Things To Do near King Wall
Widecombe Fair, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 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...
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'...
Honeybag Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
Honeybag Tor is the northernmost rocky outcrop in a line of tors running roughly north/south on Bonehill Down. Located close to Widecombe-in-the-Moor and separated from the vast bulk of Hamel Down by the East Webburn River Valley, Honeybag Tor is 445 metres above sea level and provides magnificent v...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.'
Drizzle Combe Standing Stones, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 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...
Butterdon Down Standing Stone, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
There's what is thought to be a prehistoric standing stone on the western side of Butterdon Down where the Dartmoor Way Walking Route skirts the moorland. See our Butterdon Down listing for directions. Note that there are cairns topping the down. In addition, there are cairns, a stone circle a...
Plym Steps, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
'Steps' on Dartmoor usually refer to stepping stones. Stepping stones are often necessary to cross the National Park's many rivers. However, stones are often moved by the power of the water when rivers are in spate. When this happens, the stones can either be repositioned or the set of stepping ston...
Prestonbury Castle Hillfort, Drewsteignton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 13 miles away)
There are four 'castles' in the Teign Gorge/Fingle Woods area of Dartmoor National Park. The National Trust's Castle Drogo guards the mouth of the gorge. South of the River Teign, overlooking Drogo, is the Iron Age hillfort Cranbrook Castle. Downstream, towering above the Dartmoor beauty spot Fingle...