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 is reputed that any adult who passed through the hole would be cured of rheumatism. In Devon the earliest known site used by these people is at Kent's Cavern in Torquay. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. LEVEL: Strenuous. Great for any fitness level. The Best Walks In Dartmoor National Park Covid19 Hikers' Tips 1. 15The precise date range for the Neolithic period varies according to different authors. National Grid Reference: SX5329 7512. There are taller stones at each end. In fact a sketch of the Shovel Down rows made by Wilkinson in 1860 marks and illustrates "stones" at the location of the stone circle. This gateway affords panoramic views across the valley to Kestor Rock. Diagram p.34 site 1.Nearby sites: SX56476550, OS Map: SX 64949 88481NMR record: SX 68 NW 11HER record: 4371Megalithic Portal: 724PMD: Buttern Hill Stone CircleShort Name: SC ButternHillTurner: G7DPD: 147Dimensions (m): 24.8Notes: NNE of Scorhill about 2Km. Three of the stones are of post type and eight are upright slabs. Sacred Crescent Walk - 8 Stone Circles to celebrate Summer Solstice Dartmoor's Daughter - Walks & Nature Connection Experiences on Dartmoor, Devon We use cookies to help us improve, promote, and protect our services. It would seem that most of the circles are located on unenclosed open land near the boundaries of settlements. Haytor is the most famous of these rocks. Dartmoor's Daughter: Dartmoor stone circles - See 335 traveler reviews, 164 candid photos, and great deals for Dartmoor National Park, UK, at Tripadvisor. Crossing, William Guide to Dartmoor (Peninsula Press, 2001) Moretonhampstead 1: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns ROUTE: Short walk. These early farmers are thought to have used wooden shelters and no evidence remains of their settlements. Mardon Down. The remains of 24 stone roundhouses survive here, within a massive boundary wall about 150 metres in diameter. Once through the wall carry on with the forest on your right side along the wide well defined bridle path running parallel with the forest but a hundred yards from it. Now continue over the hill walking parallel with the edge of the forest on your left using one of the well-defined paths. There are also multiple stone circle groups in Cornwall such as the three stone circles known as The Hurlers on Bodmin. Our circular route includes majestic tors with 360 degree views of moor and ocean, the ruins of a Bronze Age settlement, ancient stone row and burial chambers. Langstone circle was another impressive restored site until it was badly damaged by troops stationed nearby who used it for target practise during the Second World War. Hazel, oak and elm appear in the pollen record and by 7000 BC most of Dartmoor is wooded up to tree line at around 1500ft (460 metres) 10 and remained relatively undisturbed woodland until about 5000 BC. We need to retain contact details for 21 days post-walk so please include your contact details (email and mobile/telephone when booking/paying.). Worth, R.H. Worth's Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1971), Wessex Archaeology Time Team Report: Tottiford Reservoir, Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results. Park in the carpark opposite Belstone Village Hall - marked 'P' on the OS map at SX621938. Sites such as the Nine Maidens site on Belstone common are considered to be cairn circles rather than stone circles. It's believed that there may have been around 40 stones here once, but now only 16 remain. 4Newman p.24 During the ice ages the region became unpopulated. 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. Tough Dartmoor walk that needs careful navigation. The charcoal deposits in the soil of this period provide evidence that Dartmoor was deforested due to fire. 63-4 (also picture of restored Langstone circle as frontispiece) 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. Clifford Bridge. Some of the cairn circles have multiple circles, the best examples being the four-fold cairn circles at Yellowmead and Shovel Down. 5Petit p.14 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. 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. Dartmoor National Park is in South West England in the county of Devon. Through open moorland and wooded valleys, taking in wild swimming rivers, ancient stone circles and monuments. 14Gerrard p.37 Join us for a stunning walk to Langstone Moor stone circle. An excavation trench was dug right across the circle and was found "strewn with small pieces of wood charcoal". By continuing to use the site, you agree to cookies being used. $300,000 Last Sold Price. Dewerstone Rock from the opposite valley on the Dartmoor Way. Belstone is an attractive village on the northern fringe of Dartmoor National Park. 6.20 km. Car Sharing - Please car share where possible. See The Disappearing Stone Monuments of Dartmoor T.D.A. 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. (1964) Fascinating Fact: Widecombe-in-the-Moor was a location used during the filming of Steven Spielberg's epic war drama War Horse. 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". 4 Beds. 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. high. There are two massive megaliths one of which is on the north-western part of the circle. Just a brief walk from the town square lay the moor . A further 12 recumbent stones lie where they have fallen." The Legend of Grey Wethers On the south eastern slopes of Sittaford Tor, are two broken stone circles formed of thirty rough blocks of granite. Both circles have 30 stones. Butler suggests that they are "apparently in a planned configuration".5. It is located in Kissimmee. 3Burl (1976) (p.8, 11) states that there are over 900 stone circles. 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. 1 min walk (0.1 mi) POINCIANA CIRCULATOR. 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.". On Dartmoor there are over 60 known stone rows, but the most impressive examples are also the most inaccessible. Sleepy spot on the edge of Dartmoor. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. 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). And sharing lessens our impact on the environment. 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. The precise definition of which monuments are included as stone circles has changed over the years resulting in different numbers of circles being stated by different authorities. Newman (2011) refers to 12 circles with "some other doubtful examples" (presumably Shovel Down being considered a doubtful circle). There are around seventy six known stone rows and fourteen stone circles on Dartmoor and there are numerous menhirs or standing stones. It is thought that the earliest Mesolithic farmers used slash and burn to create temporary clearings for hunting deer and for raising crops. FEE: 35 per adult including a coffee and pastry for breakfast to encourage an early start! 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. 3.7 km/h. I'm not kidding when I say I experienced all the seasons during the hike to these stones. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. For a photo of this site, see: Megalithic Portal: Buttern E - Stone CircleNearby sites: SX64958848, OS Map: SX 65516 72084NMR record: SX 67 SE 64HER record: 6400Megalithic Portal: 863PMD: Down Ridge Stone CircleShort Name: SC DownRidgeTurner: G9DPD: 92Dimensions (m): 25.0Notes: Also known as Hexworthy Circle. 18Breton (1990) Part 1, pp.51-2 Curiously the stones of Fernworthy appear to be graded by height with the taller stones in the south of the circle. The Dartmoor Way is a new 108-mile hiking route that circumnavigates Dartmoor, just within the edges of the national park. The Grey Wethers were restored in 1909 by Burnard. See also Legendary Dartmoor: Merrivale Ceremonial Complex. 5727 Dartmoor Cir is a 2,136 square foot house on a 7,560 square foot lot with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. For a photo of this site, see: Megalithic Portal: Sherberton circle. Older children 16+ years are welcome if they have sufficient walking experience and fitness. Rowe, Samuel A Perambulation of Dartmoor (Devon Books, 1985) The tallest of the stones is over 8 feet high.