Guidance for walkers: The monuments featured in this database are archaeological treasures and need to be protected and preserved - please do not disturb any sites. Please check access and firing times before visiting sites, not all sites listed are on open access land. Firing ranges and boundaries of open access areas are marked on the OL28 OS Dartmoor Explorer map. Please stick to the country code and consider giving support to the numerous agencies that help to keep Dartmoor a fabulous natural and historic environment!
About the database listings: In all listings clicking on the photo or the site name will open a page for the site with a larger photo and further details from the database. The database now has over 6680 records covering nearly all publicly listed sites on Dartmoor including around 4800 round houses. This level of detail is of interest to archaeologists but tends to swamp listings of sites more likely to be of interest for walkers. For this reason, the listings default to around 550 core sites only. These are the stone circles, stone rows and the ring cairns listed by Turner. The default search radius is 2 km. The controls below the map can be used to start a new search by entering a 6- or 8-digit reference (without the prefix "SX"). The search radius can be specified and you can add incremental Display layers of detail on top of the core sites. If using a more detailed layer you will need to decrease the search radius to avoid getting hundreds of search results.
These listings have incorporated, matched up and merged all of the records from all of the major archaeological listings including: Worth, Grinsell, Turner, Butler, Bill Radcliffe, Sandy Gerrard, Megalithic Portal, the National Monument Records and the Historic Environment Records. The author would like to thank Bill, Sandy, the lovely people both at Megalithic Portal (especially Anne Tate who did an amazing job to link listings) and at ACE Archaeology for collaborative work over the years to synchronise and correct listings across the various websites which now interlink. A culmination of years of work the final merger of cairn records took 3 months of cross referencing in 2017 the result being a snapshot of the records at that time. This data has in turn been refined since by field work and research. The round house data was supplied by Sandy Gerrard. Grid references are in order of accuracy: from Google Earth satellite, if visible and found, from a Garmin GPS reading, if visited by the author and from the literature otherwise. Individual site pages will state the source of the grid reference and provide satellite imagery. If a site listing lacks a photo it has not yet been visited by the author in which case the grid reference is from the literature.
Currently the database only includes sites which can be represented by a grid reference. Reaves are not included as they require GIS shape technology which is beyond the current capability of this system. To see the sources for the records, look at the tables on the resources menu. The database listings can also be viewed on a Google map and downloaded as GPS datasets for Garmin devices.
Corrections, or any feedback or suggestions are very welcome, email: info@dartmoorwalks.org.uk.
NOTE: Clicking on the icons for each monument in the map will give the name of the site. You can zoom in and out and drag the map around.
OS Map: SX 57676 67137
HER: MDV4015
Megalithic Portal: 17511
PMD: Gutter Tor N.
Alternate name: Gutter Tor 3 Platform Cairn Circle and Cist
ShortName: CT GutterTor 3
Butler map: 49.5.3
DPD page: 33
Grinsell: SHE 9
Turner: E38
Barrow Report: 59
Notes: "A cairn with cist and a double circle of stones situated on the north-facing slope of Gutter Tor at about 305m OD. The end-stones and side-stones of the cist are in situ but the coverstone is missing." Lethbridge p.32-33 Cist A. Duplicated by HER 4045.Note Garmin NGR. (Previously listed as Gutter Tor No.2)Butler Gutter Tor 3 - Vol. 3. Map 49.5 (diagram p.118 "North cairn and cist").
Nearby sites: SX 57676 67137
Distance: 1.74km
OS Map: SX 57603 66818
HER: MDV3991
Megalithic Portal: 45650
PMD: Gutter Tor summit
Alternate name: Gutter Tor 2 Cist
ShortName: CT GutterTor 2
Butler map: 49.5.2
DPD page: 32
Grinsell: SHE 15
Barrow Report: 19
Notes: "situated on the flat top of Gutter Tor at about 345m OD just on the north side of the crest of the hill. Two end stones and a side stone remain upright". Lethbridge p.32 Cist A. (Previously listed as Gutter Tor No. 1) Butler Gutter Tor 2 - Vol. 3. Map 49.5 (diagram p.118 "Summit cist").Excavated by Worth in 1900.
Nearby sites: SX 57603 66818
Distance: 1.78km
OS Map: SX 56325 69524
HER: MDV3434
Megalithic Portal: 34457
PMD: Cross Gate
Alternate name: Leather Tor S. Platform Cairn Circle and Cist
ShortName: CT Leather Tor
Butler map: 45.17
DPD page: 23
Grinsell: WAL 25
Turner: E20
Barrow Report: 54
Notes: "A cist, consisting of two side stones and an end stone, contained within a barrow surrounded by a 16ft 6 ins diameter Kerb circle." Butler Leather Tor S. - Vol. 3. Map 45.17 (diagram p.52).
Nearby sites: SX 56325 69524
Distance: 1.95km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Guide to the Monuments on Ringmoor Down
OS Map: SX 56595 65762
HER: MDV4030
Megalithic Portal: 34131
PMD: Legis Lake
Alternate name: Ringmoor Down 2 Platform Cairn Circle and Cist
ShortName: CT Ringmoor 2
Butler map: 49.21.2
DPD page: 36
Grinsell: SHE 20
Turner: E32
Barrow Report: 29
Notes: Lethbridge Brisworthy Cist p.34-36. Diagram p.34 site 5. Butler Ringmoor Down 2 - Vol. 3. Map 49.21 (diagram p.145).
Nearby sites: SX 56595 65762
Distance: 1.93km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Guide to the Monuments on Ringmoor Down
OS Map: SX 56157 65947
HER: MDV4029
Megalithic Portal: 22947
Alternate name: Ringmoor Down 3 Cairn Circle
ShortName: CC Ringmoor 3
Butler map: 49.21.3
DPD page: 36
Grinsell: SHE 18
Turner: G29
Barrow Report: 63
Notes: Located about 230m NW of the cairn circle that terminates the Ringmoor Down stone row. "An 11ft 2ins diameter cairn circle composed of fourteen stones of which four have fallen over. Stones of quartz-schorl, not granite." "This feature has the semblance of having been recently created. The stones are mostly loose and irregularly spaced. As a monument type it appears to be unique on Dartmoor. It should not be considered of great antiquity." For a photo, see: Stone-Circles.org.uk: Ringmoor Cairn. Lethbridge kerb circle p.34-36. Diagram 34 site 4.
Nearby sites: SX 56157 65947
Distance: 1.66km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Ringmoor Stone Row & Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 56330 65808
HER: MDV3986
Megalithic Portal: 2102
The Stone Rows of GB: Ringmoor Down
PMD: Ringmoor Down Stone Row
ShortName: SR Ringmoor
Butler map: 49.20
DPD page: 34
Notes: "A stone row, 1740 feet long, mainly single but double in parts. At its southern end is a cairn circle with a diameter of 40ft. 6ins. In 1909 the circle was restored and five of the present stones were introduced from elsewhere. Prior to restoration one stone was standing, four had fallen and the presumed sites of six other stones were represented by pits. A 4ft long fallen stone terminated the stone row at its northern end". Lethbridge p.34-36, diagram p.34 site 3. See also: Sea Views at Ringmoor Down`
Nearby sites: SX 56330 65808
Distance: 1.82km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Guide to the Monuments on Ringmoor Down
OS Map: SX 56334 65807
HER: MDV3987
Megalithic Portal: 1233
PMD: Ringmoor Down Stone Row
Alternate name: Ringmoor Down stone row Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC Ringmoor S
Butler map: 49.20
DPD page: 35
Grinsell: SHE 19
Turner: F5
Notes: "The cairn circle measures approximately 12.6m. in diameter and has eleven stones averaging 0.7m. high. The disturbed central cairn is 9.5m. in diameter and 0.4m. in height." "1909 the circle was restored and five of the present stones were introduced from elsewhere. Prior to restoration one stone was standing, four had fallen and the presumed sites of six other stones were represented by pits." Lethbridge Brisworthy cairn circle p.34-35. Diagram p. 34 site 2.
Nearby sites: SX 56334 65807
Distance: 1.82km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Guide to the Monuments on Ringmoor Down
OS Map: SX 56113 65922
HER: MDV19760
Megalithic Portal: 34142
Alternate name: Ringmoor Down 4 Stone Ring Cairn Circle
ShortName: CC Ringmoor 4
Butler map: 49.21.4
Turner: A2
Notes: Feature described as "Low embanked circle with no ditch, 36.0 metres diameter overall. A few upright stones still remain in the bank".
Butler, 1994: "barely visible circular enclosure .. its position on the ridge suggesting a large ring cairn rather than a domestic enclosure. The flat interior 35 m across, disturbed by a line of tinners' pits, is surrounded by a low bank no more than 0.1 m high supporting a few earthfast slabs"
Turner, 1990: "Stone ring 31.5 metres in diameter internally, with bank 0.7 metres wide and 0.15 metres high. A few upright stones still remain in the bank".
Newman, P. + Probert, S., 2005: This feature is now largely obscured by dense Molinia. Only a 35m section of slightly curving bank is visible between SX 5612 6591 and SX 5613 6588. None of the stones noted by the Ordnance Survey (1979) are in situ, there being just two clusters of three stones each. It seems unlikely that this could represent an embanked stone circle it seems more likely to be an ephemeral part of the surrounding medieval field system.
The current author has failed to find this feature on multiple occasions. Most recently on 9th April 2023. A follow up visit on 15th April 2023 has led to the conclusion that this site is perhaps better considered to be an enclosure or part of the surrounding medieval field system as suggested by Newman + Probert.
In the photo it is very difficult to make out the stones due to the long Molinia grass so I have ringed them in red. There are in fact two groups of three stones but I have ringed what I can see in the photo. The one furthest to the right is actually my rucksack sat on top of one stone that would not be visible otherwise. The stones circled in blue a little way in the distance are from the nearby Ringmoor Down Cairn Circle (also dubious as most stones not earthfast).
Butler himself debates whether the low bank represents an enclosure or a ring cairn. Lidar data available to a more modern perspective suggests not a circular feature but a rectangular enclosure. The following extract from Lidar shows that along with 3 of the tinners pits below.
To conclude in our view this is not a ring cairn. This record is being retained as this is a reported ring cairn that is part of both the Butler and Turner listings. However, the CairnClass classification has been changed from yes to No.
The photo below taken on 15-04-2023 shows one of the tinners pits at SX 56118 65903.
Nearby sites: SX 56113 65922
Distance: 1.68km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Yellowmead 4-fold Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 57482 67842
HER: MDV80769
Megalithic Portal: 2202
The Stone Rows of GB: Yellowmead Down
PMD: Yellowmead Stone Row
Alternate name: Yellowmead Down Stone Row
ShortName: SR Yellowmead
Butler map: 47.14
DPD page: 31
Barrow Report: 41 56
Notes: "A group of four concentric stone circles of which the innermost one is considered to be a cairn circle. Three stones were standing in 1921 when all the fallen stones were raised during restoration. There also appears to have been a stone row leading away from the stone circles." and "The double row as planned by Worth except that one stone is now missing. It is 6.9m long with mostly small line slabs, set on edge. They are about 0.3m long and 0.3m high, the intervals between stones and between the rows being 0.8m".
Nearby sites: SX 57482 67842
Distance: 1.50km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Yellowmead 4-fold Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 57535 67861
HER: MDV4025
Megalithic Portal: 31040
Alternate name: Yellowmead Down 1 Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC Yellowmd 1
Butler map: 47.14.1
DPD page: 31
Grinsell: SHE 5
Turner: F21
Barrow Report: 41
Notes: Cairn around 50 meters north-east of the Yellowmead stone circles, consisting of an earth and stone mound approximately 4 meters in diameter and up to 0.3 meters high. Four stones of a retaining kerb on its west and south sides. Turner F21.
Nearby sites: SX 57535 67861
Distance: 1.56km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Yellowmead 4-fold Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 57488 67846
HER: MDV3338
Megalithic Portal: 1371
PMD: Yellowmead Stone Circles
Alternate name: Yellowmead fourfold circle Cairn Circle
ShortName: CC Fourfold
Butler map: 47.14
DPD page: 31
Grinsell: SHE 4
Turner: G30
Barrow Report: 41 56
Notes: "A group of four concentric stone circles of which the innermost one is considered to be a cairn circle. Three stones were standing in 1921 when all the fallen stones were raised during restoration. There also appears to have been a stone row leading away from the stone circles." See also, Legendary Dartmoor: Yellowmead Stone Circle.
Nearby sites: SX 57488 67846
Distance: 1.51km
Page last updated 18/02/24