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 68686 81656
HER: MDV127183
ShortName: PO:Birch Tor
Notes: "The pool at Birch Tor measures around 15.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX 68686 81656
Distance: 0.86km
OS Map: SX 68686 81654
HER: MDV6673
Megalithic Portal: 34981
Alternate name: Birch Tor Summit Cairn
ShortName: CN:Birch Tor
Butler map: 24.4
Grinsell: N.BOV 1
Barrow Report: 56
Notes: "The heavily disturbed remains of a large, flat-topped cairn lie on the ridge crest 230 metres north of Birch Tor. The centre and south margin of this feature have apparently suffered from an unrecorded excavation with spoil dumped to the south and on the east fringe of the mound. Two large upright slabs are embedded in the unexcavated interior of the cairn and may have previously been interpreted as elements of a kerb even though they lie several metres in from the actual edge of the feature. 10m to the north-west of the cairn is a warren boundary stone inscribed with the letters`WB'on its eastern side."
Nearby sites: SX 68686 81654
Distance: 0.85km
OS Map: SX 6849 8217
HER: MDV6596
Megalithic Portal: 7699
ShortName: ST:BushDown
Nearby sites: SX 6849 8217
Distance: 1.39km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Challacombe Down Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 6898 8084
HER: MDV49462
Megalithic Portal: 1819
PMD: Challacombe Down Stone Row
ShortName: CC Challacombe
Butler map: 24.3
Butler Vol 5: p.239 & Fig.169
Turner: G20
Notes: Dubious site - the current arrangement relates to stones placed during restoration of the stone row. See Worth (1953) p. 226 on how "nothing coherent" came of attempts to re-erect stones scattered to the west of the north end of the row which gave the appearance of a stone circle.
Nearby sites: SX 6898 8084
Distance: 0.28km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Challacombe Down Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 69021 80723
HER: MDV6600
Megalithic Portal: 10092
PMD: Challacombe Stone Row
ShortName: SS Challacombe
Butler map: 24.3
DPD page: 126
Notes: The largest and most prominent blocking stone of the Dartmoor rows is to be found at the Challacombe triple row. Worth states that it is over 5 feet in width at the base and over 6 feet in height. Butler (Vol. 2) states that the terminal pillar is today 0.5m shorter than when it was measured in 1893.
Nearby sites: SX 69021 80723
Distance: 0.33km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Challacombe Down Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 69016 80718
HER: MDV6600
Megalithic Portal: 1819
The Stone Rows of GB: Challacombe Down
PMD: Challacombe Stone Row
ShortName: SR Challacombe
Butler map: 24.3
Butler Vol 5: p.239 & Fig.169
DPD page: 126
Notes: "Bronze Age triple stone row well marked and wider apart at the north, drawing nearer to the south where they meet a blocking stone of unusual size. The stones have suffered little in their restoration except that a stone in the middle row was turned to form a blocking stone for that row. The loose stones scattered to the west of the north end have been suggested to form a stone circle and additional rows but may be stones excavated from the north end of the stone row."
Nearby sites: SX 69016 80718
Distance: 0.33km
OS Map: SX 70414 81166
HER: MDV8744
Megalithic Portal: 44533
The Stone Rows of GB: Grimslake Cist
PMD: Hookney Down
Alternate name: Grimslake Mire Platform Cairn Circle and Cist
ShortName: CT Grimslake
Butler map: 20.16
Butler Vol 5: p.219 & Fig.153
DPD page: 128
Grinsell: N.BOV 3
Turner: E18
Notes: Cairn with kerb circle and central cist. Lethbridge diagram p.127 and photo top p.128. Butler Grimslake Mire - Vol. 1. Map 20.16 (diagram p.147).
Nearby sites: SX 70414 81166
Distance: 1.75km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Grimspound Enclosed Settlement
OS Map: SX 70073 80909
HER: MDV8778
Megalithic Portal: 1344141065
ShortName: ES Grimspound
DPD page: 127
Notes: Probabaly the best known enclosed settlement on Dartmoor, within walking distance of Warren House Inn. "Prehistoric enclosed settlement with a substantial granite surrounding wall, containing 24 hut circles, as well as several 'pens' built into the enclosure wall, positioned in a valley between Hookney Tor and Hameldon. First planned by A. C. Shillibeer in 1829, this site was excavated by the Dartmoor Exploration Committee in 1894-5. Within the guardianship area managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority". Extensive notes in the NMR record, see also coverage on Wikipedia and Legendary Dartmoor.
Nearby sites: SX 70073 80909
Distance: 1.38km
OS Map: SX 70318 80574
HER: MDV8768
Megalithic Portal: 16628
ShortName: CN HameldonTor
Butler map: 20.8
Butler Vol 5: p.166 & Fig.106
Grinsell: MAN 2
Turner: E54
Notes: Cairn on hameldown tor.(diam 14m. Heig 700mm)a denuded cairn with kerb of large stones on northern half only. Pillar and conical mound of small stones of evidently modern date. Remainder of kerb visible (11 stones). Remainder of cairn largely grassed over but head sized granite boulders visible (os trig. Point and recent mound of stones on top). Butler Volume 1 Map 20.8.
Nearby sites: SX 70318 80574
Distance: 1.63km
OS Map: SX 69905 81314
HER: MDV6611
Megalithic Portal: 34982
Alternate name: Hookney Tor summit Cairn
ShortName: CN HookneyTor
Butler map: 20.7
Grinsell: N.BOV 2
Notes: Tor cairn north of Hookney Tor and resembling a barrow in shape. Enough of the topsoil has been removed to show that the mound is a natural outcrop feature covered with turf and heather, enclosed on three sides by a broken turf and stone bank. A footpath approaching the west side has probably effaced the remainder of the circuit.
Nearby sites: SX 69905 81314
Distance: 1.31km
OS Map: SX 69843 81721
HER: MDV127212
ShortName: PO HookneyTorA
Notes: "A pool measuring 15 by 9.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period. Lies near a prehistoric cairn."
Nearby sites: SX 69843 81721
Distance: 1.47km
OS Map: SX 69838 81605
HER: MDV127213
ShortName: PO HookneyTorB
Notes: "A pool measuring 7.5m. One of over 40 such 'sacred' pools identified on Dartmoor that are thought to have potentially been designed during the prehistoric period."
Nearby sites: SX 69838 81605
Distance: 1.39km
OS Map: SX 67158 81299
HER: MDV6674
Megalithic Portal: 34690
PMD: Water Hill Possible Chambered Cairn
Alternate name: Water Hill 1 Cairn
ShortName: CN Kings Oven
Butler map: 26.5.1
Butler Vol 5: p.156 & Fig.95
Grinsell: CHA 6
Notes: Situated at SX 67158129 on the rounded summit of Water Hill is the remains of a substantial round cairn 18.0 metres in diameter and up to 1.4 metres high in the east and 0.9 metres in the west. The whole of the central area of the cairn has been robbed to construct a superimposed modern boundary cairn 4.0 metres in diam and 2.1 metres high. This has given a 'dished' appearance to the cairn proper. Several large slabs averging 0.8 metres by 0.7 metres scattered around the base of the boundary cairn may be the remains of a destroyed cist.
The southern flat topped cairn measures 18 metres in diameter and 1.5 metres in height and is surmounted by a modern stone pile. A large slab situated to the south of this pile may have been part of a cist.
Nearby sites: SX 67158 81299
Distance: 1.62km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Soussons Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 67718 79650
HER: MDV6007
Megalithic Portal: 34986
PMD: Red Barrows
Alternate name: Red Barrows 1 Cairn
ShortName: CN RedBarrows
Butler map: 24.2.1
Grinsell: MAN 5
Notes: Four Bronze Age round barrows between 10 and 20 meters in diameter and 0.5 to 2.2 meters high. One barrow was excavated in 1902, finds included pottery and flints. See also HER records, 6004, 6005, 6006, 6007.
Nearby sites: SX 67718 79650
Distance: 1.51km
OS Map: SX 69992 82248
PMD: Shapley Common
ShortName: SS Shapley C1
Butler map: 23.5
Butler Vol 5: p.212
Notes: Possible standing stone, see Butler Vol V (1997) p 212.
Nearby sites: SX 69992 82248
Distance: 1.94km
OS Map: SX 6942 8206
HER: MDV6553
Megalithic Portal: 45859
ShortName: HC:ShapleyComm
DPD page: 128
Notes: Lethbridge p.128 Hut Circle on Shapley Common - particularly fine example.
Nearby sites: SX 6942 8206
Distance: 1.45km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Soussons Cairn Circle
OS Map: SX 6767 7998
HER: MDV6015
Megalithic Portal: 2136
The Stone Rows of GB: Soussons Down
PMD: Red Barrows Stone Row
Alternate name: Soussons Down Stone Row
ShortName: SRxRed Barrows
Butler map: 24.2
Notes: Triple row destroyed in 1946 Butler Vol. 5 p38, Vol. 3 Map 24.2 p.19. The row was associated with a cairn about 300m north of the four Red Barrow cairn group (SX 67 NE 3).
Nearby sites: SX 6767 7998
Distance: 1.32km
Page last updated 18/02/24