I bet more people have driven through Merrivale without knowing they have done so than those that did. Nobody could have driven from Princetown to Tavistock without wincing at the huge ‘bite’ taken out of the hillside above Merrivale. That gaping wound was known as Tor Quarry and in itself …

Meldon Pool is not a naturally formed body of water it is a flooded disused limestone quarry, the limestone being used for building and for burning in the nearby limekilns. The water was known to have been over 130ft (39.5m) deep and clearly a dangerous place. It was here in …

Probably one thing that anyone would not associate with Dartmoor would be the production of glass but during the 20th century there was a glass factory at Meldon. But why at Meldon? The simple answer to that question is the geology of the area which consists of dykes of Aplite …

An old miner called Sam Gaskett once lived in the small village of Meavy on Southern Dartmoor. All his working life had been spent at the mines and although there was never a constant demand for work he enjoyed the job. The miners were paid by the quality of the …

Just south of the small village if Meavy are a small group of landscape features all with the name of Marchant’s. These are snuggled at the foot of Lynch Hill under the open ground of Lynch Common. There is Marchant’s Bridge, Marchant’s Cross and Marchant’s Ford all suggesting that they …

Manga, now there’s a name to conjure with, today people usually associate the word with a Japanese genre of comic books but far more interesting are the Manga’s of Dartmoor. You have Manga; Brook, Clapper, Head, Hill, Hole, House, Mill and what this page is about – Manga Rock. It …

“Lydford Bridge has been compared to the Devil’s Bridge in Cardiganshire. It spans a dark chasm through which struggles the almost invisible river, seventy feet below. Than this romantic gorge no fairer spot exists in the West Country, and few more alarming to a head other than strong. To within …

Lydford is normally associated with the stone ‘castle’ which stands next to the church, this was the place that once carried fear and awe for anybody doomed to stay there as they knew the infamous ‘Lydford Law‘ would probably end up in their deaths. There are in fact the remains …

 ‘The chasm cannot be regarded without shuddering ; nor will the stoutest of heart meditate unappalled upon the dreadful anecdotes connected with the spot.’ There are literally hundreds of bridges on Dartmoor and probably if you asked anyone to name one of them they would come up with Postbridge. If …

Lustleigh could be described as the quintessential moorland village, there are thatched cottages, an old church, a time honoured inn and the obligatory tea rooms. This small village is probably best know for its cleave which attracts many visitors and walkers who enjoy the beautiful woodland walks. In a sad …