Things To Do near Swincombe
Huccaby Stepping Stones/Huccaby Steps, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 1 mile away)
If you locate Dartmeet on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, you'll see a green path crossing the West Dart River running to/from the Combestone Tor area. This is the location of Dartmeet Stepping Stones. Follow the West River Dart upstream as it bows towards Hexworthy and Huccaby and...
Foxtor Farm, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 1 mile away)
Foxtor Farm is a collection of ruined buildings and enclosures east of the infamous Foxtor Mires. Fox Tor, a series of rocky outcrops on the edge of Dartmoor's south plateau, is to the south. Today, the farm ruins are in a remote and quiet area of the National Park. On the route of ancient paths and...
Swincombe Headweir Ford, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 1 mile away)
The River Swincombe and Strane River (having been fed by Nun's Cross Brook) meet at the eastern end of Foxtor Mires near the beginning of the old Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel). Just before they meet, there are two fords spanning each waterway. After a spell of dry weather, the ford across th...
Skir Hill, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 1 mile away)
Skir Hill is up there on the list of the most unlikely places you'll find yourself in Dartmoor National Park. Remote and with few obvious points of interest on it, Skir Hill also isn't on one of the many modern recreation paths or ancient travel routes that criss-cross the moor. If you're walking...
Sunshine Valley, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
There are lots of old mining works around Foxtor Mires. Whiteworks is to the north west. The wonderfully named Sunshine Valley and nearby Mount Misery are to the south east and east. Marked on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map, Sunshine Valley is at the head of the River Swinc...
Childe's Tomb and Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Who was Childe? Whilst hunting on Dartmoor, Childe was overwhelmed by a snowstorm. To survive, he killed his horse, disembowelled it and then climbed inside for shelter. The snowstorm continued and Childe froze to death. Upon the event of his death, it became known that he'd leave his lands at Plyms...
Crock of Gold, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
The Crock of Gold is a cairn circle and cist by Conchies Road roughly a mile and a half east of Princetown. One of Dartmoor's most famous cists with, arguably, the most evocative name, the Crock of Gold burial site is very easily accessible on foot. A crock is an earthenware pot or jar. Pres...
Foxtor Mires, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
There are some places on Dartmoor that are best avoided. Raybarrow Pool by Cosdon Hill on the north moor is a dangerous place. Down on the edge of the National Park's south plateau, Foxtor Mires is another. Said to have been the inspiration for Grimpen Mire in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Hound of...
Fox Tor, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
In comparison to the larger north moor, the National Park's south moor has relatively few tors. One of the most impressive is Fox Tor. Situated on the edge of Dartmoor's south plateau, overlooking the infamous Foxtor Mires to which the tor gave its name, Fox Tor provides magnificent views over Da...
Whiteworks, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
A road runs from Princetown to the edge of Foxtor Mires. Whiteworks is at the end of that road. Whiteworks is a disused tin mine. When you visit, you'll see extensive ruins and old mine shafts fenced off from the public. These are next to some modern buildings. Kids can often be seen chargin...
Combestone Tor, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
South of Dartmeet and offering great views, particularly to the east across the Dart Gorge and Dart Valley Nature Reserve. Combestone Tor is by a parking area just off the road that climbs the east moors from Ashburton past Venford Reservoir into the Heart of Dartmoor. To the south is Holne Mo...
Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
This is a superb long distance walk between Buckfast Abbey on the east border of Dartmoor National Park and Tavistock Abbey on the west. Monks once followed routes across the moors to visit the local abbeys and priory which is why it's called the Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route. The Buc...
Conchies Road, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
During WW1, many Conscientious Objectors were housed in Dartmoor Prison. In this time, they built what is know locally as 'Conchies Road' which runs from the Tor Royal area just east of Princetown across the moors towards Swincombe Bridge. The road stops about half way between these points. Roughly...
Avon Head, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 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...
Dartmeet Stepping Stones, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
The East Dart River and West Dart River converge at Dartmeet to form the River Dart or Double Dart. At Dartmeet, a bridge spans the East River Dart next to a ruined clapper bridge. To cross the West River Dart here, you need to walk across an arc of stepping stones. Whilst these stepping stones p...