Things To Do near The English Riviera
Dartmoor Hawking, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
We'd put this high on our list of essential Dartmoor experiences. Whilst it's a remarkable experience to fly owls, falcons and eagles from Dartmoor Hawking's base near the luxury hotel Bovey Castle, it's a particular joy taking Harris Hawks out onto the moor. On the day we spent...
Wray Valley Trail in Dartmoor, Moretonhampstead, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
Within Dartmoor National Park, the Wray Valley Trail runs from Mill Marsh Park at Bovey Tracey along the dismantled railway line to the end of Parke Estate. From there, a new section of the trail takes you to the edge of the popular Dartmoor village Lustleigh. The trail then runs to&n...
Swincombe Reservoir, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
Most Dartmoor reservoirs are large, impressive and reasonably easily accessible. Swincombe Reservoir is small and fenced off from the public. The moorland around the reservoir is flat, boggy and tussocky. Whilst there's a metal bridge at the eastern end of the reservoir, it's closed to the public so...
Childe's Tomb and Cross, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 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...
Hookney Tor, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 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...
Great Gnats Head, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 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...
Crane Hill, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 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...
Wheal Emma Leat (Dry Channel), Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
A wheal is a mine. A leat is a man-made waterway used to channel water from, say, a river down to a mine, mill or town/city. Wheal Emma Leat is the now dry channel of a leat built in 1859 that once collected water from near the source of the River Swincombe as it flows past the eastern side of Foxto...
Challacombe Stone Row, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
The Warren House Inn is the highest pub in southern England. English Heritage's Grimspound is one of Dartmoor National Park's most famous prehistoric sites. Between them, near the deserted Challacombe Medieval Hamlet, is a rare example of a triple stone row on Dartmoor. The stone row is loca...
Best Dartmoor Picnic Spots, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
Popular picnic spots with public toilet in the area Spitchwick (Deeper Marsh/Spitchwick Common). Picnic on the bank of the River Dart. This is the most popular picnic spot on Dartmoor. Beautiful, great for wild swimming but gets packed on sunny days. There's a public toilet at the New Bridge/Newb...
Bellever Clapper Bridge, Bellever, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
East Dart River clapper bridges Follow the East Dart River south of Postbridge Clapper Bridge and you'll come to Bellever Clapper Bridge on the edge of Bellever Forest. Lichway/Lych Way Bellever Clapper Bridge is on the route of the ancient Lichway/Lych Way.
River Swincombe, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
By Dartmoor standards, this is a short river that rises on the edge of the National Park's south plateau and meets the West Dart River in Dartmoor's central bowl near Hexworthy. The river rises at Swincombe Head above what the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map refers to as Suns...
Tavistock to Ashburton Packhorse Track, Ashburton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
This ancient track is shown on the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map. Unsurprisingly, it runs between Tavistock on the western border of the National Park to Ashburton on the eastern border. The central section of the track pretty much follows Conchies Road. We include Tavistock to Ash...
Steps Bridge to Heltor Rock Circular Walk, Dunsford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
Most people head to Steps Bridge to explore Dunsford Local Nature Reserve, the River Teign and the eastern section of Fingle Woods. We'd also recommend wandering up to Heltor Rock for super views of the local area and beyond. Start at Steps Bridge car park. This is on the south side of the Ri...
Golden Dagger Tin Mine (Disused), Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 18 miles away)
The area south of the B3212 near The Warren House Inn was heavily mined in past centuries. The local landscape is shaped, in part, by the Birch Tor and Vitifer Mine, the Headland Tin Mine, Bushdown Mine and the Golden Dagger Tin Mine. The wonderfully named Golden Dagger Tin Mine is the furthest sout...