NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Dartmoor

Coordinates: 50°34′N 4°0′W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in the centre of the English county of Devon. Protected by a National Park, it covers 953 km² (368 square miles). High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor and southern England at 621m (2037ft) above sea level, with Yes Tor beyond. ... High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor and southern England at 621m (2037ft) above sea level, with Yes Tor beyond. ... High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 2,039 feet (621 metres) above sea level, and the highest point in England and Wales south of the Brecon Beacons. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2005 est. ... Yes Tor is the second highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 619 m (2,031 ft) above sea level. ... Moorland in the Pennines (England); Coarse grasses and bracken tend to dominate especially in high rainfall areas. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2005 est. ... Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... The Brecon Beacons National Park, looking from the highest point of Pen Y Fan (886 m/2907 feet) to Corn Du (873 m/2864 feet). ...

The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops (known as tors), providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The highest point is High Willhays, 621 m above sea level. The entire area is rich in antiquities. Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... The Carboniferous is a major division of the geologic timescale that extends from the end of the Devonian period, about 359. ... World geologic provinces Oceanic crust 0-20 Ma 20-65 Ma >65 Ma Geologic provinces Shield Platform Orogen Basin Large igneous province Extended crust Geology (from Greek Î³Î·- (ge-, the earth) and Î»Î¿Î³Î¿Ï‚ (logos, word, reason))[1] is the science and study of the solid matter of a celestial body, its composition... Hawks Tor, on Bodmin Moor Tor redirects here. ... The remoteness of Dartmoor and the fact that a great deal of it is undisturbed for much of the year is an encouragement to the wildlife. ... High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 2,039 feet (621 metres) above sea level, and the highest point in England and Wales south of the Brecon Beacons. ...

Dartmoor is managed by the National Park Authority whose 26 members are drawn from Devon County Council, local District Councils and Government. Devon is a large county in South West England, bordered by Cornwall to the west, Dorset and Somerset to the east. ... In the British Isles, a county council is a council that governs a county. ... The District Councils (區議會 and formerly District Boards) are district organizations in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). ...

Parts of Dartmoor have been used as a military firing range for over 200 years. The public enjoy extensive access rights to the rest of Dartmoor, and it is a popular tourist destination. The Park was featured on the TV programme Seven Natural Wonders as the top natural wonder in South West England. Seven Natural Wonders is a television programme that aired on BBC Two from 3 May to 20 June 2005. ... South West England is one of the regions of England. ...

Geographical information

Tors

Dartmoor is known for its tors — large hills, usually topped with rocks. There are over 160 tors on Dartmoor. They are the focus of an annual event known as the Ten Tors, when over a thousand people, aged between 14 and 21, walk for distances of 35, 45 and 55 miles. While many of these hills do have the word "Tor" in them quite a number do not. This does not appear to relate to whether there is an outcrop of rock on them. Image File history File linksMetadata 050715_096_uk_dev_cox. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 050715_096_uk_dev_cox. ... Ten Tors is an annual weekend hike organised and run in early May for 2,400 young people by the British Army on Dartmoor. ...

The highest points on Dartmoor are High Willhays (grid reference SX580895, 621 m) and Yes Tor (grid reference SX581901, 619 m) on the nothern moor. Eylesbarrow (grid reference SX600685, 454 m) and Ryder's Hill (grid reference SX690660, 515 m) are the highest points on the southern moor. Probably the best known tor on Dartmoor is Hay Tor (also spelt Hey Tor) (grid reference SX757771, 457 m). For a more complete list see List of Dartmoor tors and hills. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Yes Tor is the second highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 619 m (2,031 ft) above sea level. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Hay tor Hay tor quarry Hay Tor is a tor on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... This is a list of tors and hills on Dartmoor. ...

Rivers

The levels of rainfall on Dartmoor are considerably higher than in the surrounding lowlands. With much of the national park covered in thick layers of peat, the rain is usually absorbed quickly and distributed slowly, so that the moor is rarely dry. Peat in Lewis, Scotland Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter. ...

In some areas, where water accumulates, dangerous bogs or mires can result. Some of these, topped with bright green moss and known to locals as 'feather beds', will shift (or 'quake') beneath your feet — the result of pockets of air trapped beneath the surface. LÃ¼tt-Witt Moor, a bog in Henstedt-Ulzburg in northern Germany. ...

Another consequence of the high rainfall is that there are numerous rivers and streams on Dartmoor. As well as shaping the landscape, these have traditionally provided a source of power for moor industries such as tin mining and quarrying. The Dartmoor tin mining industry is thought to have originated as early as pre-Roman times, and continued right through to the 20th century. ...

The Moor takes its name from the River Dart, which starts as the East Dart and West Dart and then becomes a single river at Dartmeet. Other significant rivers which rise within the national park include: The River Dart The River Dart is a river in Devon, UK. The river rises on Dartmoor, as two separate branches (the East Dart and West Dart), which join at Dartmeet. ... Dartmeet is a popular tourist spot in the centre of Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ...

Ashburn is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... The River Avon is a river in the county of Devon in the south of England. ... Bovey is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... East Okement is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... The East Webburn is a stream in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... The Erme is a river on Dartmoor, Devon, England. ... Lemon is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... Lyd is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... Meavy is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... The River Plym is a small river in Devon, England. ... Swincombe is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... The Tavy is a river on Dartmoor, Devon, England It is a tributary of the River Tamar and has as its own tributaries the: Collybrooke River Burn River Wallabrooke River Lumburn River Walkham. ... River Taw rises at Taw Head, a spring on the central northern flanks of Dartmoor. ... The River Teign is a river in the county of Devon, England. ... The Walkham is a river on Dartmoor, Devon, England. ... West Okement is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... The West Webburn is a stream in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ... Yealm is a river in the Dartmoor moors in Devon in south-west England. ...

History

Pre-history

The majority of the prehistoric remains on Dartmoor date back to the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. Indeed, Dartmoor contains the largest concentration of Bronze Age remains in the United Kingdom, which suggests that this was when a larger population moved onto the hills of Dartmoor. An array of Neolithic artifacts, including bracelets, axe heads, chisels, and polishing tools Excavated dwellings at Skara Brae Scotland, Europes most complete Neolithic village. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ...

The climate at the time was warmer than today, and much of today's moorland was covered with trees. The prehistoric settlers began clearing the forest, and established the first farming communities.

The nature of the soil, which is highly acidic, means that no organic remains have survived. However, by contrast, the high durability of the natural granite means that their homes and monuments are still to be found in abundance, as are their flint tools. It should be noted that a number of remains were "restored" by enthusiastic Victorians and that, in some cases, they have placed their own interpretation on how an area may have looked. Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, June 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. ...

Numerous menhirs (more usually referred to locally as standing stones or longstones), stone circles, kistvaens, cairns and stone rows are to be found on the moor. The most significant sites include: Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 315 KB)Photo of Beardown Man, prehistoric menhir on Dartmoor, taken by Jon Constant 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 315 KB)Photo of Beardown Man, prehistoric menhir on Dartmoor, taken by Jon Constant 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A menhir is a large, single upright standing stone (monolith or megalith), of prehistoric European origin. ... Standing stones, orthostats, liths or more commonly, megaliths because of their large and cumbersome size, are solitary stones set vertically in the ground. ... Swinside stone circle, in the Lake District, England. ... A kistvaen is a (usually pre-Christian) stone coffin, derived from the Celtic cist, meaning chest and maen meaning stone. ... One of many cairns marking British mass graves at the site of the Battle of Isandlwana. ... In archaeology, a stone row or stone alignment is a linear arrangement of standing stones. ...

There are also an estimated 5,000 hut circles still surviving today, despite the fact that many have been raided over the centuries by the builders of the traditional dry stone walls. These are the remnants of Bronze Age houses. The smallest are around 6 ft (1.8 m) in diameter, and the largest may be up to five times this size. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Grimspound is a late Bronze Age settlement, in an excellent state of preservation, situated on Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Drizzlecombe is an area of Dartmoor that contains a number of Bronze Age stone rows, cairns and menhirs. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Grey Wethers consists of a pair of prehistoric stone circles, situated on grassy plateau to the north of Postbridge, Dartmoor, in the United Kingdom. ... Postbridge is a hamlet in the heart of Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Two Bridges is an isolated location in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, in Devon, United Kingdom. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Location within the British Isles Princetown is a town situated on Dartmoor in the county of Devon in England. ... Location within the British Isles This article is about the town in Devon. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Location within the British Isles Chagford is a small town on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, in Devon, England, close to the River Teign. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Meldon dam. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ...

Some have L-shaped porches to protect against wind and rain — some particularly good examples are to be found at Grimspound. It is believed that they would have had a conical roof, supported by timbers and covered in turf or thatch.

Many ancient structures, including the hut circles at Grimspound, were reconstructed during the 19th century — most notably by civil engineer and historian Richard Hansford Worth. Some of this work was based more on speculation than archaeological expertise, and has since been criticised for its inaccuracy.

The historical period

The climate worsened over the course of a thousand years from around 1000 BC, so that much of high Dartmoor was largely abandoned by its early inhabitants.

It was not until the early medieval period that the weather again became warmer, and settlers moved back onto the moors. Like their ancient forebears, they also used the natural granite to build their homes, preferring a style known as the longhouse — some of which are still inhabited today, although they have been clearly adapted over the centuries. Many are now being used as farm buildings, while others were abandoned and fell into ruin. The Dartmoor longhouse is a type of traditional home, found on the high ground of Dartmoor, in the south west of the United Kingdom. ...

The earliest surviving farms, still in operation today, are known as the Ancient Tenements. Most of these date back to the 14th century and sometimes earlier. The Ancient Tenements are the oldest surviving farms on Dartmoor, in the United Kingdom. ...

Some way into the moor stands the town of Princetown, the site of the notorious Dartmoor Prison, which was originally built both by, and for, Napoleonic prisoners of war. The prison has a (now misplaced) reputation for being escape-proof, both due to the buildings themselves and its physical location. Princetown is a town situated on Dartmoor in the county of Devon in England. ... HM Prison Dartmoor is located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. ... ...

The Dartmoor landscape is scattered with the marks left by the many generations who have lived and worked there over the centuries — such as the remains of the once mighty Dartmoor tin-mining industry, and farmhouses long since abandoned. The Dartmoor tin mining industry is thought to have originated as early as pre-Roman times, and continued right through to the 20th century. ...

Indeed the industrial archaeology of Dartmoor is a subject in its own right. The industrial archaeology of Dartmoor covers a number of the industries which have, over the ages, occurred on Dartmoor, and the remaining evidence surrounding them. ...

Myths and literature

Dartmoor abounds with myths and legends. It is reputedly the haunt of pixies, a headless horseman, a mysterious pack of 'spectral hounds', and a large black dog. During the Great Thunderstorm of 1638, Dartmoor was even said to have been visited by the Devil. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1771x1181, 424 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Dartmoor ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1771x1181, 424 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Dartmoor ... Pixie (comics) - a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. ... The Great Thunderstorm of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Dartmoor, took place on 21 October 1638, when the church of St Pancras was apparently struck by ball lightning during a severe thunderstorm. ... The Devil is a title given to a supernatural entity, who, in most interpretations of the Abrahamic faiths, is the central embodiment of evil. ...

Many landmarks have ancient legends and ghost stories associated with them, such as Jay's Grave, the ancient burial site at Childe's Tomb, and a rock pile called Bowerman's Nose. A manufactured image of a ghostly woman ascending a staircase. ... Jays Grave is supposedly the last resting place of a suicide victim who is thought to have died in the late 18th century. ... Childes Tomb is located on the south-east edge of Foxtor Mires, c. ... Bowermans Nose is a large stack of weathered granite on Dartmoor, in the United Kingdom. ...

A few stories have emerged in recent decades, such as the 'hairy hands', that are said to attack travellers on the B3212 near Two Bridges. Several motorists have claimed that the hands materialised in front of them, grasped the wheel and forced their vehicle off the road — although others believe that the loss of control is more likely to have been the result of subsidence of the road surface. The Hairy Hands is a ghost story/legend that built up around a stretch of road in Dartmoor, United Kingdom, which was purported to have seen an unusually high number of number of motor vehicle accidents during the early 20th century. ... Two Bridges is an isolated location in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, in Devon, United Kingdom. ...

Dartmoor has inspired a number of artists and writers, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Hound of the Baskervilles, Eden Phillpotts, Beatrice Chase, Agatha Christie and the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould. Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 - July 7, 1930) is the British author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction. ... The Hound of the Baskervilles is a crime novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, originally serialised in the Strand Magazine in 1901 and 1902, which is set largely on Dartmoor 1889. ... Eden Phillpotts (November, 1862 â€“ December 29, 1960) was an English novelist, poet, and dramatist. ... Beatrice Chase is the pen name for a British writer, who became well known for her Dartmoor-based novels during the first half of the 20th century. ... Agatha Mary Clarissa, Lady Mallowan, DBE (15 September 1890 â€“ 12 January 1976), also known as Dame Agatha Christie, was an English crime fiction writer. ... The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (28 January 1834 â€“ 2 January 1924) was an English Victorian hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist and eclectic scholar. ...

A possible source of additional information on this topic would be The Witchcraft and Folklore of Dartmoor (1965) but since reprinted ISBN 0-86299-021-1.

Ownership and access

Over half of Dartmoor National Park (57.3%) is private land, much of this owned by the Duke of Cornwall, a title held under a charter of Edward III by the Prince of Wales. The Ministry of Defence owns 14% (see below), 3.8% is owned by water companies (see Dartmoor reservoirs), 3.7% by the National Trust, 1.8% by the Forestry Commission and 1.4% by Dartmoor's National Park Authority. The Dukedom of Cornwall was the first dukedom created in the peerage of England. ... Edward III (13 November 1312 â€“ 21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English kings of medieval times. ... The Prince of Wales Feathers. This Heraldic badge of the Heir Apparent is derived from the ostrich feathers borne by Edward, the Black Prince. ... Meldon dam. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ... The Forestry Commission is a government body in the United Kingdom. ... A National Park Authority is a special term used in the United Kingdom for the legal body in charge of a National park. ...

Dartmoor differs from some other National Parks in England and Wales, in that since a 1985 Act of Parliament much of it has been designated as 'Access Land', with no restrictions on where walkers can roam. This Access Land remains privately owned land. The Brecon Beacons National Park, looking from the highest point of Pen Y Fan (886 m/2907 feet) to Corn Du (873 m/2864 feet) The national parks of England and Wales are areas of relatively undeveloped and scenic landscape that are designated under the National Parks and Access to... In Westminster System parliaments, an Act of Parliament is a part of the law passed by the Parliament. ...

There are still almost 450 miles of footpaths and bridleways on Dartmoor, but they are for guidance and convenience — they do not have to be kept to, and in fact footpaths in these sections of the Park are generally not waymarked. This is not connected with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which has established similar rights in other rural parts of the country. Dartmoor is largely unaffected by this legislation because of its existing arrangements. In 2006, this Act opened up much of the remaining restricted land for walkers — a topic much disputed amongst the landowners and the councils ^{[citation needed]}. In the United Kingdom, rights of way are paths on which the public have a legally-protected right to travel. ... Waymarking is a means by which people can catalog, mark, locate and log unique and interesting locations around the world. ... The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a UK act of parliament which came into force on November 30, 2000. ...

Use by the Ministry of Defence

There is a tradition of military usage of Dartmoor dating back to the Napoleonic wars. There is still a large Army training camp at Okehampton — also the site of an airbase during the Second World War. Combatants Allies: Austria[1] Portugal Prussia[1] Russia[2] Spain[3] Sweden United Kingdom[4] French Empire Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Bavaria[5] Saxony[6] Commanders Archduke Charles Prince Schwarzenberg Karl Mack Gebhard von BlÃ¼cher Duke of Brunswick Prince of Hohenlohe Mikhail Kutuzov... Okehampton is a town in Devon, England, at the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the River Okement. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead...

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) uses three areas of the northern moor for manoeuvres and live-firing exercises, totalling 108.71 km² (41.9 mile²), or just over 11% of Dartmoor National Park. Red and white posts mark the boundaries of these military areas (shown on Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 maps). Flagpoles on many tors in and around the ranges will fly red flags when firing is taking place. At other times, members of the public are allowed access. Blank rounds may also be used, but the MoD has no obligation to alert the civilian population of this. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ...

Those wishing to walk in the firing areas are advised to check the firing times for the coming week by calling the MoD on 0800 4584868. Further advice is available at the National Park website.

Some "challenge" and charitable events take place with assistance of the military on Dartmoor including the long established Ten Tors event and the more recent Dartmoor Beast. A charitable organization (also known as a charity) is a trust, company or unincorporated association established for charitable purposes only. ... Ten Tors is an annual weekend hike organised and run in early May for 2,400 young people by the British Army on Dartmoor. ... The Dartmoor Beast is an annual charitable fundraising challenge run in aid of the charity Cancer Climber Association (CCA) UK. The challenge takes the form of a daytime navigation exercise held in the Dartmoor National Park in the county of Devon, United Kingdom. ...

Preserving Dartmoor

Throughout human history, the landscape has been exploited for industrial purposes. In recent years, controversy has surrounded the work of industrial conglomerates Imerys and Watts Blake Bearne, who have used parts of the moor for china-clay mining. Licences were granted by the British Government but were recently renounced after sustained public pressure from bodies such as the Dartmoor Preservation Association. Many of these licences predate much of the heavy machinery which is in use today. Imerys were singled out for particular criticism after work at Lee Moor destroyed a number of archaeologically significant sites. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1771x1181, 634 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Dartmoor ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1771x1181, 634 KB) Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Dartmoor ... Imerys is a French multinational company listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: NK). ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... The Dartmoor Preservation Association or DPA was founded in 1883. ...

The British government has made promises to protect the integrity of the moor; however, the cost of compensating companies for these licences, which may not have been granted in today's political climate, could prove prohibitive.

The military use of the moor has been another source of controversy, such as when training was extended in January 2003. The National Park Authority received 1,700 objections before making the decision. Objectors claimed that Dartmoor should be an area for recreation, and that the training disturbs the peace. A National Park Authority is a special term used in the United Kingdom for the legal body in charge of a National park. ...

Those who objected included the Open Space Society and the Dartmoor Preservation Association. During her lifetime, Lady Sayer was another outspoken critic of the damage which she perceived that the army was doing to the moor. Sylvia Olive Pleadwell Sayer, Lady Sayer (1904-2000) was one of the foremost early conservators of what is now Dartmoor National Park, in Devon in the south-west of England. ...

Towns and villages

Dartmoor has a resident population of about 33,400, although this swells considerably during holiday periods. The main towns and villages are:

Image File history File linksMetadata 050715_023_uk-dev-hay. ... Image File history File linksMetadata 050715_023_uk-dev-hay. ... Ashburton is a small market town on the fringes of Dartmoor in Devon, lying adjacent to the A38 Devon Expressway. ... Belstone is a village in Devon, England best known for the Nine Maidens stone circle. ... Chagford is a small town on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, in Devon, England, close to the River Teign. ... Holne is a small village on the southeastern slopes of Dartmoor, in Devon, United Kingdom. ... // The village Lustleigh is a small village nestled in the Teign Valley, between Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead. ... The village of Manaton is situated on the south-eastern side of Dartmoor National Park, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... Location within the British Isles Moretonhampstead is a fairly small market town in Devon, England. ... Okehampton is a town in Devon, England, at the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the River Okement. ... Ponsworthy is a small village, hidden in a steep valley in the heart of Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... Postbridge is a hamlet in the heart of Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. ... Poundsgate is a small village on the road between Ashburton and Princetown, towards the eastern side of Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... Princetown is a town situated on Dartmoor in the county of Devon in England. ... South Tawton in Dartmoor, Devon, United Kingdom is an ancient demesne (royal manor), going back at least to the time of the Saxons, if not to the Romans, who named the river Taw, the Tavus. ... South Zeal is a village on Dartmoor, in Devon, UK. The village lies at the heart of the Beacon villages area. ... Sticklepath is a village on Dartmoor, in the county of Devon, United Kingdom. ... Location within the British Isles This article is about the town in Devon. ... Widecombe-in-the-Moor is a small village located within the heart of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon in the United Kingdom. ... Location within the British Isles Yelverton is a small town on the south western edge of Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom, about eight miles north of Plymouth. ...

Features

Well known landmarks

Bowermans Nose is a large stack of weathered granite on Dartmoor, in the United Kingdom. ... Meldon dam. ... Childes Tomb is located on the south-east edge of Foxtor Mires, c. ... The Church House is a building in South Tawton, in Devon, UK . ... Cranmere Pool is a small peat filled depression set in the northern half of Dartmoor at grid reference SX604858 SX604858. ... Crazywell Pool is situated close to Princetown on the western side of Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... Dartmeet is a popular tourist spot in the centre of Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... The Devonport leat was constructed in the 1790s to carry water from Dartmoor to the expanding dockyards at Devonport, Devon. ... Ducks Pool is in the heart of the southern part of Dartmoor, Devon in the United Kingdom. ... William Crossing (1847 - 1928) was a writer and documenter of Dartmoor and Dartmoor life. ... Grey Wethers consists of a pair of prehistoric stone circles, situated on grassy plateau to the north of Postbridge, Dartmoor, in the United Kingdom. ... Grimspound is a late Bronze Age settlement, in an excellent state of preservation, situated on Dartmoor, Devon, in the United Kingdom. ... High Willhays is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 2,039 feet (621 metres) above sea level, and the highest point in England and Wales south of the Brecon Beacons. ... Jays Grave is supposedly the last resting place of a suicide victim who is thought to have died in the late 18th century. ... Two Bridges is an isolated location in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, in Devon, United Kingdom. ... The Warren House Inn is a remote and isolated public house in the heart of Dartmoor, United Kingdom. ...

Letterboxing

The definitive guide to walking on Dartmoor was written by the Victorian walker William Crossing. He states that a Dartmoor guide placed a bottle for visitors' cards at Cranmere Pool on the northern moor in 1854. This would seem to be the origin of letterboxing. In 1938 a plaque and letterbox in Crossing's memory were placed at Duck's Pool on the southern moor. William Crossing (1847 - 1928) was a writer and documenter of Dartmoor and Dartmoor life. ... Cranmere Pool is a small peat filled depression set in the northern half of Dartmoor at grid reference SX604858 SX604858. ... Letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art and problem-solving. ... Ducks Pool is in the heart of the southern part of Dartmoor, Devon in the United Kingdom. ...

This pursuit has become increasingly popular in recent decades. Watertight containers, or 'letterboxes', are hidden throughout Dartmoor, each containing a visitor's book and a rubber stamp. The original intention was for walkers to leave a letter or postcard, which would then be collected and posted by the next person to visit the site.

Until the 1970s there were no more than a dozen such sites around the moor, usually in the most inaccessible locations. Today there are thousands of letterboxes, many within easy walking distance of the road. Clues to their locations are placed in other letterboxes or on the Internet. It has become a sport in itself, with thousands of walkers gathering for 'box-hunts' — particularly popular amongst children.

Such letterboxes have also been placed in various locations around the world, with a more recent variant known as geocaches. These caches are usually much harder to find, and often require GPS coordinates to locate. A Geocache in Germany Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called geocaches or caches) anywhere in the world. ... GPS redirects here. ...

Contents

Geographical information

Tors

Rivers

History

Pre-history

The historical period

Myths and literature

Ownership and access

Use by the Ministry of Defence

Preserving Dartmoor

Towns and villages

Features

Well known landmarks

Letterboxing

See also

External links

Contents

Geographical information GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Tors

Rivers

History

Pre-history

The historical period

Myths and literature

Ownership and access

Use by the Ministry of Defence

Preserving Dartmoor

Towns and villages

Features

Well known landmarks

Letterboxing

See also

External links

Geographical information