The climate on the moor can be unforgiving, so the centre of the site is often flooded and boggy. Dartmoor Walk- Sheeps Tor, Down Tor, and a Pixie House Adventure. After crossing the Manga clapper bridge carry on up the slope using the well-worn footpath up to the gateway in the wall on your right. 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. The Neolithic famers were more permanently settled than their Mesolithic predecessors. This leads to the lane taking you to the ruinous Manga Farm, well worth a visit. Vol. Take the left fork where the modern standing stone . By continuing to use the site, you agree to cookies being used. 9see also NMR SX 68 NE 29 Continue down the hill to Gidleigh Cross junction where there is a welcome seat by the grassy triangle at SX672 883. Rowe, Samuel A Perambulation of Dartmoor (Devon Books, 1985) 1 min walk (0.1 mi) POINCIANA CIRCULATOR. 8see also NMR SX 68 NE 63 Walker, Jack Dartmoor Sun (Halsgrove, 2005) The circles were restored in 1909 by Burnard. Route is dependent on weather conditions and group pace. We will stop and spend time at each stone circle depending on our group pace. For those who wish to continue with the walk, on the blue 5-mile route, to Teignhead Farm, at the end of the plantation instead of turning left back to Batworthy simply continue up the hill in the dip between the sloped on your left and right. Here we'll spend a short period of time in silence exploring the circle and then talk about the various archaeological and phenomenological theories of circles. Jones, Marchand, Sheridan, Straker, Quinnell Excavations at the Whitehorse Hill cist, Dartmoor PAST - the newsletter of the Prehistoric Society, Number 70 p.14-16 (April 2012) The path leads you to the left side of the drift lane and to the left wall corner as you go out onto the moors. Arc formed by eight stone circles (Sittaford in blue) See also: Map of Dartmoor Stone Circles. Two settlements are thought to be early Neolithic, these are found on the hilltops of White Tor and Dewerstone. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. A low rubble bank surrounds the circle which can be seen on LIDAR data. 19Butler Vol. In A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany Aubrey Burl (1995) there are 368 stone circles listed in the British Isles with 21 listed for Dartmoor, 13 of which would be considered cairn circles. Gerrard, Sandy, English Heritage Book of Dartmoor: Landscapes Through Time, (1997) After visiting the stone circle retrace your steps back to the leat and small bridge and continue downhill until you reach the North Teign River at the end of the narrow fir plantation leading down from the other side of the river. Burnard, Robert, The Disappearing Stone Monuments of Dartmoor T.D.A. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Around 1700BC there was a major influx of settlers into Dartmoor. See also: Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Brisworthy Circle. It is formed by eleven stones spaced between 2.7m and 6.7m. Dartmoor National Park is the area within the Datrmoor National Park boundary. Worth, although not confirmed since, there was "a small cairn between five and six yards in from the southern edge" and also there is a companion circle a short distance on the slope westward, 60 feet in diameter consisting of four stones with a possible large central pillar, see T.D.A. The sites featured are archaeological treasures and most are protected by the law, please treat these sites with respect! The Nine Maidens Stone Circle. Butler points out that reaves constructed later near the circles seemed to make deliberate deviations in their course to ensure that the circles were not included in enclosed land such as at Scorhill and perhaps at Fernworthy (the reave at Fernworthy has been destroyed but the projected path excludes the circle), only the "Grey Wethers pair, Langstone Moor and Little Hound Tor are located some distance from settled areas".26. It's a double stone row separated by a leat which is 263 metres long. Day 1 - Saturday 9th June : We will meet at Peartree, Ashburton at 9 am and carshare, or you have the . Haytor is the most famous of these rocks. Burnard, Robert Dartmoor Pictorial Records (Devon Books, 1986) 4Butler (1997) p.145 The stone circle measures 25 meters in diameter and is denoted by five upright granite slabs, standing up to 1.45 meters high, which are confined to its south western sector. Grey Wethers had a partial excavation in 1898 which uncovered remains of charcoal. The walks featured are all based on the use of public transport, see Guide to Public Transport. Route includes part of the Tarka Trail, ancient monuments & granite tors. Once you have visited the Tree Boys stone you carry on up to Kestor Rock where on the summit you will find an example of one of the finest Rock Basins (or Pans) on Dartmoor. These settlers were responsible for the remarkable construction of the widespread and systematic field boundaries known as reaves. 17For a discussion of Down Tor and Merrivale and their solar alignments at the solstices, see Walker Dartmoor Sun and Brian Byng's Dartmoor's Mysterious Megaliths. Fernworthy Stone Circle Loop from Throwleigh. Scorhill Stone Circle. The Manor of Gidleigh was owned by the Prouz family from the 13th Century until the 16th Century and it was William de Prouz who built the fortified Manor House, now known as Gidleigh Castle, in about 1324. The final descent of the day takes down clitter strewn slopes to reach the Tarka Trail near Nine Stones stone circle. Newman points out that specifying a precise time period is misleading since the practices that define the Neolithic period varies in "their occurence, intensity and chronology depending on what region of Britain, or indeed of europe, one examines". It takes place on the weekend of 9 and 10 June. The distribution of flints found from this period excludes areas of deep peat but this probably is a simple reflection of the fact that modern ploughing tends to bring them to the surface7. Prijava. In poor visibility, especially on the Teignhead section of this walk a map and compass is essential. Car Sharing - Please car share in your bubbles where possible. All the stones are quite small but they have recently been excavated by one of the Dartmoor volunteers so they are all quite visible. The lane follows the woods on your left and open farmland on your right until you reach a gateway leading out onto a tarmac lane. Flint tools found recently in Norfolk show that there were humans there around 900,000 years ago1. Summer like heat to freezing snow. The route goes up Sheeps Tor, and Down Tor, and then snakes it's way back through some wooded areas along Devonport Leat. It is 32m in diameter consisting of recumbent stones of a similiar size to those used in the Grey Wethers. Wray Valley Trail The path becomes more distinct as you pass Gidleigh Tor hidden amongst the trees up on your left. Lethbridge p14, diagram p13.Nearby sites: SX55647820, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Little Hound Tor Stone CircleOS Map: SX 63285 89611NMR record: SX 68 NW 2HER record: 4374Megalithic Portal: 528PMD: White Moor Stone CircleShort Name: SC White MoorTurner: G11DPD: 154Dimensions (m): 20.2Notes: The circle is in good condition today but only 13 stones remained standing when the Dartmoor Exploration Committee re-erected 5 of the stones in 1896. Prehistoric Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1974) 13As late as 1902 Robert Burnard complained bitterly in the Transactions of the Devonshire Association that under the provisions of the Highways Act of William IV the road builders had the legal right to utilise any surface stone to repair roads and he claimed that Dartmoor monuments were still suffering as a consequence and that they had no real legal protection. 12See for example; Worth, Petit, Gerrard, Butler, Newman The walls of this structure are huge, up to 4 metres in width and 2 metres in height, with an entrance made using large slabs. For a photo of this site, see: Megalithic Portal: Sherberton circle. 117 January 2014. White, Paul Ancient Dartmoor - An Introduction (Bossiney Books, 2000) 7Gerrard p. 26 There are also multiple stone circle groups in Cornwall such as the three stone circles known as The Hurlers on Bodmin. There are around 500014 'hut circles' on Dartmoor and it is estimated that the population on the moor would have been around 10,000 at its peak. The stone circle functioned as a burial chamber, although the cairn has since been robbed and the cist - burial chamber - destroyed. 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. This stone circle is one of Dartmoors finest: only thirty four stones remain of an original sixty five to seventy, and only twenty five of those are still standing. Teign Gorge Walk 7. from the northeast side and 0.3m high, is angled towards the circle and may be quite unassociated". My walk starts from the Pork Hill car park on the B3357, and heads for Staple Tor with its rock towers, then nearby Roos Tor and across a wild stretch of moorland to the Langstone Moor stone circle. Since the days of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee when hundreds of hut circles and other monuments were excavated in a decade or so of frantic activity only a few Dartmoor monuments have been excavated. 14Gerrard p.37 Hound Tor - An atmospheric Tor with the remains of a deserted Medieval Village called Hundatora close by and a number of Bronze age hut circles. Once you pass the end of the forest carry on up the hill and at the top of the hill you hill come across a cross roads in the path where the double stone comes up from your left and crosses your way. in a discussion about the rows on Shovel Down7. Gutter Tor 4. Both circles have 30 stones. CANCELLATION: The event will go ahead come rain or shine. Two cart tracks run right through the ring, making its appearance even more impressive. +44 (0) 7817 329584info@dartmoorsdaughter.comSign up to our newsletter here, Fungal Foray - Beginners (morning session). 2256 Meadow Oak Cir. In contrast the nearly complete Fernworthy circle consists of 27 stones averaging just over 0.5m in height with the largest being 1.1m tall. Once crossed a small detour downstream again will lead you to the ancient Teign-e-ver Clapper Bridge, bonded together with iron straps. (Devon Books, 1997) +44 (0) 7817 329584info@dartmoorsdaughter.comSign up to our newsletter here, Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher), The King Way Walk - Dartmoor Walking Festival. Now continue over the hill walking parallel with the edge of the forest on your left using one of the well-defined paths. The mild hospitable climate of the Bronze Age deteriorated after a few thousand years leaving these areas uninhabited and consequently relatively undisturbed to the present day. They often form part of a larger ceremonial complex that includes stone rows, burial chambers, and standing stones. . The circle is 26.8m (88 feet) across. Sale, Richard Dartmoor the Official National Park Guide (Pevensey Press, 2000) The circle was excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1897. Rising like lonesome watchtowers, these distinctive landmarks are the goal of popular walks. The examples of cairn circles mentioned here are those that have commonly been referred to as stone circles and represent the more substantial monuments, there are over 13012 cairns with retaining circles the vast majority of which are less than 10m in diameter (see Cairn Circles). In addition three pits were also dug; "the whole of these gave the same indications of charcoal - the remnants of fires of wood; in fact, fires seem to have been kindled all over the circle, for every scoop of the pick and shovel displayed charcoal.". 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. Breton, Hugh Beautiful Dartmoor And Its Interesting Antiquities (Forest Publishing, 1990) Near the idyllic village of Chagford, Fernworthy Reservoir is an archaeological jewel in the heart of Dartmoor National Park. 22Fyfe, Ralph M. & Greeves, Tom (2010) During the drought of August 2022 the stones were exposed again for the first time for years. Stringer, Chris Homo Britannicus - The Incredible Story of Human Life in Britain (Penguin, 2006) And sharing lessens our impact on the environment. Wistman's Wood Walk 2. 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". It would not be difficult to produce accurate circular structures with a peg and a rope yet only the Scorhill, Little Hound Tor and the two Grey Wethers circles are close to being exact circles, the others having the appearance of having been laid out roughly by eye. 2Burl (1976) p.20-1 01:42. Staldon stone row. This stone circle is one of Dartmoor's finest: only thirty four stones remain of an original sixty five to seventy, and only twenty five of those are still standing. Fyfe, Ralph M. & Greeves, Tom The date and context of a stone row: Cut Hill, Dartmoor, south-west England Antiquity Vol 84, No. Turn right down the lane towards Gidleigh. Fallen menhirs and ruined stone rows and circles were re-constructed with varying degrees of accuracy. Use the menu above or the walks bar on the right to navigate around the site. It is clear that many settlements were built long after nearby stone rows, for example the enclosures known as Erme Pound Rings were built with total disregard for the Hook Lake double stone row which is partially incorporated into one of the enclosure walls19. The moorland landscape we see today is a direct consequence of this period. We have found that circular walks are the most well-loved, so here we have a large number for you to choose from! Britain would have been uninhabited again during a further cold period known as the Loch Lomond Stadial which ended around 10,000 years ago4. 15Burnard (1894) pp. 3Gerrard p.24, Worth p359, see also NMR SX 66 NE 44 The stone rows and cairns probably came later and surround the site. In the 1970s a new dimension was added, with the recognition that the long-ignored reaves (ruined walls) are also prehistoric; Dartmoor now posed all sorts of questions about the . Parking is limited on Dartmoor. This site was excavated prior to being buried underneath the clay workings at Cholwich town. 63-4 (also picture of restored Langstone circle as frontispiece) The stone circles and many, if not most, of the stone rows would have been constructed long before this period of settlement. (2010). 17Baring-Gould Fifth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. 7Worth (1953) On Shoveldown see p. 221, on stone circles see pp.248-264 The dig did not find specific dating evidence for the stone circle but it appeared as part of a ceremonial complex of other monuments including a double stone row which appeared to lead to a large mound. Lethbridge pp.139-145, diagram p.139.Nearby sites: SX65838620, OS Map: SX 63017 82814NMR record: HER record: 110432Megalithic Portal: 35327PMD: Sittaford TorShort Name: SC SittafordDimensions (m): 34.0Notes: Discovered by Alan Endacott in 2007 as described in Devon Archaeological Society Newsletter No. Just a brief walk from the town square lay the moor . The Best Walks In Dartmoor National Park Covid19 Hikers' Tips 1. 5Butler (1997) p.146 These small sharp microliths were used in arrow heads and as cutting and boring tools to work bone, antlers and leather. However, it is thought that this stone row is atypical and the bulk of Dartmoor monuments date from the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. After the Church continue along the lane to a T junction where you turn left signposted to Scorhill and Creaber. Creaber moor gate in Gidleigh. Walk through an ancient and ritual landscape on Dartmoor. We need to retain contact details for 21 days post-walk so please include your contact details (email and mobile/telephone when booking/paying.). Many of the monumental sites on Dartmoor were partially or totally reconstructed by the Dartmoor Preservation Committee in the early twentieth century. Taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological . Finish Steps Bridge. 27-86 (1990) Through open moorland and wooded valleys, taking in wild swimming rivers, ancient stone circles and monuments. With small stones from the barely visible above the turf to only a little over 1 metre tall. No dating evidence was found but pollen analysis suggested the row and accompanying cairn circle had been built in a forest clearing.24, The exact purpose of stone circles remains unknown. A cairn lies close to the circle, a heather covered mound about 8.5m across. Dartmoor's Daughter: Dartmoor stone circles - See 335 traveler reviews, 164 candid photos, and great deals for Dartmoor National Park, UK, at Tripadvisor. There are stone rows and cairns close to the Fernworthy, Merrivale, Shovel Down and Tottiford circles. RISK: Walks and activities are at your own risk. Older children 16+ years are welcome if they have sufficient walking experience and fitness. Scorhill Circle is arguably the most impressive stone circle having the largest stones, one of which is over 8 feet in height. Route is dependent on weather conditions and group pace. The later Neolithic period sees the transition from the use of stone tools through to the age of widespread metal working, first the Bronze Age and then the Iron Age. In the West Country there are 25 stone circles in Cornwall, 17 in Devon (15 of these on Dartmoor), 5 or 6 in Somerset and 7 in Dorset4. All river crossings are over bridges. For a fascinating account, see: Walker, Jack Dartmoor Sun Halsgrove (2005) Dewerstone to Ivybridge on the Dartmoor Way. Default listing is by Site Name, click here to order instead by: Site Name, OS, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Brisworthy Stone CircleOS Map: SX 56467 65495NMR record: SX 56 NE 64HER record: 3983Megalithic Portal: 542PMD: Brisworthy Stone CircleShort Name: SC BrisworthyTurner: G8DPD: 35Barrow Report: 29 35 Dimensions (m): 24.0 x 27.0Notes: The Brisworthy circle underwent major reconstruction carried out by Breton and the Barrow Committee in 1909. This is discussed in detail in the article 'Dartmoor Site: Brisworthy Stone Circle' linked above in this listing. Walk back along the lane you have just come along for about 400 metres with views to your right of Kes Tor Rock and over the valley to your left to Scorhill Down which you will be walking over a little later on your walk. Thank you. 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). carried out excavations, the following are the most notable cases related to Dartmoor stone circles. The stone circles of the British Isles are thought to have an indigenous origin and date from around 2500 - 1300 B.C1. The remaining nine stones range in height from 0.3m to 0.75m. 8Burl p344-5 & Turner pp.80-2 Car Sharing - Please car share where possible. Ft. 150 Glendale Dr, Waukee, IA 50263. At the next T Junction at the grassy triangle turn left signposted to Creaber and Scorhill, passing Greenaway Farm on your left, continuing up the hill and ignoring the left junction to Creaber, but instead continuing up the hill in the Scorhill direction. Pre-war photos give a sense of how spectacular this site used to be. At the time only 4 stones remained standing whilst another 21 were lying roughly in place. Extract from the Second Report of the D.E.C. Payments are refunded (less the booking fee) for cancellations no less than six weeks before your walk or experience. The slight differences between the two circles could even be a result of the restoration. The original circle appears to have been c. 30m across, although no stones appear to the west of the old wall. 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. Dartmoor is covered in fascinating prehistoric sites, and the stone row at Merrivale is one of the finest in the National Park. Length: Choice of a 5-mile walks or a 10-mile walk Start point: Car park at Belstone Village Car Park SX621 938. The East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve and Bovey Valley holds many clues and can tell many stories about our ancestors' lives in the area. Lethbridge p.34-35. We will stop and spend time at each stone circle (as well as the Whitehorse Hill burial chamber of the Bronze Age Tin Priestess/Princess) for anywhere between 10-20 minutes each depending on our pace. Vol. The evidence of human activity on Dartmoor during the Mesolithic is from flint scatters around the moors, including finds on Runnage and Ringhill near Postbridge5, Langstone Moor, East Week, Batworthy and Gidleigh Common6. Newman, Phil The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage, 2011) (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. it's an English Heritage scheduled monument and also considered to be one of the most impressive stone circles on Dartmoor. 19Wessex Archaeology Time Team Report Appendix 2 Radiocarbon Report on Charred Hazelnut Shell p. 37 (2011) DISTANCE: 4.5 miles (medium difficulty) The circle is marked on Ordnance Survey . Reaves cover vast expanses and were very carefully planned and constructed. Down Ridge (Hexworthy) was partially excavated in 1904 with charcoal being found "strewn on the floor". It was actually discovered back in 2007 by Alan Endacott, but the hard work of unearthing the stones (by the Dartmoor Preservation Association volunteers) was carried out in April 2015. These early farmers are thought to have used wooden shelters and no evidence remains of their settlements. 16Baring-Gould, Fourth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. Parking is limited on Dartmoor. This is a memorial to the Dartmoor author, Harry Starkey. 14Bate (1872), see Report on the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor Once seen you ca then continue to Teignhead Farm further to the southwest.Teignhead Farm was established in 1780 and was occupied until 1943 when the War Office (now the Ministry of Defence) requisitioned the land. This path is clearly leading you up to Kestor Rock. Baring-Gould in his A Book of Dartmoor (pp.53-55) published in 1900 gives a catalogue of sites that had been severely robbed in living memory. This figure is often quoted by authors but it should be pointed out that Burl (1976) is including stone rings or cairn circles. Further coverage can be found on Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Prehistoric Langstone Moor. There are a number of monuments on Dartmoor that are often referred to by authors as stone circles but are not strictly categorised as stone circles. Take a look at the circular walks you can do here. Dartmoor National Park is in South West England in the county of Devon. Some of the sites on Dartmoor consist of settlements with nearby complexes of multiple monuments; Merrivale and Shovel Down complexes both have menhirs, stone rows and a stone circle and Drizzlecombe has impressive menhirs, stone rows and associated cairn circles. Some 15 stones out of 40 are missing, no doubt robbed for nearby enclosures and walls. Go through the gate and along the footpath through the gorse bushes. National Grid Reference: SX5329 7512. WHAT TO WEAR/BRING: Sturdy hiking boots with gaiters if you have them (there are two wet/boggy areas to walk through); plenty of warm layers including hat and gloves; waterproof jacket and trousers (whatever the forecast); drinks/hot flask, snacks, picnic lunch; and head torch.Dogs - By arrangement only please. The Grey Wethers were restored in 1909 by Burnard. SOLD FEB 16, 2023. An excavation trench was dug right across the circle and was found "strewn with small pieces of wood charcoal". There are many double and a few triple stone rows on Dartmoor. The tallest of the stones is over 8 feet high. 13For more on the Cut Hill stone row see Head back round Batworthy Corner to take a look at the Round Pound. A new walking route, Hisley Heritage Walk, has been designed to encourage people to become historians as they follow a five kilometre trail through Hisley Wood. 5Petit p.14 A micro-expedition of the very best of Dartmoor. Trees only remained in the lowland river valleys and peat bogs started to form probably as a direct consequence of this landscape manipulation by humans in the Mesolithic period11. 3 Baths. 26Butler (1997) p.146, Baring-Gould, S, A Book of Dartmoor, (1900), (Halsgrove reprint 2002) This home is currently off market - it last sold on December 12, 2002 for $410,000. Thank you. The churchyard is one of the few in Britain which has a stream running through it with a small bridge leading to a convenient seat, which has fine views of the nearby Gidleigh Castle ruins, on private land next to the Church. The generally accepted definition of a stone circle is a circle of stones thought to be a ritual site that does not include a cairn or burial. Later Neolithic farmers were more proficient in agriculture and started deliberately clearing large areas of forest for agricultural use.