Things To Do near Michelcombe
Sextons Cottage and Church House (National Trust), Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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'...
Widecombe Fair, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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 Uncle Tom Cobley Horse, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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. 5 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. 5 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...
Tavistock to Ashburton Packhorse Track, Ashburton, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...
The Green, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...
Rippon Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...
Top Tor, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Top Tor is a scatter of rocky outcrops, as the name suggests, at the top of Blackslade Down. 432m above sea level, it offers fine views of Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Haytor Rocks. As is the case with many tors in the eastern section of Dartmoor National Park, Top Tor is easily accessible so you...
Church Way, Widecombe in the Moor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
The Lichway/Lych Way is a well known and reasonably well signposted long distance walking route that runs from the heart of Dartmoor across a section of its high moorland to Lydford St Petroc's Church on the National Park's western boundary. People who lived in the heart of Dartmoor were required to...
Left Lake and Left Lake China Clay Works, Harford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
On Dartmoor, a lake is a stream or brook. Left Lake is a very short stream that tumbles from Leftlake Mires down the side of Harford Moor into the River Erme near Piles Valley Weir. The upper section of Left Lake is the site of extensive china clay workings. There's a large, disused pit full of wate...
River Swincombe, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...
Erme Pits, Sheepstor, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Follow the path marked Abbot's Way on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map from either the east or west and you'll cross the heart of Dartmoor's south plateau. Where the Abbot's Way crosses Erme Head Ford by Erme Head are a number of very deep pits known as Erme Pits. These are the...
Erme Plains, Harford, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 miles away)
Today, Erme Plains is remote moorland in the heart of Dartmoor's south moor. It's bisected by the River Erme. The eastern side of Erme Plains is easily accessible. The western side of Erme Plains is more difficult to access. The moorland here is packed with points of interest including the...
Crane Hill, Princetown, Dartmoor National Park (approx. 5 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...