Named Rocks – At the top of the hill behind Poundsworthy (sic) there is a rock locally known as the Batch Loaf. It was formerly a logan called the Ringed Tor.” –  T.D.A. 1902, p.85. On a mission or what? Whilst browsing through some old copies of the Transactions of …

The whole of the Trowlesworthy tors ridge bears witness to the craft of the stone cutter with split rocks littering the hillside. Just north of Little Trowlesworthy tor sit a huge cylinder of granite which is trigged upon a large flat slab. In letterboxing terms this is known as ‘The …

The Atlas Burning House – it could well be the title of some horror film or even a crematorium, in some cases it is also known as The Albion Burning House but either way it can be found just outside the village of Ilsington. Firstly why the two names? Basically, …

Back in the days when Lords had manors and Knights went on quests there lived a squire and his daughter. They were not rich but compared to most people they were not poor. Home was a small manor house at Whitstone near Bovey Tracey. The Squire’s daughter was a beautiful …

Beside the A386 road near the old Wheal Betsy mine stands a row of 50 stones situated at the edge of the roadside. Originally there were more as the gaps will testify. Their purpose was to stop carts and carriages going off the road and acted as early crash barriers. …

High up on the northern moor at an elevation of 560m is the centre of the huge ridge called Amicombe Hill or ‘The Devil’s Dome’. One would be hard pushed to find a wilder, bleaker and remote a spot anywhere on Dartmoor and this very fact is the reason for …

Today, people visit Princetown and are drawn by some fascination to have a peek at the one-time infamous Dartmoor Prison and I should imagine that their thoughts on the austere, granite fortress vary. Some shiver and walk away whilst others will sympathise with those locked behind its high walls. There …

‘Aaron’s knock Made his chock.’ There are hundreds of boundstones on Dartmoor which mark to limits of parishes, manors, mining setts etc., some are just plain pillars with representative initials carved into them whilst others have an actual name. To me these are the most interesting because somewhere there is …

It is a well known fact that moor folk, especially the farmers like a drop of the hard stuff from time to time. Which is no wonder when you consider the cold climate, any way of ‘warming your cockles’ is appreciated. It is also a well known fact that on …

Tom Pearce. Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare, All along, down along, out along lee, For I want for to go to Widdecombe Fair… The chances are that any mention of Devon and Tom Pearse will immediately bring to mind the famous Widecombe Fair folk song and how he …