Belstone is an attractive village on the northern fringe of Dartmoor National Park. Source: In some areas such as Gidleigh8 and Batworthy9 large numbers of flints have been found which range from the Mesolithic through the Neolithic on to the Bronze Age which shows that these locations were in use for millennia. 16See: Dartmoor tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists The circle consists of 23 granite slabs up to 2.5m high with a further 11 recumbent stones. No. 6Butler (1997) p.154 SITES OF INTEREST: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Dunsford (Country Bus 359) runs Monday to Saturday. Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Prehistoric Langstone Moor, Little Hound Tor (or White Moor) Stone Circle, Dartmoor Site: Little Hound Tor Stone Circle, Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Bronze Age Landscape of Whitmoor, Dartmoor Site: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns, Dartmoor Site: Merrivale Ceremonial Complex [Photo Set 2], Legendary Dartmoor: Merrivale Ceremonial Complex, Legendary Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle, Dartmoor Site: Shovel Down Ceremonial Complex, Megalithic Portal: Shovel Down NW stone circle, Megalithic Portal: Sourton Tors Stone Circle. Sites such as the Nine Maidens site on Belstone common are considered to be cairn circles rather than stone circles. Length: Choice of a 5-mile walks or a 10-mile walk Start point: Car park at Belstone Village Car Park SX621 938. Dartmoor is covered in fascinating prehistoric sites, and the stone row at Merrivale is one of the finest in the National Park. 23Jones, Marchand, Sheridan, Straker, Quinnell (April 2012) Distance 10km. This path is clearly leading you up to Kestor Rock. On your right there is a gateway into a field, one of the gateposts is a good example of the old five bar gateways with an upside down L socketed granite post to take the bars from the opposite gatepost prior to the introduction of the modern fivebar gates. The Stone Age is seen as spanning the Palaeolithic, the Mesolithic and the early Neolithic periods. Older children 16+ years are welcome if they have sufficient walking experience and fitness. Parking is limited on Dartmoor. 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". Dewerstone to Ivybridge on the Dartmoor Way. The excavations at Fernworthy, Grey Wethers and Merrivale all produced evidence of substantial fires at the sites. Thank you. Prijava. Ancient Stone Row From the stone circle continue to walk uphill you will come to the first double stone row. Car Sharing - Please car share in your bubbles where possible. 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. Inside the pound are the remains of several walls connecting between the central hut and the outer wall. KOA ST AND MARIGOLD AVE (0.5 mi) . The 8 stone circles form an approximate arc so, taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological approach, we will journey together - sometimes in silence and sometimes sharing our experiences - through this wild and beautiful landscape asking questions of the ancestors, stones, and land along the way. 29 pp.145-65 (1897) 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. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. 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. $300,000 Last Sold Price. 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. 18Breton (1990) Part 1, pp.51-2 The circle is 26.8m (88 feet) across. Includes meditations, chanting and dowsing, silent walking, and an evening event to see the sunset. This row runs due east-west and is about 260 metres long. Brisworthy was excavated and underwent major reconstruction carried out by Breton and the Barrow Committee in 1909. The circle is marked on Ordnance Survey . There are two massive megaliths one of which is on the north-western part of the circle. apart and from 0.3m. It has a hole through it, eroded by the force of the river. 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. 4 Beds. Use Ordnance Survey Map of Dartmoor OL 28 1:25,000. 1 (1872) The route from the farm is an easy track back north east to the magnificent Teignhead Clapper Bridge and your way takes you back diagonally across the slope to go through the wall that you crossed earlier leading from the forest down to Manga Clapper Bridge. - The Second Millennium B.C. Park in the carpark opposite Belstone Village Hall - marked 'P' on the OS map at SX621938. Around 1700BC there was a major influx of settlers into Dartmoor. Marked with a Blue P on the OS map, this is on B3357 opposite Cox Tor and between Moorshop and Merrivale. Dartmoor National Park Authority A Guide to the Archaeology of Dartmoor (Matthews-Wright Press, 1978) 13For more on the Cut Hill stone row see This will lead you up to the impressive double stone rows on the hillside. So, taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological approach, we will journey together (sometimes in silence and sometimes sharing our experiences) through this wild and beautiful landscape asking questions of the ancestors, stones, and land along the way. 14Bate (1872), see Report on the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor Apparently "wether" is an old English name for sheep and legend has it that a drunken farmer leaving the Warren House Inn was persuaded that the Grey Wethers were a desirable flock for sale! Buy Searching For Stone Circles: On Dartmoor (North) by B, Miss Helen Louise (ISBN: 9798576157488) from Amazon's Book Store. Newman, Phil The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage, 2011) Perfect. 4Newman p.24 The Mesolithic is the period between the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic or "new" Stone Age. 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. Fascinating Fact: Widecombe-in-the-Moor was a location used during the filming of Steven Spielberg's epic war drama War Horse. Route is dependent on weather conditions and group pace. There are many great guides to walking on Dartmoor, many include descriptions of these sites, but it is difficult to find guides specifically for those wanting to visit these sites. At the bend you leave the tarmac lane and turn left into a footpath and over a stile. The site would have been impressive in its day and is one of the only ones sited on the top of high ground and has a fine view of the surrounding area. Tap/mouse over a coloured circle (1-3 easy walks, 4-6 moderate walks, 7-9 hard walks) and click to select. . Welcome to Dartmoor walks Get to know Dartmoor's towns and villages and learn about the landscape and rich history of the surrounding areas with this series of introductory walking routes.. It consists of a large internal hut circle about 12metres in diameter with an oval shaped pound around the outside. Continue to Round Pound at SX 664 868 on your left.Round Pound is so impressively built that even the local road has been built in a curve around the outside. 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. Sorry we know it seems onerous but, given current government guidelines,these are currently being proposed by all guides.). All that remains is to continue into Belstone village and return to the car . See The Disappearing Stone Monuments of Dartmoor T.D.A. 7Gerrard p. 26 It's a double stone row separated by a leat which is 263 metres long. Car Sharing - Please car share where possible. The charcoal deposits in the soil of this period provide evidence that Dartmoor was deforested due to fire. 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. Carry on down the other side of the hill along the wide grassy path until you reach a small bridge over a leat. 26Butler (1997) p.146, Baring-Gould, S, A Book of Dartmoor, (1900), (Halsgrove reprint 2002) Older children 16+ years are welcome if they have sufficient walking experience and fitness. Six stones remain upright and another 16 lie roughly in place. 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. 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. 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. These areas would rapidly become infertile and would be abandoned to re-grow. 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). Walker, Jack Dartmoor Sun (Halsgrove, 2005) Korisniko ime: . Through open moorland and wooded valleys, taking in wild swimming rivers, ancient stone circles and monuments. 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.". 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. 29 pp.145-65 (1897) Scorhill Circle is arguably the most impressive stone circle having the largest stones, one of which is over 8 feet in height. Once you have left the bridge continue to the large footpath ahead and turn right with Holly trees and Rhododendrons lining the way. I have never before, in my long and eclectic career, been gifted with such an abundance of natural beauty as I experienced filming War Horse on Dartmoor.Steven Spielberg. There are theories that they have an astronomical connection but the evidence to support this is lacking, indeed most of the circles are, much like most of the stone rows, only very roughly constructed. The walk is divided into six stages and is signed en route, apart from on the moorland itself, where the tramway is still visible and therefore self-evident. Fernworthy was excavated in 1897. You could then either go down to Chagford (and get the bus back to exeter) or carry on further. It is about 1km from the Grey Wethers which are to the ENE. A number of Mesolithic flints were found and a burnt hazelnut shell which was carbon dated to the very late Mesolithic (calibrated date was 4590-4450 cal. (Devon Books, 1997) Once you have reached the point where a second stone row joins the main row your turn westwards and across the open Shovel Down to take a look at the extensive ruins of the mediaeval settlement remains. This is a memorial to the Dartmoor author, Harry Starkey. 15Burnard (1894) pp. Many of the stone rows on Dartmoor lead to a cairn circle and not all of these obviously include a cairn, again these are not considered to be proper stone circles. At a point opposite the end of the plantation is found the Tolmen Stone. 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. Extract from the Second Report of the D.E.C. 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. The path takes you down hill into the woods and continues downhill left at another signpost to the North Teign River, which you cross by way of a wooden footbridge SX671 875. Many appear to have been located to give the most impressive vista on approach, the Buttern Hill circle would have been silhouetted on the skyline when approached from the south, on the other hand the Little Hound Tor circle when approached from the west only comes to view at a distance of 100m. The best known of many prehistoric settlements on Dartmoor, Grimspound dates from the late Bronze Age (about 1450-700 BC). 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. Also there is useful coverage on the Legendary Dartmoor website, see: The Legendary Cut Hill of Dartmoor Browse the best walks in Dartmoor and see interactive maps of the top 20 hiking trails and routes. No. Walk out of Belstone village on the western side, go through the gate and out on to the moor, then make your way towards Belstone Tor. 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. The first humans came out of Africa 2 million years ago. 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. 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. The Sourton Tors circle consists of 32 stones all but 6 of which remain were they have fallen. The Best Walks In Dartmoor National Park Covid19 Hikers' Tips 1. Just a brief walk from the town square lay the moor . Breton, Hugh Beautiful Dartmoor And Its Interesting Antiquities (Forest Publishing, 1990) . 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. This is a g. No liability accepted for accidents or incidents. FEE: 25 per adult including taxi/minibus back to start point. 3Gerrard p.24, Worth p359, see also NMR SX 66 NE 44 These settlers were responsible for the remarkable construction of the widespread and systematic field boundaries known as reaves. Circle consists of 30 recumbent stones and has a diameter of 32m. It is 20m in diameter and consists of 27 small stones. I'm not kidding when I say I experienced all the seasons during the hike to these stones. Mardon Down. The existence of groups of circles adds intrigue to the unknown purpose of stone circles. Behind you are fine views away to east Devon. Newman (2011) refers to 12 circles with "some other doubtful examples" (presumably Shovel Down being considered a doubtful circle). In 2004 a previously unknown stone row was found on the remote Cut Hill, approximately 4km west of the Grey Wethers. around 8000 BC). Nearer is the narrow fir plantation leading down into the valley of the North Teign River, the trees leading right down to the location of the Tolmen Stone which is on our route shortly. 10Butler (1997) p.145 Walk alongside the Beadon Brook valley and take in the tranquility of the stream-side woodland. A cairn lies close to the circle, a heather covered mound about 8.5m across. By continuing to use the site, you agree to cookies being used. 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. CANCELLATION: The event will go ahead come rain or shine. (The walk will finish approximately 5.00pm and lifts/taxis/minibus will be organised to take us back to the start point for approximately 5.30pm). Likewise at Hurston ridge the stone row is similarly partially incorporated into an enclosed settlement20. At the top of the hill you can see Fernworthy Forest ahead of you and to the right of the forest is the small group of trees at Teignhead Farm. 117 January 2014. 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. Rising like lonesome watchtowers, these distinctive landmarks are the goal of popular walks. The Neolithic famers were more permanently settled than their Mesolithic predecessors. The slight differences between the two circles could even be a result of the restoration. The early Stone Age hunter-gather period, the Palaeolithic, encompasses around 99% of human history. 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. 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. The other notable excavation was of the Cholwich town stone row and cairn circle carried out in 1964 by George Eogan. Popular Dartmoor circular walks include the wonderful climb to High Willhays, the highest point in the national park. WHAT TO WEAR/BRING: Sturdy walking boots; warm layers; sunscreen; waterproof jacket and trousers (whatever the forecast); walking poles if you have them;drink/flask and snacks and picnic lunch. Vol. 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. Pettit, Paul. It was discovered in 2009 when reservoir levels were very low and excavated in 2010 by the Time Team. 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. Leave nothing of value in your vehicle to tempt any opportunist thieves. 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. The description of the route promises to . For a photo, see Megalithic Portal: Shovel Down NW stone circle. The debris of the former stones remain in place. . Save. (Red route: 5-mile deviation) By turning off early and going straight to Oke Tor, returning the same way . These early farmers are thought to have used wooden shelters and no evidence remains of their settlements. 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. . CANCELLATION: The event will go ahead come rain or shine. We have found that circular walks are the most well-loved, so here we have a large number for you to choose from! 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. Park at Batworthy Corner by the bridge to Batworthy Farm taking care not to obstruct the turning circle for the local school bus. Later Neolithic farmers were more proficient in agriculture and started deliberately clearing large areas of forest for agricultural use. Older children 16+ years are welcome if they have sufficient walking experience and fitness. The remains of 24 stone roundhouses survive here, within a massive boundary wall about 150 metres in diameter. Finish Steps Bridge. 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. Vol 34 pp.116-7 (1902) This stone appears to have been removed from the original circumference, and its height is 1.4m. The two close-set NE stones display smaller packing stones in the erosion hollows at their bases. Fox, A Excavations at KestorT.D.A Vol. The gate is locked but there is a stile here and as you climb it you will see, ahead of you over the fields, the tower of Gidleigh Church. Find popular and cheap hotels near Fernworthy Stone Circle in Dartmoor Forest with real guest reviews and ratings. 1 min walk (0.1 mi) POINCIANA CIRCULATOR. The archaeologists define stone circles as being sites which do not contain burials and as such are thought to be purely ritual monuments. 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. Karin Murray-Bergquist. Route includes part of the Tarka Trail, ancient monuments & granite tors. Nearest public toilets are Princetown Visitors Centre. Gerrard (1997) states there are 18 circles which is 4 more than Butler although he includes the 4-fold cairn circles at Yellowmead and Shoveldown and two other smaller circles which presumably would now be considered to be cairn circles. 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. If you have a cold, flu, cough, temperature or are diagnosed with COVID-19 please do not join the walk. Start point: Shaugh Bridge. The stone circle measures 24.8 metres in diameter and is denoted by five upright granite slabs standing up to 0.76 metres high. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. A further six 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. Published April 4, 2022. At the time only 4 stones remained standing whilst another 21 were lying roughly in place. The exact purpose of these prehistoric monuments is unknown. 19Wessex Archaeology Time Team Report Appendix 2 Radiocarbon Report on Charred Hazelnut Shell p. 37 (2011) The Scorhill, Brisworthy circles are located near rivers but others such as the Mardon circle are nowhere near a river. During the ice ages the region became unpopulated. Alternative parking is sometimes available further back the road towards round pound at SX663 867 when the boulders blocking the seasonal car park are removed and the ground is hard. Worth, R.H. Worth's Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1971), For a more comprehensive listing of books on Dartmoor including links to versions available online see Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks Resource: Books, First humans arrived in Britain 250,000 years earlier than thought, Guardian: Humans ventured as far as Torquay more than 40,000 years ago, Nature: The earliest evidence for anatomically modern humans in northwestern Europe, Telegraph: Ancient stones older than Stonehenge discovered on Dartmoor, BBC: Stone row sheds new light on Dartmoor prehistoric life, Dartmoor tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks Resource: Books, Ringmoor, Brisworthy Circle and Legis Pound. A six-mile walking route to the summit of White Tor in Dartmoor National Park. 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. They often form part of a larger ceremonial complex that includes stone rows, burial chambers, and standing stones. Worth (1953) lists 11 circles but this was prior to the discovery of the Sourton Tors circle in 1966 and does not include Mardon (perhaps not considered on the moor) or Shovel Down although he does refer to it as a "stone circle?" In size it compares with the circles of the Grey Wethers and Scorhill". it's an English Heritage scheduled monument and also considered to be one of the most impressive stone circles on Dartmoor. in a discussion about the rows on Shovel Down7. 14Gerrard p.37 Baring-Gould, Sabine, Fourth Report of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee, T.D.A. Dartmoor Walk- Sheeps Tor, Down Tor, and a Pixie House Adventure. At the end of the plantation turn left and only a few hundred yards will bring you to Batworthy Corner and your vehicle. Taking an archaeological as well as phenomenological . Before the restoration only 4 stones remained standing, a limited excavation found evidence of charcoal. Payments are refunded (less the booking fee) for cancellations no less than six weeks before your walk or experience. Once over the bridge you enter an oak wood where many of the trees have ferns growing out of their boughs. Rainbird, Paul A Guide to the Archaeology of South Devon (Three Barrows Books, 2010) Mesolithic tools are very distinctive consisting of much smaller flint tools than found during the Palaeolithic.