With such lack of precision in their construction it would seem most unlikely that they had an astronomical purpose. It cannot be proved that these fires were caused by these early farmers but it would seem most likely. Newman (2011) refers to 12 circles with "some other doubtful examples" (presumably Shovel Down being considered a doubtful circle). The charcoal deposits in the soil of this period provide evidence that Dartmoor was deforested due to fire. And sharing lessens our impact on the environment. There are 15 (known) stone circles on Dartmoor, and several other possibilities that are currently being investigated. Butler suggests that they are "apparently in a planned configuration".5. 6km (3.7m) moderately easy; some rocky sections. 22Fyfe, Ralph M. & Greeves, Tom (2010) . Just a brief walk from the town square lay the moor . Wray Valley Trail Approximately 14 miles/23 km through hilly moorland terrain. Continue up the steep hill passing a house on the right. These rows are typically between 100m and 200m in length. Crossing, William Guide to Dartmoor (Peninsula Press, 2001) 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. Pub Stop: Converted into a tavern in 1832 and named in honour of a local logan stone, The Rugglestone Inn is the perfect journey's end for a weary wayfarer. The Nine Stones. Nearest public toilets are Princetown Visitors Centre. It was discovered in 2009 when reservoir levels were very low and excavated in 2010 by the Time Team. Turner, J.R., Ring Cairns, stone circles and related monuments on Dartmoor, D.A.S.P. LEVEL: Strenuous. 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. 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. This site was excavated prior to being buried underneath the clay workings at Cholwich town. measured from northeast to southwest and 18.0m from northwest to southeast. 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. 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. . There are great views of the site from Hookney Tor and the high ground on Hameldown. After signing off a boat in Dartmouth, they would trek across the peninsula to sign on with another boat at Bideford. MARIGOLD AVE AND STEPPING STONE BLVD. Click here to view our full cancellation Policy. The stone circle measures 24.8 metres in diameter and is denoted by five upright granite slabs standing up to 0.76 metres high. 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. 15The precise date range for the Neolithic period varies according to different authors. 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. The site is a fairly accurate circle of circumference 20.2m. These are thought to have been used as places of ritual or burial, and the largest of these is the Bronze Age stone circle at Merrivale. The excavations at Fernworthy, Grey Wethers and Merrivale all produced evidence of substantial fires at the sites. In spite of reckless drivers and narrow hedgerows, I had made it to Chagford and breathed a sigh of relief to see the open country before me. A low rubble bank surrounds the circle which can be seen on LIDAR data. Now continue over the hill walking parallel with the edge of the forest on your left using one of the well-defined paths. 9Gerrard (1997) p.61 It gave way after the last ice age, around 12 thousand years ago, to a gradual move towards farming - the Mesolithic or middle stone age period. The best known of many prehistoric settlements on Dartmoor, Grimspound dates from the late Bronze Age (about 1450-700 BC). 2Burl (1976) p.20-1 In Devon the earliest known site used by these people is at Kent's Cavern in Torquay. "situated on a gentle north facing slope overlooking the valley of the River Dart. The Nine Stones are often referred to as a stone circle, but in truth, they're really the remains of a burial cairn. Click here for more information on cookies and our Privacy Notice. Around 1 million years ago Britain was connected to the continent and the first humans arrived in Britain. Kljune besede: Summit Or Nothing, hiking on dartmoor, cosdon beacon, dartmoor antiquities, ancient dartmoor, prehistoric antiquities, stone circles, dartmoor stone circles, hiking viideos, dartmoor stone rows, hound tor, lockdown walk, summit or nothing, little hound tor, lixada titanium, titanium cup, lixada pocket stove, hiking gear 2020, dartmoor walks, walking on dartmoor, hiking gear . Pre-war photos give a sense of how spectacular this site used to be. 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. The circle is not the largest in terms of diameter but it is the most striking circle on Dartmoor with some of the largest standing stones. The exact purpose of these prehistoric monuments is unknown. Grey Wethers had a partial excavation in 1898 which uncovered remains of charcoal. Sit by the open fire and enjoy some renowned Dartmoor . 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. 10White p. 4 Sacred Crescent Walk - 8 Stone Circles in a day Dartmoor's Daughter - Walks & Nature Connection Experiences on Dartmoor, Devon We use cookies to help us improve, promote, and protect our services. Without a doubt the most impressive stone circle on Dartmoor. 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. Wistman's Wood Walk 2. It takes place on the weekend of 9 and 10 June. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. Dartmoor sits upon a granite plateau, and occasionally bare granite "peaks" (called tors) break through the heather. The Merrivale circle consists of 11 stones which are smaller than those at Fernworthy. Anthropologists and archaeologists use a number of terms to describe periods. An associated outlying standing stone is located 85 meters south-east of the stone circle and survives as a triangular shaped block up to 0.86 meters high." Petit (1974) refers to 12 circles (his list presumably excluding Shovel Down & Mardon). This will lead you up to the impressive double stone rows on the hillside. You could then either go down to Chagford (and get the bus back to exeter) or carry on further. Rising like lonesome watchtowers, these distinctive landmarks are the goal of popular walks. 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?" If a child with Whooping Cough passed through the stone a cure would also be found. 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. Thank you. 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. As soon as you enter the trees the path takes you up and slightly to the right past a large moss covered rock. It is 20m in diameter and consists of 27 small stones. 1014 Dartmoor Pl is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. 3 Baths. forestry walk, hiking, walking on dartmoor, walks on dartmoor, walks with dogs, summit or nothing, hiking routes dartmoor, dartmoor stone circles, dartmoor hiking, hiking uk, Dartmoor hike, walks on dartmoor . A micro-expedition of the very best of Dartmoor. Dartmoor stone circles range in size from less than 20 metres to almost 40 metres diameter. 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. Sale, Richard Dartmoor the Official National Park Guide (Pevensey Press, 2000) Thanks to Simon Dell of Moorland Guides for this walk. 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. 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. These prehistoric stone circles form an approximate arc. A recently discovered stone row on Cut Hill has been found to be embedded in peat that has been accurately carbon dated to 3500 BC, around a 1000 years before Stonehenge13. The circle is marked on Ordnance Survey . Karin Murray-Bergquist. 7Gerrard p. 26 The walks featured are all based on the use of public transport, see Guide to Public Transport. The Nine Maidens Stone Circle. Summer like heat to freezing snow. 25The most convincing evidence for an astronomical alignment at a Dartmoor stone row is at Down Tor (Hingstone Hill). 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. 1 (1872) Browse the best walks in Dartmoor and see interactive maps of the top 20 hiking trails and routes. $300,000 Last Sold Price. It is about 1km from the Grey Wethers which are to the ENE. Ancient Stone Row From the stone circle continue to walk uphill you will come to the first double stone row. Park at Batworthy Corner by the bridge to Batworthy Farm taking care not to obstruct the turning circle for the local school bus. These are great books for anyone who enjoys a good walk, Dartmoor is one of the last wild places in the UK, and I highly recommend these books for anyone who . These settlers were responsible for the remarkable construction of the widespread and systematic field boundaries known as reaves. Brisworthy was excavated and underwent major reconstruction carried out by Breton and the Barrow Committee in 1909. Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to Fernworthy Stone Circle with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! Wessex Archaeology Time Team Report: Tottiford Reservoir, Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results (2011) Some of the stone circles seen on the moor are believed to have been for purely ceremonial purposes. 5. Before the restoration only 4 stones remained standing, a limited excavation found evidence of charcoal. (Red route) Over Shovel Down to Manga Farm and Teignhead Farm ruins and return via Kestor Rock to Batworthy Corner. The path becomes more distinct as you pass Gidleigh Tor hidden amongst the trees up on your left. 26Butler (1997) p.146, Baring-Gould, S, A Book of Dartmoor, (1900), (Halsgrove reprint 2002) 323 pp55-70. 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. 5Butler (1997) p.146 Rainbird, Paul A Guide to the Archaeology of South Devon (Three Barrows Books, 2010) During the drought of August 2022 the stones were exposed again for the first time for years. 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. Staldon stone row. Two Dartmoor National Park Authority stonemasons are recutting the lettering on the Ten Commandments Stone at Buckland Beacon, a well-known landmark. 16See: Dartmoor tomb treasure horde uncovered by archaeologists Merrivale circle was excavated in 1871 by Spence Bate. 1Burl (1976) p.11 Prehistoric Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1974) Venford Reservoir and Bench Tor Walk 10. For a photo, see Megalithic Portal: Shovel Down NW stone circle. - The Second Millennium B.C. 30 pp.97-115 (1898) This year's two-day walk is an almost entirely new route, this time going from north to south and covering some of the most interesting and atmospheric parts of the moor. They are known as Grey Wethers as, it is said. Vol. 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. At this point a small detour to our right, along the path will take us to Scorhill stone circle at SX654 873. Pettit, Paul Prehistoric Dartmoor (David & Charles, 1974) There are 15 stone circles included in the Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks database, click here to skip to the listings with links to further coverage and photos. Dartmoor National Park is in South West England in the county of Devon. The Grey Wethers, Brisworthy and White Moor (Little Hound Tor) circles were all restored and are impressive although they have smaller stones than Scorhill. 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. 1,652 Sq. The path takes you through the woods to an open clearing and vehicle turning area where the footpath sign indicates your way to a lane under some large Beech trees. It is located 1km from the Grey Wethers and remarkably extends the arc pattern bringing the total to 8 stone circles in the apparent arc (see diagram above and Map of Dartmoor Stone Circles - Sittaford circle marked in blue). Vol 24 (1894) p.303-4. See also Legendary Dartmoor: Merrivale Ceremonial Complex. 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. Fernworthy Forest Circular Walk - Full Video - Hiking On Dartmoor . The climate on the moor can be unforgiving, so the centre of the site is often flooded and boggy. Unfortunately, there is little accurate dating evidence for the monuments on Dartmoor which is largely due to the fact that the necessary organic remains used for dating have not survived in the acid soils. Many of the monumental sites on Dartmoor were partially or totally reconstructed by the Dartmoor Preservation Committee in the early twentieth century. The day-to-day life and culture of prehistoric peoples would have remained lttle changed from the late Neolithic through to the early Bronze Age. Save. Haytor is the most famous of these rocks. Marked with a Blue P on the OS map, this is on B3357 opposite Cox Tor and between Moorshop and Merrivale. it's an English Heritage scheduled monument and also considered to be one of the most impressive stone circles on Dartmoor. By continuing to use the site, you agree to cookies being used. Scorhill Stone Circle. Dartmoor is also home to many ancient settlements, including the Iron Age hillfort at Grimspound and the medieval village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. These early farmers are thought to have used wooden shelters and no evidence remains of their settlements. Walk & Wild Camp Across Dartmoor Three days hiking and wild camping from the southern edge to the northern tip of Dartmoor National Park. Thank you. Kljune rijei: Summit Or Nothing, Gidleigh, Kestor Rock, Dartmoor Walks, Hiking on Dartmoor, dartmoor walk, scorhill stone circle, kestor rock dartmoor, dartmoor hike, summit or nothing dartmoor, short dartmoor walk, dartmoor walks, walking on dartmoor, dartmoor national park, short walks on dartmoor, north dartmoor . After Kestor Rock the route back to Batworthy Corner and your vehicle is down a well-worn path over the grassy slopes. CANCELLATION: The event will go ahead come rain or shine. Bullet holes can be seen on the Langstone standing stone and the circle was sadly smashed to smithereens. At a point opposite the end of the plantation is found the Tolmen Stone. 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. Group size is limited so pre-booking is essential. 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. Today the circle is fairly dilapidated. Two cart tracks run right through the ring, making its appearance even more impressive. 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 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. This is a low, prehistoric structure close . 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). This home is currently off market - it last sold on December 12, 2002 for $410,000. The Langstone Moor Stone circle had been restored in 1894 when all of the stones were re-erected in their original socket holes. Lydford Gorge Walk 3. Mesolithic tools are very distinctive consisting of much smaller flint tools than found during the Palaeolithic. See also, Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Bronze Age Landscape of Whitmoor.Nearby sites: SX63298961, Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Mardon Down Stone Circle & CairnsOS Map: SX 76764 87203NMR record: SX 78 NE 19HER record: 8289Megalithic Portal: 3376PMD: Mardon Down Stone CircleShort Name: SC Mardon DownButler Vol 5: p.148 & Fig.90Turner: G1DPD: 149Dimensions (m): 38.0Notes: Mardon Down stone circle is the biggest by circumference on Dartmoor with a diameter of 38m. 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. Before You Go. 11Newman p. 36, Bradley (1998, p. 116) 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. 2256 Meadow Oak Cir is a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. Gerrard, Sandy Dartmoor (Batsford & English Heritage, 1997) As well as restorations the D.E.C. This would suggest Dartmoor was first exploited by humans in the Lower Palaeolithic although the evidence is weak. RISK: Walks and activities are at your own risk. 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. Hound Tor Walk 8. Dartmoor National Park Authority A Guide to the Archaeology of Dartmoor (Matthews-Wright Press, 1978) It is reputed that any adult who passed through the hole would be cured of rheumatism. LEVEL: Moderate - approximately 7 miles or 11 km in open and hilly moorland terrain. It is interesting to note that 7 (now 8, see below) of these stone circles form an arc, or crescent, with each site separated by around 2 kilometres, they are; Grey Wethers (2 circles), Fernworthy, Shovel Down, Scorhill, Buttern Hill and Little Hound Tor (White Moor). And sharing lessens our impact on the environment. IV (1894), (2010, Kessinger Publishing reprint) Buy Searching For Stone Circles: On Dartmoor (North) by B, Miss Helen Louise (ISBN: 9798576157488) from Amazon's Book Store. At sunrise around the summer solstice the shadows of the stones leading to the cairn circle are cast back from one stone to the next along the length of the row. The article can be read on line here: The date and context of a stone row: Cut Hill, Dartmoor, south-west England Belstone is an attractive village on the northern fringe of Dartmoor National Park. Once you leave Round Pound continue north-east along the lane over the cattle grid and downhill along the wooded lane passing Brimstonedown on your left to the sharp right hand bend in the lane. 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. 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 is discussed in detail in the article 'Dartmoor Site: Brisworthy Stone Circle' linked above in this listing. It is located in Kissimmee. Langstone Moor stone circle was restored in 1894. in a discussion about the rows on Shovel Down7. It's believed that there may have been around 40 stones here once, but now only 16 remain. 63-4 (also picture of restored Langstone circle as frontispiece) Photo: Emily Woodhouse. In 2004 a previously unknown stone row was found on the remote Cut Hill, approximately 4km west of the Grey Wethers. Reaves cover vast expanses and were very carefully planned and constructed. We have found that circular walks are the most well-loved, so here we have a large number for you to choose from! 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. Gerrrad p. 24 uses c 4500-2300 BC. No liability accepted for accidents or incidents. 1 miles (1.8 km) This walk visits the Scorhill Stone Circle and the Wallabrook Clapper Bridge in the Teign Valley of Dartmoor . 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. Free Walk for download. The remains of 24 stone roundhouses survive here, within a massive boundary wall about 150 metres in diameter. Breton, Henry Hugh, Beautiful Dartmoor And Its Interesting Antiquities, (1990) Most of this four-and-a-half-mile walk is on open moorland and sometimes the 'track' disappears and then re-appears again, but the landmarks are very prominent. Clifford Bridge. The biggest finds so far of Mesolithic remains on Dartmoor are the thousands of Mesolithic flints found at Gidleigh and Batworthy corner near Shovel Down.20 It is not known whether these sites were continually occupied over the millennia between the late Mesolithic and the early Bronze Age (or late Neolithic) or whether they were vacated and re-occupied at various times. The Sourton Tors circle consists of 32 stones all but 6 of which remain were they have fallen. See also: Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Brisworthy Circle. White Tor Walk 6. All river crossings are over bridges. Three upright stones, between 0.3m and 0.75m high, are visible. 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. Continue down the hill to Gidleigh Cross junction where there is a welcome seat by the grassy triangle at SX672 883. Turn right down the lane towards Gidleigh. 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". A moderate walk with one steep hill taking in woodland, ancient ruins and scenic views Distance: nearly 5 miles (over moorland and road, one . The footpath is part of the Two Moors Way with the distinctive MW sign on the finger-post indicating the way to Gidleigh and the Mariners Way, another long distance path Mariners Way is an ancient trackway supposed to have taken its name from the sailors who founded it. The Nine Maidens . +44 (0) 7817 329584info@dartmoorsdaughter.comSign up to our newsletter here, Navigation Skills for Beginners (or Refresher), Kings of the Solar System - Jupiter & Saturn. This would suggest the figure for "true" stone circles is considerably smaller. FEE: 35 per adult including a coffee and pastry for breakfast to encourage an early start! Bate, C Spence, On the Prehistoric Antiquities of Dartmoor, T.D.A. 2256 Meadow Oak Cir. Dartmoor Walk- Sheeps Tor, Down Tor, and a Pixie House Adventure. Behind you are fine views away to east Devon. 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. Find out more Great Plantation 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. It is formed by eleven stones spaced between 2.7m and 6.7m. The generally accepted number of stone circles on Dartmoor is 16 including the one discovered in 2009 under Tottiford reservoir (see table below) and the newly reported Sittaford stone circle. 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. Scorhill Circle is arguably the most impressive stone circle having the largest stones, one of which is over 8 feet in height. Fernworthy was excavated in 1897. The original restored circle consisted of 16 stones in a 20.9m circle. The Best Walks In Dartmoor National Park Covid19 Hikers' Tips 1. 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. Use the menu above or the walks bar on the right to navigate around the site. Dartmoor National Park is the area within the Datrmoor National Park boundary. 01:42. In addition there are the multiple cairn circles at Shovel Down and Yellowmead. There has been considerable interest, not only in Devon, in the announcement this year of a recently discovered stone circle high on Dartmoor. Use the menu above or the walks bar on the right to navigate around the site. The stone circles of Dartmoor are parochial and small in character in contrast to the grand regional circles at Stanton Drew and Avesbury. It is thought that the reconstruction is fairly accurate. They are not for astronomical observation. The Sittaford circle was found by Alan Endacott in 2007. In contrast to medieval boundaries, which tend to be higgledy-piggledy patchworks, reaves follow the contours, sometimes for miles, which must have involved a high degree of sophistication and technical skill in surveying and central planning. 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.