Consider visiting the reservoir which has some nice bits, then head north to Walla brook which has an interesting stone with a hole in it (50.66798440203852, -3.9058846436762638) and another stone circle. Near the base of the Tor you will see a stone circle or cairn erected to surround a round burial barrow from the Bronze Age, or kistvaen, as they are named on Dartmoor. In large part this is due to the fact that excavation is an inherently destructive process and in modern times there have to be very good reasons to proceed with excavations. Clustered under the shadow of Belstone Tor just outside the village is a stone circle with a Bronze Age cist - a stone-lined burial chamber known as a kistvaen on Dartmoor - at its centre. 8see also NMR SX 68 NE 63 The Dartmoor Walks website suggests a few walks for those interested in visiting the ancient settlements and antiquities such as stone rows and stone circles on Dartmoor. See also, Legendary Dartmoor: Grey WethersNearby sites: SX63878312, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Langstone Moor Stone Circle, Stone Row & SettlementsOS Map: SX 55638 78204NMR record: SX 57 NE 13HER record: 4226Megalithic Portal: 1062PMD: Langstone Moor Stone CircleShort Name: SC LangstoneButler map: 30.10Turner: G10DPD: 14Dimensions (m): 20.4Notes: The Langstone standing stone and also the stone circle were used for target practice by American troops who were stationed nearby during the Second World War. 1 min walk (0.1 mi) POINCIANA CIRCULATOR. Lethbridge p.101, diagram p.99 and p.100.Nearby sites: SX63957319, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Shovel Down Ceremonial ComplexOS Map: SX 65829 86196NMR record: SX 68 NE 47HER record: 29944Megalithic Portal: 1259PMD: Shovel Down Stone CircleShort Name: SC Shovel DownButler map: 36.6Turner: G15DPD: 139Dimensions (m): 16Notes: "The remains of an alleged stone circle lie on the gentle NE facing slope of Shovel Down 200m SW of Batworthy Corner. Yes Tor And High Willhays Walk 9. Fyfe, Ralph M. & Greeves, Tom The date and context of a stone row: Cut Hill, Dartmoor, south-west England Antiquity Vol 84, No. Dartmoor Circular Walks There are lots of ways to explore and enjoy Devon and Dartmoor, whether on foot, by bike or on the back of a horse; but by far the most popular is by walking. measured from northeast to southwest and 18.0m from northwest to southeast. For a photo of this site, see: Megalithic Portal: Sourton Tors Stone CircleNearby sites: SX54688959, OS Map: SX 81095 83161NMR record: HER record: 102539Megalithic Portal: 24205PMD: Tottiford ReservoirShort Name: SC:TottifordDimensions (m): 25.0Notes: The Tottiford circle was discovered in 2009 when there was lower than usual levels of water in Tottiford reservoir; it featured as part of a Time Team dig in 2010. 17Baring-Gould Fifth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. Payments are refunded (less the booking fee) for cancellations no less than six weeks before your walk or experience. The Scorhill and Grey Wethers stone circles are some of the best preserved examples. 19Wessex Archaeology Time Team Report Appendix 2 Radiocarbon Report on Charred Hazelnut Shell p. 37 (2011) At the next signpost you turn left up into the trees, signposted Mariners Way. Prijava. The Six Stone Circles Circular Walk, or the Fernworthy Stone Circle, The Grey Wethers Stone Circles, Sittaford Stone Circle, White Moor Stone Circle, Buttern Hill Stone Circle and Scorhill Stone Circle Circular Walk, is a big yomp on Dartmoor's north plateau. "situated on a gentle north facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Dart. RISK: Walks and activities are at your own risk. There are claims that stone rows such as those at Hingstone Hill (Down Tor) and Merrivale17 may have alignments to sunrise in mid-summer and mid-winter although the overwhelming evidence is that there are no such astronomical alignments for most Dartmoor rows and it maybe that the claimed alignments are nothing more than accidental18. Join us for a virtual walk through Dartmoor stone circles. These rows, some of which have little cairn-circles at their higher ends, are still an enigma: no one knows for sure why they were built. Wessex Archaeology Time Team Report: Tottiford Reservoir, Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results (2011) Also known as the Throwleigh circle. Gerrard, Sandy Dartmoor (Batsford & English Heritage, 1997) These rows are typically between 100m and 200m in length. These small sharp microliths were used in arrow heads and as cutting and boring tools to work bone, antlers and leather. At the time only 9 stones remained standing in the north circle and 7 in the south circle. You could then either go down to Chagford (and get the bus back to exeter) or carry on further. The only stone circle to be excavated since the days of the D.E.C is the Tottiford stone circle which is normally submerged under Tottiford reservoir. Ancient Stone Row From the stone circle continue to walk uphill you will come to the first double stone row. 4 pp.491-5515 (1871) or Report on the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor, The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland Vol. (From a safety perspective, this offers additional protection against Covid-19 if there were to be an accident and first aid is required by me or the rescue teams. A short arc of seven stones remains in position on the south-east of the circle. In size it compares with the circles of the Grey Wethers and Scorhill". The slight differences between the two circles could even be a result of the restoration. Stone Circle Walk Dartmoor's Daughter - Walks & Nature Connection Experiences on Dartmoor, Devon We use cookies to help us improve, promote, and protect our services. You come to a second wall leading from the forest on the left, and there is a gate and stile to use in crossing it. Dartmoor Walks This wonderful National Park in south Devon is a haven for walkers with miles waymarked trails. 15Burnard (1894) pp. Sites such as the Nine Maidens site on Belstone common are considered to be cairn circles rather than stone circles. Fernworthy was excavated in 1897. There are two massive megaliths one of which is on the north-western part of the circle. During the drought of August 2022 the stones were exposed again for the first time for years. The County Gazetteer for Devon (p.344-5) includes 40 stone rings on Dartmoor most of which are cairn circles. 1Burl (1976) p.11 Mardon Down. The walks featured are all based on the use of public transport, see Guide to Public Transport. The well defined path continues over the hill with views to the right of Cosdon Beacon, the wall drops away to the left but we carry on up the hill over the down. Dartmoor National Park is in South West England in the county of Devon. The original survey by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee suggested that there might have originally been a secondary concentric circle consisting of elvan rather than granite stones although the evidence for this today is unclear (see Extract from the Second Report of the D.E.C. This is a g. The stone circles and many, if not most, of the stone rows would have been constructed long before this period of settlement. 24Eogan, George & Simmons, J.G. Once crossed a small detour downstream again will lead you to the ancient Teign-e-ver Clapper Bridge, bonded together with iron straps. The singular feature of this outer circle is that the three stones are of a fine elvan, entirely different from the nature of the stones in the inner circle, with the exception of one, which also is of elvan.". Use the menu above or the walks bar on the right to navigate around the site. Walk through an ancient and ritual Dartmoor landscape. 9Gerrard (1997) p.61 +44 (0) 7817 329584info@dartmoorsdaughter.comSign up to our newsletter here, Fungal Foray - Beginners (morning session). Lethbridge p.34-35. Easily-accessible paths. Opportunity to find Pixies House or Piskies House Cave. The first Homo Sapiens arrived on the scene around 30,000 to 50,000 years ago and soon became the sole Homo species. Here you can pick up a footpath along the River Teign Walk and follow it south west up to the stone circle on Scorhill Down. Only 34 stones remain of the original 65, and only 25 of those are standing . 6.20 km. There are taller stones at each end. The Grey Wethers, Brisworthy and White Moor (Little Hound Tor) circles were all restored and are impressive although they have smaller stones than Scorhill. IV (1894), (2010, Kessinger Publishing reprint) Once you have left the bridge continue to the large footpath ahead and turn right with Holly trees and Rhododendrons lining the way. The climate on the moor can be unforgiving, so the centre of the site is often flooded and boggy. 22Fyfe, Ralph M. & Greeves, Tom (2010) . Venford Reservoir and Bench Tor Walk 10. Fernworthy Forest Circular Walk - Full Video - Hiking On Dartmoor . Whilst stone circles are not unique to the British Isles the examples in the rest of Europe are typically later and smaller and usually surround burial mounds, the exception being stone circles in Brittany which are similar to those found in the south-west peninsular of England and probably have the same cultural roots2. Just a brief walk from the town square lay the moor . . Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. According to Burnard, "all the stones, some of which are five to six feet long to the number of sixteen had fallen the whole of these have been set up in the pits in which they originally stood". Go through the gate and along the footpath through the gorse bushes. By continuing to use the site, you agree to cookies being used. The original circle appears to have been c. 30m across, although no stones appear to the west of the old wall. As soon as you enter the trees the path takes you up and slightly to the right past a large moss covered rock. Lethbridge pp.16-18, diagram 16.Nearby sites: SX55367464, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Scorhill Stone CircleOS Map: SX 65458 87399NMR record: SX 68 NE 26HER record: 6122Megalithic Portal: 540PMD: Scorhill Stone CircleShort Name: SC ScorhillButler map: 38.8Turner: G6DPD: 146Dimensions (m): 27.0Notes: One of the most impressive stone circles on Dartmoor and one of the few that has not been restored. It would seem likely that most circles were established near population centres and sited to ensure ease of access to the whole community, they probably acted as ritual centres and perhaps also a place for community gatherings much like a local church or town hall. Set in the idyllic hills of Dartmoor National Park just north of Newton Abbot, Canonteign Forest is home to some challenging hikes and stunning natural scenery. Butler (1997) states that there are "thirteen fairly certain stone circles on the Moor"6 and includes a table listing 14 (this of course being prior to the discovery of the Tottiford circle). There are hundreds of stone circles in the British Isles that have survived mostly in the highland areas.3 It is very likely that there were many more which have not survived due to clearance and there is evidence that in some areas such structures were constructed of wood. This leads to the lane taking you to the ruinous Manga Farm, well worth a visit. The charcoal deposits in the soil of this period provide evidence that Dartmoor was deforested due to fire. Car Sharing - Please car share where possible. Butler suggests that they are "apparently in a planned configuration".5. 13For more on the Cut Hill stone row see This is a memorial to the Dartmoor author, Harry Starkey. Fine examples include the Erme or Stall Moor Circle, The Pulpit (Trowlesworthy Warren E.), the Down Tor Circle (Hingston Hill) and the Ringmoor Down cairn circle and the Hartor cairn circle. The Tolmen Stone is a massive boulder lying on the bed of The River Teign. A moderate walk with one steep hill taking in woodland, ancient ruins and scenic views Distance: nearly 5 miles (over moorland and road, one . You will be able to transfer your booking to another walk. Newman p. 26 refers to c 4000 BC - 2000 BC. A piece of Homo sapien upper jaw disovered in 1927 was recently dated to a short interglacial period around 44,200 and 41,500 years ago2. The Nine Stones are often referred to as a stone circle, but in truth, they're really the remains of a burial cairn. Later Neolithic farmers were more proficient in agriculture and started deliberately clearing large areas of forest for agricultural use. Published April 4, 2022. This is a hunter-gather period when the uplands were used as seasonal hunting grounds. The outer ring of Yellowmead is the largest by diameter of these examples with a diameter that approaches 20 metres. 14Gerrard p.37 As you stand at the clapper there is a small boulder only a few yards away from the bridge that has a cross inscribed on it and a few worn words. A number of the ceremonial centres include stone circles, stone rows and cist burials which suggests the stone circles are roughly contemporaneous with the culture that practised cist burials, although many of the cist burials could have been later. The largest by diameter are the Mardon Down stone circle (38.2 m) and the Grey Wethers (North 32.2 & South 33.6), the smallest are the Shovel Down (17.7 m) and Merrivale (19 m) circles. The circles were restored in 1909 by Burnard. Hound Tor Walk 8. . 25The most convincing evidence for an astronomical alignment at a Dartmoor stone row is at Down Tor (Hingstone Hill). 2256 Meadow Oak Cir. 2018-04-04 15:30:28. Inside the pound are the remains of several walls connecting between the central hut and the outer wall. Continue down the hill to Gidleigh Cross junction where there is a welcome seat by the grassy triangle at SX672 883. 86 (1953) In 2012 tin beads were discovered when the Whitehorse Hill cist was excavated which perhaps for the first time gives an indication of tin working on Dartmoor during the Bronze Age16. 3 Baths. 16See: Dartmoor tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists By continuing to use the site, you agree to cookies being used. Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to Fernworthy Stone Circle with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! They are not for astronomical observation. We also recommend bringing personal masks, a pair of disposable gloves, and a personal first aid kit. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Also there is useful coverage on the Legendary Dartmoor website, see: The Legendary Cut Hill of Dartmoor It is on the same arc as the previously known circles in northeastern Dartmoor.Nearby sites: SX63028281, OS Map: SX 54683 89587NMR record: SX 58 NW 21HER record: 4626Megalithic Portal: 3472PMD: Sourton (Corn Ridge) Stone CircleShort Name: SC SourtonTorsTurner: G3Dimensions (m): 32.0Notes: "A stone circle, diameter about 110 ft and appearing to have comprised 32 stones of which all but six remain where they have fallen, has been discovered between Sourton Tors and Cornridge. The Grey Wethers is the only example of a pair of stone circles on Dartmoor with two circles of approximately the same size separated by about 6m with centres forming an almost exact north-south axis, the stones all being over 1m in height. This excludes the numerous cairn circles and hut circles on Dartmoor. 10White p. 4 Dartmoor sits upon a granite plateau, and occasionally bare granite "peaks" (called tors) break through the heather. Tools from these early periods have been found on Dartmoor including eleven hand axes found at Tavistock and in 1931 Worth found a flint implement of Palaeolithic type on Brent Moor3. At the sharp left bend in front of Cherryford House turn right to Scorhill and carry on up the hill under the trees to the end of the lane at he vehicle turning area and the gateway that leads out onto Scorhill Down and the open moors at SX660 877. Wray Valley Trail Turn left here, signposted to Gidleigh Chapel, and continue along the lane to Gidleigh Church where there are some nice 18th Century gravestones leaning on the wall and inside there Church there is a fine example of a 16th Century Chancel Screen. Walker, Jack Dartmoor Sun (Halsgrove, 2005) Buy Searching For Stone Circles: On Dartmoor (North) by B, Miss Helen Louise (ISBN: 9798576157488) from Amazon's Book Store. 1 (1872) late Neolithic and early Bronze Age (to see both Cut Hill Stone Row and Whitehorse Hill Cist in relation to Grey Wethers, see Monuments within 4km of Grey Wethers or alternatively easier to see via Monuments within 4km of Quintins Man Cairn). The stones on the left are small and indistinct but on your right youll notice four of them in the path leading to your right. This 5.5 mile circular walk takes you from the village of Belstone, past intriguing Irish Man's Wall, over the hill and across a ford to Taw Plain. 63-4 (also picture of restored Langstone circle as frontispiece) MARIGOLD AVE AND STEPPING STONE BLVD. Start Moretonhampstead. The hard part, I was sure, was over. 20Newman (2011) p.25, Gerrard (1997) p.24 The site is a fairly accurate circle of circumference 20.2m. 3.7 km/h. 14Bate (1872), see Report on the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor Prijava. Vol 34 pp.116-7 (1902) There are a large number of settlements consisting of "hut circles" which can be seen all over Dartmoor except on the highest moorland. The other notable excavation was of the Cholwich town stone row and cairn circle carried out in 1964 by George Eogan. Telegraph: Ancient stones older than Stonehenge discovered on Dartmoor and BBC: Stone row sheds new light on Dartmoor prehistoric life. The stone circles of the British Isles are thought to have an indigenous origin and date from around 2500 - 1300 B.C1.