Things To Do near Best Dartmoor Autumn Things To Do
Single Barrow, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The Dartmoor expert William Crossing writes 'this tumulus was opened in 1873 by the late Mr. C. Spence Bate, and was found to consist of earth with the exception of a low hedge of stones which encircled it, and a low cairn in the centre. About six feet from the latter a small heap of burnt human...
Hameldown Beacon, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a beacon as 'a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration’. There is a chain of beacons on Dartmoor running from the edge of the north moor down to the edge of the south moor. Hameldown Beacon is, roughly spe...
Two Barrows, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
There's a display cabinet in Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre which contains a replica of the Hameldon Dagger or Hamel Down Dagger. The display reads: 'Hameldon dagger. In 1872 the original dagger was found with a burial of burnt human bones in a cairn or barrow at Hameldon. It cons...
Bovey Tracey Parish Church of SS Peter, Paul & Thomas of Canterbury, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
On 29th December 1170, Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. According to the guide to 'Bovey Tracey Parish Church', there is 'a dramatic link with our small town and its Parish Church through one of the perpetrators of that dreadful crime, Sir William de Tracy. The suggesti...
Grimspound (English Heritage), Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
There are a number of amazing facts about the prehistory of Dartmoor National Park.* It has the greatest concentration of Bronze Age sites in Britain. It's home to the longest stone row in the world. It has 60% of England's stone rows. It's home to more than 5000 hut circles or ancient homes. Despit...
Rippon Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
People visiting the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park tend to head up to Haytor Rocks to enjoy the views of both the National Park and South Devon. Arguably the most extraordinary views in this section of Dartmoor are from the top of nearby Rippon Tor. At 473m above sea lev...
Pil Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Pil Tor is the largest tor on Blackslade Down. Roughly speaking, two walls of granite are separated by a strip of moorland. We've positioned Pil Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. The tor is situated by Top Tor. Click through to that listing...
Hennock St Mary's Church, Hennock, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Most of the church we see today dates from the middle of the 15th century. The tower dates from around 1250 and the stone building most probably replaced a Saxon church. The church is known for the paintings on its rood screen. Though restored during the twentieth century, these date back to the...
Shapley Tor, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Some Dartmoor tors are big and dramatic stacks of granite that command the surrounding landscape. Others are small and rather unassuming. Shapley Tor is among the latter. A scatter of granite towards the top of Shapley Common, it's one of those tors you tend to pass through on your way to another...
Hookney Tor, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
English Heritage's Grimspound sits in a saddle of moorland below two tors. Hameldown Tor is to the south east. The superb stacks of granite that form Hookney Tor are to the north west. Hookney Down pushes east to King Tor and is beautiful when covered in heather in late summer. Headland Warren Farm...
Butterdon Down, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 miles away)
Butterdon Down tends to be one of those places on Dartmoor that you pass through as opposed to being a destination in its own right. Located between Fingle Bridge and Moretonhampstead, the Dartmoor Way Walking Route runs around the western and southern fringes of this small island of moorland. Th...
The Green, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 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...
Widecombe St Pancras Church, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 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. 4 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...
1638 Thunderstorm, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 4 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...