and New Bridge. When in spate, the water powers through the Dart Gorge shaping cascades and pools. The easiest way to access and experience the Dart in the lower section of the gorge is via Holne Woods. Managed by the National Trust, the w...
Venford Reservoir, Holne, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)
Superb location at the foot of Dartmoor's south moor and next to the Dart Gorge Venford Reservoir is in a superb location at the foot of Dartmoor's south moor and next to the Dart Gorge which is one of the National Park's most popular and beautiful natural attractions. Visitors head to this area...
Swincombe Headweir Ford, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 9 miles away)
The River Swincombe and Strane River (having been fed by Nun's Cross Brook) meet at the eastern end of Foxtor Mires near the beginning of the old Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel). Just before they meet, there are two fords spanning each waterway. After a spell of dry weather, the ford across th...