Things To Do near Southerly Down
The Green, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 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...
Sextons Cottage and Church House (National Trust), Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 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'...
Buckland Abbey (National Trust), Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Family attraction Spend time walking Dartmoor's south plateau and you'll encounter a high number of ancient crosses. These marked routes across the moors. The routes were used by monks and others to travel between the medieval abbeys and priory that fringed the wild, high ground. Buckland Abbey w...
Drizzle Combe Settlements, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Look at the Upper Plym Valley area (follow the River Plym upstream from Cadover Bridge to Plym Head) on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map and you'll see a high number of settlements. By Drizzle Combe, there are the remains of a large settlement at Whittenknowles Rocks a...
1638 Thunderstorm, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 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...
Calveslake Tor, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Between Plym Ford and Plym Steps, close to the headwaters of the River Plym, is a very short lake, or stream, next to the which is a scatter of granite outcrops. This is Calveslake Tor. We've positioned Calveslake Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. To...
Widecombe St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 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. 13 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...
Teign Gorge and Fingle Woods to Steps Bridge Walk, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
You can pretty much follow the River Teign from the mouth of the Teign Gorge below the National Trust's Castle Drogo all the way east to Steps Bridge at the far end of Fingle Woods. Whilst it seems like a long way, you're walking by a river so it's reasonably flat. About 20km there and back (detours...
Great Gnats Head, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
This is one for the Dartmoor enthusiast. On the edge of Dartmoor's south plateau, there's not much else around the cairn. We've positioned Great Gnats Head on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. To visit, we'd recommend following the footpath marked Abbo...
Dartmoor Horse Riding, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Horse riding This is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Dartmoor National Park. Whilst there are branches of The Pony Club, rallies and camps for those who are based in the area, the National Park has a high number of stables aimed at those who are on holiday in Dartmoor. This lis...
Drizzle Combe Stone Rows, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
In his superb 'The Field Archaeoogy of Dartmoor', Phil Newman writes: 'The majority of menhirs are associated with stone rows, forming the terminals at one end of the row. These may have existed before the rows were added or were erected as a deliberate element of the row. The three stone rows at...
Avon Head, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Avon Head, or Aune Head, is situated on the north western flank of Ryder's Hill. Ryder's Hill is the highest point on Dartmoor's south moor. The headwaters are surrounded by Avon Head Mires so the specific area is best avoided. That said, an ancient track called the Sandy Way runs north of Avon Head...
Drizzle Combe Giant's Basin, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
In 'High Dartmoor', Eric Hemery wrote: 'The huge despoiled cairn near the barrow heading the southernmost row is known as Giants Basin [sic]; Bill Pengelly told me that many of its stones were taken by Ditsworthy warreners for constructing their rabbit-buries.'
Honeybag, Chinkwell & Bell Tors Circular Walk, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Start at one of the car parking areas by Bonehill Rocks. These are not marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map but are clearly visible on Google's satellite imagery. Follow the track that runs around the western flank of Bonehill Down. There are super views back down the East W...