Things To Do near Shell Top
Sextons Cottage and Church House (National Trust), Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
A sexton maintained church buildings and the graveyard. The sexton's cottage was his home. The 'church house was the medieval equivalent of the church hall. Its chief purpose was to house the festivals and church ales which raised funds for many an English parish church until the rise of Puritanism'...
Widecombe Fair, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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...
East Webburn River, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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...
Wittaburrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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...
1638 Thunderstorm, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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...
The Uncle Tom Cobley Horse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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...
Widecombe St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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 Green, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 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...
West Dart Head, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
The River Dart rises in two places on Dartmoor's north plateau. The East Dart River rises at East Dart Head near Cranmere Pool and Whitehorse Hill. The West Dart River rises at West Dart Head near Cut Hill and Fur Tor. To help you identify the source of the West Dart River, we've posi...
Tamar Trails Canoe Tamar, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is just west of Dartmoor National Park. It's named after the River Tamar that winds through a stunning wooded landscape on its way to Plymouth and the South Devon coast. The Tamar Trails Centre is an activity hub within the Tamar Valley. You can bo...
Tunhill Rocks, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Tunhill Rocks is the most dramatic tor on Blackslade Down. A jumble of giant, rocky outcrops located on moorland that drops down reasonably steeply to farmland and hamlets south of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Tunhill Rocks is just south west of Pil Tor. The prehistoric barrow Wittaburrow is a short strol...
Stannon Tor, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Tor just to the north of Postbridge in the Heart of Dartmoor. We'd recommend exploring the area on the Stannon Tor from Postbridge Walk. The views from Stannon Tor are magnificent. Between Hamel Down in the east to Great Mis Tor in the west, you'll see Corndon Tor and Yar Tor, Ryder's Hill and th...
Blackslade Down, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
According to the Dartmoor expert William Crossing, it was on Blackslade Down 'that the wicked Jan Reynolds once entered into a compact with a stranger, who turned out to be the Prince of Darkness, and failing to keep it became his victim. Seven years after the meeting Jan was discovered indulgin...
Tamar Trails Centre, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
Superb place. If you have kids and are looking for a family adventure holiday, the Tamar Trails Centre could keep you going for weeks. Activities include treesurfing, mountain biking, canoeing, archery and walking. The Tamar Trails Centre is also within a section of a rare UNESCO World Heritage Site...
Tamar Trails Cycle Hire, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 11 miles away)
If you fancy cycling some of the Tamar Trails Cycling routes whilst on holiday in Dartmoor or the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but don't have a bike then you can hire them at the Tamar Trails Centre. Call beforehand to check availability. Bikes are collected across the way from th...