Things To Do near Piles Valley
Battle of Lydford Memorial, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Near English Heritage's Lydford Castle (English Heritage), across the road from Lydford St Petroc's Church, is a distinctive memorial topped by a Viking axe crossing a Saxon shield. This marks the 'SITE OF DANISH SAXON CONFLICT. 997 AD'. The following is taken from 'The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' edi...
Battle of Lydford Battlefield, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
In 997 AD, as recorded in the 'The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle', a Viking army sailed up the River Tamar 'until they came to Lydford, and burned and killed everything that they met, and burned down Ordwulf's monastery at Tavistock, and brought indescribable war-booty with them to the ships.' The...
Buttern Hill, Gidleigh, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Buttern Hill is one of a number of unremarkable domed hills on the edge of the National Park's north moor. There are hut circles, cairns and a chambered cairn on this stretch of moorland. To its west, in a shallow valley, is Buttern Hill Stone Circle. Most people pass Buttern Hill as they walk be...
Arms Tor, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Arms Tor is a very easily accessible collection of outcrops on the western fringe of Dartmoor's north moor. It's just north of the distinctive Brat Tor (Bray Tor) topped by Widgery Cross and sits below the immensely impressive Great Links Tor. The Dartmoor Inn at Lydford is nearby so it's a great to...
Gidleigh Holy Trinity Church, Gidleigh, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
The north and eastern fringes of Dartmoor's north moor are lined with villages and hamlets and their churches. Moving clockwise, the towers of Belstone, South Tawton, Throwleigh and then Gidleigh churches rise against the backdrop of high moorland. Gidleigh Holy Trinity Church is...
The Dancing Tree Cross, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
If you're on your way to see Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses, look out for The Dancing Tree Cross. This was once the site of a market cross similar to the one in South Zeal. All you see today in Moretonhampstead is the head of the cross. This is because a tree grew next to the c...
Lydford Viking Rune Stone, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
'VIKINGS 997-1997. The stone was raised when the men of the North came again, this time in peace. Erik the Red carved the runes.' The stone is just across the road from the Battle of Lydford Memorial. Both commemorate a battle that took place between invading Vikings and Saxons defending the fortifi...
Lydford The Castle Inn, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Beautiful village packed with visitor attractions Lydford is one of Dartmoor's best visitor destinations. Lydford The Castle Inn is situated in the heart of the village. It's a perfect place from which to explore the west section of Dartmoor. Things to do around Lydford The Cast...
Lydford St Petroc's Church, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
An information card in the church reads: 'The Saxon wood and thatch church was built about 650AD and was destroyed by the Viking invaders in 997AD. The pre-Norman Font remains from this early church. The church was rebuilt in stone and is recorded in July 1237 in the reign of Henry III when the r...
Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
One of the most impressive buildings in Dartmoor National Park, Moretonhampstead 1 and 2 The Almshouses are owned by the National Trust. If you're looking for historical information, visit the Moretonhampstead History Society website to which we provide an external link. 'Recorded as 'new' i...
Lydford The Norman Castle, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
An information board on site reads: 'The earthwork is all that remains of a small Norman castle which was probably built in the late 11th century in the years of consolidation after the Norman conquest. It holds a dominant position in the corner of the defended Saxon town. The castle was a 'ri...
Lydford Castle (English Heritage), Lydford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Lydford Castle is an English Heritage property at the heart of a beautiful and historically important village on the western border of Dartmoor National Park. According to English Heritage, 'Lydford Castle was probably built about 1195 to serve as a prison'. During the medieval period, conditions at...
Green Hill Arts, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Travel around Devon and Cornwall for a period of time and it becomes clear that the two counties are packed with artists, ceramicists and photographers. Places such as St Ives and Falmouth have high numbers of galleries concentrated in a small area. On Dartmoor, given the lower visitor numbers, ...
Gidleigh Castle (Landmark Only), Gidleigh, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
An information leaflet from the church next door to the castle reads: 'Gidleigh Castle dates from about 1324 and was built over an earlier castle by William le Prouz, a powerful knight and overlord in the district. It was never a true castle in the military sense, but rather a fortified manor hou...
Moretonhampstead St Andrew's Church, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 16 miles away)
Walk the high moorland, wooded valleys and rolling countryside of the east and north east sections of Dartmoor National Park and the tall tower of St Andrew's rising high above Moretonhampstead becomes a familiar sight. It's as distinctive a landmark as the more famous Widecombe St Pancras Chur...