There is a growing amount of evidence that man has lived and stalked the moors for a good 10,000 years when at that time he would have been a lot sturdier, hairier and muscular than today. As time went by the human race slowly evolved into what we are now, …

Before we get to the astounding news that has just been announced to the world of archaeology let me put a quote past you in order to get some sort of context of what can only be described as a startling discovery at Bellever Tor: ‘This tor (Bellever), owing to …

  Now you may wonder what on earth a Dartmoor tor has to do with the hobbyhorse and you would have to go back to the prehistoric days when iron was just starting to be used to find out. In those dim and distant times the local tribe in Devon …

During the late 1800’s the rabbit was a staple food on Dartmoor and was favourite dish eaten by all classes of people. However, in 1865 a rabbit pie was made that seriously made folks think twice about ever eating such a dish again. Once again this story is taken from …

‘Go back to a time before the invention of artificial light and experience a world petrified in the pitch of darkness…when fear ruled the night. Throughout the ages, real and imagined terror existed in the absence of light, and nightime was anything but relaxing. Our predecessors cowered in caves to …

Back in the early history of Dartmoor there were several monasteries around the edges of Dartmoor. The largest and most powerful was at Tavistock with Buckfast Abbey coming a close second. Another settlement of monks was also to be found at Plymstock. The monks of these abbeys were on friendly …

What happened was, hundreds of years ago the monks of Tavistock and in particular the Abbot upset the piskies something awful. At that time the old Abbot was disgusted by the absolute belief the moorfolk held in the little folk, in his eyes it was no less than ‘idol worship’. …

“The robin redbreast and the wren, God Almighty’s cock and hen. Him that harries their nest Never shall his soul have rest.” “Kill a robin or a wren, Never prosper, boy or man.” Titty-todger, ackymal, kitty-lodger, tidley-tope, cracky wran and cuddy bear are all just a few of the three …

Whilst delving through some old copies of The Times newspaper I can across the following story from the winter of 1856. It serves as a good illustration of the type of prisoner that was once held in Dartmoor Prison and how the establishment got its notorious reputation. The first report …

“Eate leeks in Lide and ransons in May And all yeare after physicians my play.” Wander through any Dartmoor woodland or along a hedgerow between April and June and you cannot fail to miss the heady aroma of garlic – the warmer the day the stronger the smell. Unless one …