If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Use Ordnance Survey Map of Dartmoor OL 28 1:25,000. 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". Start point: Shaugh Bridge. 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. 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. A further 12 recumbent stones lie where they have fallen." Vol. The remainder of the circles are fragmentary with many of the stones either fallen or long lost as is the case for the Mardon, Buttern Hill, Down Ridge, Sherberton and the Shovel Down circles. The stone circles of Dartmoor are parochial and small in character in contrast to the grand regional circles at Stanton Drew and Avesbury. If you cancel after the six weeks, we would advise you please try to resell/pass on your ticket and/or we can try to re-sell your ticket (we sometimes have a waitlist although there is no guarantee) we can then offer a credit note for the ticket price (minus the 1 booking fee and minus a 5 admin fee). This is discussed in detail in the article 'Dartmoor Site: Brisworthy Stone Circle' linked above in this listing. Whilst there is no indication of burials within the circles many of the circles are part of wider ceremonial complexes. At the bend you leave the tarmac lane and turn left into a footpath and over a stile. The circle is marked on Ordnance Survey . 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. For a photo, see Megalithic Portal: Shovel Down NW stone circle. Newman, Phil The Field Archaeology of Dartmoor (English Heritage, 2011) - The Second Millennium B.C. Some cairn circles are found terminating stone rows, good examples being those found at Down Tor and the 2 mile long double stone row on the Erme plain. The Dartmoor stone circles are mostly of a similar local character and do not include characteristics such as central pillars found in some of the circles in Cornwall such as Boscawen-Un. This would suggest Dartmoor was first exploited by humans in the Lower Palaeolithic although the evidence is weak. The stone circle stands near the confluence of the North Teign River with its tributary the Wallabrook. In the case of Shovel Down the excavation of the nearby Roundy Pound showed evidence of iron working and the extensive reave and field system in the area between Shovel Down and Kestor would suggest the area was occupied during the late Bronze Age and through to the Iron Age.21, Whilst specific dating evidence of Dartmoor Stone Circles is lacking there is evidence from other archaeological excavations which might throw some light on the context of the stone circles. 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. 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. Two cart tracks run right through the ring, making its appearance even more impressive. A further six recumbent stones lie where they have fallen. Source: Merrivale circle was excavated in 1871 by Spence Bate. Inside the pound are the remains of several walls connecting between the central hut and the outer wall. It is 32m in diameter consisting of recumbent stones of a similiar size to those used in the Grey Wethers. 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. SITES OF INTEREST: Mardon Down Stone Circle & Cairns PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Exeter to Moretonhampstead via Dunsford (Country Bus 359) runs Monday to Saturday. The Scorhill and Grey Wethers stone circles are some of the best preserved examples. Dartmoor sits upon a granite plateau, and occasionally bare granite "peaks" (called tors) break through the heather. They often form part of a larger ceremonial complex that includes stone rows, burial chambers, and standing stones. The first humans came out of Africa 2 million years ago. Today the circle is fairly dilapidated. After leaving the settlements continue south westerly to the wall leading down from Fernworthy Forest and cross it at one of the numerous gates or stiles, and carry on to the end of the forest on your left where you can see the small copse of trees at Teignhead Farm. 18Breton (1990) Part 1, pp.51-2 FEE: 25 per adult including taxi/minibus back to start point. 20Gerrard p.25, Baring-Gould, S A Book of Dartmoor (Halsgrove, 2002) 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). 23Jones, Marchand, Sheridan, Straker, Quinnell (April 2012) Just a brief walk from the town square lay the moor . 18See, Emmett, D.D., Stone rows: the traditional view reconsidered, D.A.S.P. 63-4 (also picture of restored Langstone circle as frontispiece) Todd, Malcolm The South West to AD 1000 (Longman, 1987) Basic route: (Blue route: 10-mile route) Into the valley of the River Taw following the river upstream to Hangingstone Hill and return along the Oke Tor to Belstone Tor ridge. Walk: Belstone, Dartmoor | Countryfile.com 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. It is possible that these stones constitute the remains of a stone circle however, no such feature is noted in the antiquarian records so it must remain a doubtful site". 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. Breton, Hugh Beautiful Dartmoor And Its Interesting Antiquities (Forest Publishing, 1990) Gerrard suggests Brisworthy stone circle could possibly be a ring cairn as a "low rubble bank, some 2.5m (8ft 2in) wide surrounds 75 per cent of the circumference"9 although Butler suggests this is probably a later feature.10, There is a possibility according to the investigations of the Dartmoor Exploration Committee that the Merrivale and Langstone Moor stone circles originally consisted of two concentric circles. 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. Petit (1974) refers to 12 circles (his list presumably excluding Shovel Down & Mardon). Dartmoor has long been known for the richness of its prehistoric heritage; stone circles, hut circles, massive burial cairns, and stone rows all pepper the landscape. 1014 Dartmoor Pl. 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". This excludes the numerous cairn circles and hut circles on Dartmoor. 2256 Meadow Oak Cir. 94-114 (1979) Payments are refunded (less the booking fee) for cancellations no less than six weeks before your walk or experience. Park in the carpark opposite Belstone Village Hall - marked 'P' on the OS map at SX621938. It was discovered in 2009 when reservoir levels were very low and excavated in 2010 by the Time Team. Teign Gorge Walk 7. They are not for astronomical observation. 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. Sorry we know it seems onerous but, given current government guidelines,these are currently being proposed by all guides.). These are thought to mostly date from the Bronze Age although it is thought that some could be late Neolithic or built on earlier Neolithic sites. Grimspound | English Heritage 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. 1 (1872) A deserted Scorhill stone circle on - Dartmoor Magazine - Facebook In Devon the earliest known site used by these people is at Kent's Cavern in Torquay. 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. At the time only 9 stones remained standing in the north circle and 7 in the south circle. Dartmoor is home to an impressive number of stone circles and rows. Wistman's Wood Walk 2. Sit by the open fire and enjoy some renowned Dartmoor . IV (1894), (2010, Kessinger Publishing reprint) DNP Post 3D.Nearby sites: SX65498413, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Grey Wethers Double Stone CircleOS Map: SX 63875 83161NMR record: SX 68 SW 1HER record: 6758Megalithic Portal: 532PMD: Grey Wethers Stone CirclesShort Name: SC Grey Weth NTurner: G4DPD: 134Dimensions (m): 31.5Nearby sites: SX63888316, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Grey Wethers Double Stone CircleOS Map: SX 63874 83121NMR record: SX 68 SW 1HER record: 6759Megalithic Portal: 532PMD: Grey Wethers Stone CirclesShort Name: SC Grey Weth STurner: G2DPD: 134Dimensions (m): 33.0Notes: This site is one of the most impressive on Dartmoor. It would seem that most major prehistoric settlements on Dartmoor would have had their own monuments just as most villages in the historic period would have a local church, a centre for religious, ceremonial and social gatherings.
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