Things To Do near Down Ridge
Ryder's Hill, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Dartmoor National Park consists of two high moorland plateaus separated by a central dip and fringed by stunning wooded valleys. High Willhays is the highest point on the north plateau. Ryder's Hill is the highest point on the south plateau. Ryder's Hill is a shallow dome of moorland near the sou...
East Dart River, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
The East Dart River rises at East Dart Head on Dartmoor's high north plateau. For much of the year, it's a boggy area that's unpleasant to walk around. It becomes much more accessible after periods of dry and windy weather and is very much worth visiting. The famous Dartmoor letterbox Cranmere Pool...
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...
Coffin Stone, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Study the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map and you'll come across lots of evocative place names. There's the Heap of Sinners and Deadman's Bottom, Mount Misery and the Coffin Stone. All these names tell fascinating stories about Dartmoor's past. Once, the dead were carried in coffins...
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...
Black Lane Peat Pass, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
The name Black Lane Peat Pass suggests a tidy, sunken road with high, black peat walls offering easy passage through difficult terrain. Whilst this might once have been the case, and there are still such peat passes on the north moor, if you walk Black Lane Peat Pass today you'll expe...
Ryder's Hill and Huntingdon Warren Circular Walk, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
This walk is one for the Dartmoor enthusiast. It crosses remote, boggy moorland on Dartmoor's south moor with Avon Head Mires, Fishlake Mire and Ryder's Mire in the shallow valley to the west. It takes in the highest point on the south moor and the wonderfully named barrow Heap of Sinners. We'd reco...
Luckey Tor, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
If possible, buy a copy of Harvey's British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. It was edited by the Dartmoor expert Eric Hemery and includes tracks and paths that aren't marked on the more popular and well-known Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. A couple of these tracks and paths lead to a sup...
Goldsmith's Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Goldsmith's Cross is one of a high number of crosses marking the route of the ancient Buckfast to Tavistock Monastic Route as shown on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. Goldsmith's Cross is located just south of the infamous Foxtor Mires that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used as in...
Yar Tor, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Yar Tor rises steeply above the East Dart River and Dartmeet. Surrounded by ancient farms on three sides and the bulk of Corndon Tor with its barrows to the east, it's an impressive location. We've positioned Yar Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its...
Sharp Tor (Dartmeet/East Dartmoor) Circular Walk, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
This is a short walk but it takes you to one of Dartmoor's classic viewpoints. From the outcrops at the southern end of Sharp Tor, you look down the Dart Gorge to the South Devon coast area beyond. It's a super place for a picnic. Note that in the morning the light comes up the gorge so if you want...
Venford Reservoir, Holne, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Superb location at the foot of Dartmoor's south moor and next to the Dart Gorge Venford Reservoir is in a superb location at the foot of Dartmoor's south moor and next to the Dart Gorge which is one of the National Park's most popular and beautiful natural attractions. Visitors head to this area...
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...
Crane Hill, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
It's not the most inspiring place on Dartmoor but if you want to explore the National Park's south plateau then you're going to spend a lot of time skirting Crane Hill's flanks or wandering over its top. The River Plym rises here. The Abbot's Way arcs around its south west side. Ducks' Pool is on...
Yar Tor Stone Row, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 2 miles away)
Triple stone rows are rare. The best example is Cosdon (The Cemetery) Stone Row. Challacombe Stone Row is in a superb location. Yar Tor Stone Row is much more difficult to see but when you've located the row, it becomes clear that it's exceptionally long in comparison to the other triple stone rows...