Things To Do near Hamel Down Cross
Shipley Bridge, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
This is one of the major access points to Dartmoor's south moor. There's a car parking area, toilets and information boards. A tarmac road (not open to vehicles owned by the public) winds its way up the Avon Dam Reservoir Valley to Avon Dam Reservoir. The road follows, and crosses, the River Avon. M...
Erme Plains, Harford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Today, Erme Plains is remote moorland in the heart of Dartmoor's south moor. It's bisected by the River Erme. The eastern side of Erme Plains is easily accessible. The western side of Erme Plains is more difficult to access. The moorland here is packed with points of interest including the...
Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor), Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
There are a handful of tors on Dartmoor that give you very special views in return for very little effort. Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor) is one of them. Situated above a number of car parking areas on the B3212 Princetown to Yelverton road, Sharpitor provides a classic Dartmoor view over B...
Okehampton Camp, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Okehampton Camp is used by the British Army. Clearly, it's not a visitor attraction. That said, it's a great reference point. The camp is situated on the edge of Dartmoor's north moor below southern England's only two mountains and a road climbs from Okehampton to the army buildings providing easy a...
Drizzle Combe Standing Stones, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Dartmoor National Park is home to the highest point in southern England, the longest stone row in the world and the most remote spot in the Westcountry. It's also where you'll find a high number of standing stones or menhirs. The tallest, at over 3 metres, is at Drizzle Combe. One of three...
Peek Hill and Burrator Circular Walk, Yelverton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Burrator Reservoir is pretty much surrounded by high moorland. This means that you can drop down to the reservoir from high ground to enjoy both moorland and waterside walking. To approach from the north, it's easiest to wander over Peek Hill from one of the many car parking areas along the B3212 be...
Peek Hill Stone Row, Yelverton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Many stone rows and standing stones on Dartmoor can be seen from miles around. In the Burrator Reservoir area, Down Tor Stone Row (Hingston Hill Stone Row) and the Drizzle Combe Standing Stones are particularly imposing. Other stone rows are difficult to spot among the granite boulders strewn across...
The Halstock & Blackertor Studs, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
If you're heading up to Okehampton Camp to walk or cycle Dartmoor's north moor, it's possible you'll pass herds of miniature ponies in fields belonging to the local Halstock & Blackertor Studs. Whilst the ponies are not part of a visitor attraction, they're so cute that you'll often see pe...
Red-a-ven Brook Valley, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Stand on top of Yes Tor looking north west to Meldon Viaduct and you'll see a beautiful steep-sided valley cut by a brook. This is Red-a-ven Brook Valley. The valley stretches from the ford at Red-a-ven Brook below Black Down all the way down to Meldon Aplite Quarries where it meets and wider and bi...
Burrator Arboretum and Nature Reserve, Yelverton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
An information board on site reads: 'The Burrator Arboretum was created following the storms in the late 1980s, as a collection of native and non native specimens. One of its primary functions is to provide easy access to reservoir visitors who may struggle to explore other areas of the site.'
Okehampton Camp to West Cleave Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
West Cleave is a stunning place. Whilst you can walk in from all directions, our favourite approach is from the west. There are a number of circular walks you can complete from the Okehampton Camp area. Note that this is one of the best areas on Dartmoor for bluebells in Spring. From Okehampton,...
Burrator Plantations, Yelverton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Explore the Burrator Reservoir area and at some point you'll be walking in one of the many plantations that fringe the reservoirs and extend up nearby valleys. Access/points of interest in these plantations are covered below. Peekhill Plantation. The Granite and Gears Princetown Ra...
Shelstone Tor, Sourton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Some of Dartmoor's most beautiful tors are either far from towns and villages or tucked away in less well known areas of moorland. Shelstone Tor is an example of the latter. Located near the north western border of Dartmoor National Park where the Upper West Okement Valley meets Meldon Reservoir,...
Branscombe's Loaf (and Cheese), Sourton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
In her work 'The Outline of Dartmoor's Story', Sylvia Sayer tells the story of Bishop Bronescombe and his loaf: 'Bishop Bronescombe often travelled on the Moor himself ... [He] was a great character and well known to his flock, who loved to tell stories of his doings as they sat around their peat...
Yealm Head, Cornwood, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
The River Yealm rises, or begins, at Yealm Head. Yealm Head is situated on the southern side of a vast, flat and boggy stretch of moorland called Langcombe Hill. You don't find many people up there. If you have an urge to go, we'd recommend walking after a long period of dry weather or after extreme...