Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks, walking the Stone Rows and Stone Circles of Dartmoor
HomeWalksSites Access Resources
Dartmoor Site: Scorhill Stone Circle

Scorhill Stone Circle

This site is featured on the Warren House Inn: Kestor, Shovel Down & Scorhill Stone Circle walk. These photos are of the Scorhill Stone Circle (SX65468738 Butler Vol. 2. Map 38, 8). The first few photos here set the scene for one of Dartmoor's most attractive sites. The first photos are near the North Teign River a short distance south of Scorhill Circle and include the Teign-e-ver Bridge. On the banks of the North Teign River near the circle can be found the Tolmen Stone, a holed stone said to have been used for fertility and healing rituals.

The Scorhill circle has not been restored and is believed to have been in its current state since the early nineteenth century. It is thought the circle would originally have had about 60 stones, a number of stones had been removed from the site, some were possibly used to repair the nearby Gidleigh leat. Today 23 of the remaining 34 stones remain standing in a true circle 27m across. According to Butler there is a cairn south of the Gidleigh leat towards the Teign-e-ver Bridge which has the remains of a cist and a retaining circle and almost hidden beneath the turf are the remains of a double stone row. The original presence of this double stone row would make the Scorhill site another important ceremonial complex like Merrivale, Shovel Down and Fernworthy. The Scorhill circle is one of 7 circles aligned in a curve around the north-east border of the moor. The circles include; the two Grey Wethers, Fernworthy, Shovel Down, Scorhill, Buttern Hill and Little Hound Tor. Each circle is separated by approximately 2k suggesting construction as a conscious plan. Scorhill is approximately mid-way between the Shovel Down and Buttern Hill circles.

These photos were taken on the 14th April 2008. The first photo was taken by Scott Lau and the rest by the author.

See also: Guide to Dartmoor Stone Circles

Bibliography & references

Butler, J. Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities: Vol. 2. - The North (Devon Books, 1991)

Scorhill Down
Scorhill Down
Scorhill Down
Teign-e-ver Bridge
Teign-e-ver Bridge
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Down
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle
Scorhill Stone Circle

Page last updated 5/8/11