History & Heritage in Dartmoor National Park
Kit Steps, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park
It's easy to cross the East Dart River after a long period of dry weather. After heavy rain, the river becomes a formidable barrier. If water levels are high, as a rule of thumb, it's best to head upriver to find a safe crossing place. In these conditions, Kit Steps is a potential candidate. A set o...
Leigh Bridge Stepping Stones/Milfordleigh Wood Stepping Stones, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
There are various clapper bridges and sets of stepping stones you can use to cross the North Teign River, South Teign River and the upper section of the River Teign after its two tributaries converge. At Leigh, on the North Teign River just before it meets the South Teign River, is a set of stone...
Dogmarsh Bridge, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
Located by Mill End Hotel on the A382 road, Dogmarsh Bridge is at the western end of the Castle Drogo Estate. There's limited parking by the side of the road just north of the hotel and bridge. You can follow the Two Moors Way to Castle Drogo and the gorgeous Teign Gorge. In August, the land east...
Higher Uppacott Longhouse, Poundsgate, Dartmoor National Park
Exeter has a superb museum. In its medieval section is a model of a house with toy animals at one end and living space at the other. The model is popular with children and is a great introduction to a Devon longhouse. There are dozens of these longhouses in and around Dartmoor National Park. The...
Hamel Down RAF Memorial, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park
At the northern end of Hamel Down, where the moor drops down to Natsworthy, is a memorial to a RAF bomber that crashed after a raid in March 1941 during the Second World War. The memorial is by the side of a path that cuts across the moors to/from English Heritage's ancient settlement Grimspound....
Battle of Lydford Memorial, Lydford, Dartmoor National Park
Near English Heritage's Lydford Castle (English Heritage), across the road from Lydford St Petroc's Church, is a distinctive memorial topped by a Viking axe crossing a Saxon shield. This marks the 'SITE OF DANISH SAXON CONFLICT. 997 AD'. The following is taken from 'The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' edi...
Battle of Bovey Heath Battlefield, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
Near the eastern border of Dartmoor National Park, on the outskirts of the gateway town Bovey Tracey, is Bovey Heathfield Local Nature Reserve. In the seventeenth century, during the English Civil War, this was the site of the Battle of Bovey Heath. There's an information board on site that reads:...
Battle of Sourton Down Battlefield, Sourton, Dartmoor National Park
Sourton is a small village on the north eastern border of Dartmoor National Park. Sourton Down is a nearby area of countryside where the A30 passes over the A386. Dartmoor's highest ground at Yes Tor and High Willhays is visible from the down. On the night of the 25th April 1643, this was the locati...
Sandy Ford (Upper West Okement Valley), Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
Crossing Dartmoor's major rivers can be difficult. Thankfully, there are plenty of granite bridges, wooden bridges, modern suspension bridges, clapper bridges, stepping stones and fords to help you cross these waterways. Sandy Ford enables you to cross the upper section of the West Okement River nea...
Hennock St Mary's Church, Hennock, Dartmoor National Park
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...
Huntingdon Barrow or Heap of Sinners, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor is blessed with some super place names. There's Deadmans Bottom and Grim's Grave, the Crock of Gold and The Ten Commandments Stones. Our favourite is the Heap of Sinners north west of the Avon Dam Reservoir on Dartmoor's south moor. The location lives up to the name. The barrow sits at t...
Keble Martin Open Air Chapel, South Brent, Dartmoor National Park
'Keble Martin open air Chapel 1904. Divine worship last held here 11th July 1982 ...'
Trowlesworthy Settlements, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park
The Upper Plym Valley in Dartmoor National Park is known for its concentration of Bronze Age and medieval sites. It was clearly an important and populated area. The high number of settlements are recorded on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. There are some fine examples of settlement...
China Clay Workings (South Dartmoor), Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park
If you want to discover more about the Westcountry's china clay mining industry then head for Wheal Martyn Museum and Country Park in Cornwall. It's the only visitor attraction in the world focused on the china clay mining industry. Situated near St Austell and the Eden Project, it's a great place....
Manaton St Winifred Church, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park
A local information board says of the church: 'The Church, dedicated to St Winifred, dates from the 15th century and is built in the perpendicular style of the period. Inside is a fine rood screen dating from about 1490 which, although restored, retains much of the original ornamentation'. Locate...