Things To Do near Swincombe Head
Widecombe Fair, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
Whilst not the biggest, Widecombe hosts arguably the most famous of Dartmoor's many fairs and shows. It takes place on the second Tuesday of September so in 2016 Widecombe Fair is on Tuesday 13th September. The fair is synonymous with the Devon folk song Widecombe Fair which is celebrated in sign...
Dewerstone Fort/Neolithic Enclosure, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 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...
East Webburn River, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
The East Webburn River rises near Hameldown Tor and English Heritage's Grimspound on the vast back of Hamel Down. The headwaters are close to Hamel Down Cross and Broad Barrow. From its source, the river cuts deep into moorland and tumbles past Berry Pound before arcing through Natsworthy. It flo...
Pew Tor, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
To the west of the Park with great views down to Tavistock and the Tamar Valley AONB. To the north, you’ll see the Staple Tors and Great Mis Tor and to the east King's Tor and a number of disused quarries. To the south east is Burrator Reservoir. Pew Tor is an easy walk from the large car park...
The Dewerstone, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
The Dewerstone is a well-known beauty spot in the southern section of Dartmoor National Park. It's at the south west end of the Dewerstone Valley. The Dewerstone is known for its climbing routes. The vertical rock faces are marked the Dewerstone Crags on local information boards. The De...
1638 Thunderstorm, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
Inside Widecombe St Pancras Church, at the base of the tower, are four wallboards telling the story of the 1638 Thunderstorm. The following transcription was taken from photos. 'It is of the Lords mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lam.III.2.2. The merciful a...
Feather Tor, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
Feather Tor is a small rocky outcrop on Whitchurch Common on the western side of Dartmoor National Park. It rises above Windypost Cross and Grimstone and Sortridge Leat. The tor provides top views and is part of some great circular walks in the area. We've positioned Feather Tor on Google maps so...
Widecombe St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
The 'Cathedral of the Moor'. In East Dartmoor, and dominating the popular moorland village of Widecombe in the Moor, Widecombe St Pancras Church dates from the 1300s. Wallboards within the church tell a story of a fire-ball passing through the church and killing four people as a result of a light...
The Uncle Tom Cobley Horse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
When visiting Widecombe St Pancras Church, look out for The Uncle Tom Cobley Horse. Inspired by the Devon folk song Widecombe Fair, 'in the late 1950's a retired sailor from Drewsteignton made a mechanical model of Uncle Tom Cobley and the Grey Mare. The automation was exhibited at Widecombe Fair...
The Green, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
The Green is the focal point of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Surrounded by shops, cafes, pub, church and its associated buildings, the village green is a great place to relax after a wander. A local information board provides a historical perspective. 'The Village Green was once known as 'butte pa...
The Dewerstone Carrington Inscription, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 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 Hill, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 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...
Dewerstone Crags, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
A local information board states that 'the popularity of climbing the Dewerstone Crags has resulted in considerable erosion of the fragile slopes from the crags to the main path ... The National Trust, Dartmoor National Park Authority and The British Mountaineering Council have worked together to re...
Windypost Cross, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
Owing to its location, Windypost Cross is one of the most visited stone crosses in the National Park. Situated on Whitchurch Common above Tavistock and by the B3357, Windypost Cross is very easily accessible from the large car park at Tavistock View Point. It stands next to the Grimstone and So...
Wittaburrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 7 miles away)
In his excellent 'The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor', Phil Newman notes that 'the term 'barrow' may be defined as a mound of earth or stone, usually covering one or more inhumations or cremations. On Dartmoor, where the majority of these monuments are constructed mostly from ston...