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Butterdon Down West
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Butterdon Down West submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Feb 2019. Heading around the hillside until I find the stone, my first view of it being nothing like I was expecting, a tall thin curved shape presenting itself to me.
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Log Text: Crikey, an easy to reach Dartmoor standing stone which has no pictures on the Portal, so I'd better go visit it. It's not the easiest place to park at Butterdon, but I find somewhere not blocking anything, and it’s a beautiful spot. Walk westwards up the lovely, almost tunnel like bridleway before getting onto the open downland, and head around the hillside until I find the stone, my first view of it being nothing like I was expecting, a tall thin curved shape presenting itself to me. The stone is taller than me, being just over 2 metres tall, and a nice granite slab, crystals sparkling in the bright sunlight, and a good crop of lichen hair on top.
About 40 metres south from the stone is a fairly large triangular slab standing on edge. A closer look at this, and I am not convinced it is an old standing stone, perhaps more of a large slab once making up part of a reave or boundary, as it looks to be in a fairly straight line of some kind with many more large stones present. Further walking around on this hillide, and it is seen that there are lots of these stones over the place, and fairly obviously many of them being in straight rows with each other.
Mardon Down Cairn 3
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Mardon Down Cairn 3 submitted by TheCaptain on 6th Mar 2019. Just south of the Giant's Grave is a smaller, but much clearer cairn, about 10m diameter and still with some semblance of a retaining circle of stones.
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Log Text: Just south of the Giant's Grave is a smaller, but much more clear to see cairn, about 10m diameter and still with some semblance of a retaining circle of stones.
Mardon Down Cairn 1
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Mardon Down Cairn 1 submitted by TheCaptain on 5th Apr 2019. Just south of the circle is what at first looks like a pile of large stones, but upon investigation is the remains of a cairn with much of the remains of a circle of surrounding stones, with four large blocks at its southern side, and a large slab just on the outside, probably once the capstone to an internal cist.
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Log Text: Just south of the circle is what at first looks like a pile of large stones, but upon investigation is the remains of a cairn with much of the remains of a circle of surrounding stones, and with four large blocks at its southern side, and a large slab just on the outside, probably once the capstone to an internal cist. This is a nice monument. I continue on southwards to get a look at the wonderful views from the edge of the hill all the way round from the east through the deep valleys to the south and out to the west with the heights of the main bulk of Dartmoor. There are a lot of fires out there today, I suspect from burning off of the gorse and bracken.
Sherberton Row
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Sherberton Row submitted by TheCaptain on 14th Apr 2019. I found very little remains of this stone row, to the north of the Sherberton stone circle. A few little stumps of stone could be found, but not enough to determine either end, or even whether it is a single or double row. I counted 11 stones.
Viewed here looking north along the best part of about 5 stones in line.
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Log Text: Very little remains of this stone row, just to the north of the Sherberton stone circle. A few little stumps of stone can be found, but not enough to determine either end, or even whether it is a single or double row. I counted 11 stones. WP61 at north end.
Joan Ford Newtake row
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 2
Joan Ford Newtake row submitted by TheCaptain on 14th Apr 2019. Approaching the row from the hilltop to the north. The weaterworks lake is a good landmark.
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Log Text: Three slabs stand in a row on the slopes to the northwest of the Swincombe waterworks lake. This is an uncertain site, and it is not like any other prehistoric stone row on Dartmoor. I wondered whether it was part of some ancient settlement or industrial works, of which there are many in this area.
Marden Down East
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Ring Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Marden Down East submitted by TheCaptain on 4th Mar 2019. Heading up to the top of Mardon Hill from the Headless Cross, and about halfway up there is a recently cleared area by the path, with the clear remains of a ring cairn, which I was not expecting to see from my quick look in Butler before heading off for the day.
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Log Text: Heading southwest up to the top of Mardon Hill, and about halfway up there is a recently cleared area by the path, with the clear remains of a ring cairn which I was not expecting to see from my quick look in Butler before heading off for the day, which basically states that there are probably other cairns on the down, but the whole hill is overgrown with gorse and bracken making everything hard to find! This pattern held for the rest of my visit, as the local commoners have taken it upon themselves to hunt down and clear the large amount of archaeology there is to be found here, from cairns and the stone circle, through reaves, right through to mortar pits, trenches and even railway making exercises carried out by the American soldiers based here before the D-Day invasions.
Mardon Down Ring Cairn
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Ring Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Mardon Down Ring Cairn submitted by TheCaptain on 6th Mar 2019. In places there are some semblances of structure.
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Log Text: A bit further south along the ridgetop pathway is a large open green area to the west, with the fairly clear remains of a large 20m diameter ring cairn, looking much like a saucer. Much of this cairn has been ruined, but in places there are some semblances of structure. On the eastern side of the pathway here is another recently cleared area which looks to have a cairn located within it, a circular pile of stones with a deep hole in the middle, surrounded by a bank of earth and stones, which all looks too recent and certainly not prehistoric, unless it has perhaps been recently excavated and left without backfilling. I wondered whether it was perhaps a shooting hide, but learned later that it was a mortar pit, made by troops based here in the build up to D Day during the second world war.
Yar Tor Enclosure
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Causewayed Enclosure
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3
Yar Tor Enclosure submitted by TheCaptain on 14th Apr 2019. At the northern part of the summit of Yar Tor is seen to be the remains of what is classified as a "Tor Enclosure", thought to be of neolithic origins.
A clear embankment and "wall" remains at the western side of the flattened area between the various rock outcrops. Remains of a hut can be seen within.
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Log Text: At the northern part of the summit of Yar Tor is seen to be the remains of what is classified as a "Tor Enclosure", thought to be of neolithic origins. A clear embankment and "wall" remains at the western side of the flattened area between the various rock outcrops. Remains of a hut circle can be seen within.
Down Ridge Outlier
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Down Ridge Outlier submitted by TheCaptain on 15th Apr 2019. About 100 metres away to the southeast from the stone circle is a small standing stone, just under a metre tall.
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Log Text: About 100 metres away to the southeast from the stone circle is a small standing stone, just under a metre tall.
Sherberton circle
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Sherberton circle submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Apr 2019. The gateway at the southwestern corner of the field. Some significant stones which were once probably part of the circle.
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Log Text: None
Yar Tor SE
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Yar Tor SE submitted by TheCaptain on 6th May 2019. The Yar Tor triple stone row is much clearer to see than I remember it being decades ago, when I can barely remember finding much at all.
Almost certainly what has become known as the Yar Tor SE rows is a section of the main triple row which has become separated from the main part of the rows.
Looking all aound at the top end, by the moneypit cairn, I could find nothing of another set of rows, but I didn't spend too long looking and the gorse here was vicious!
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Log Text: The Yar Tor triple stone row is much clearer to see than I remember it being decades ago, when I can barely remember finding much at all. Almost certainly what has become known as the Yar Tor SE rows is a section of the main triple row which has become separated from the main part of the rows. Looking all aound at the top end, by the moneypit cairn, I could find nothing of another set of rows, but I didn't spend too long looking and the gorse here was vicious!
Yar Tor NW
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Yar Tor NW submitted by TheCaptain on 6th May 2019. The Yar Tor triple stone row is much clearer to see than I remember it being decades ago, when I can barely remember finding much at all. This has been helped by a lot of clearance of gorse etc.
This is a view near the upper end, where the stones start to be visible again, seperated from the top section which may or may not be the rows referred to as Yar Tor SE.
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Log Text: The Yar Tor triple stone row is much clearer to see than I remember it being decades ago, when I can barely remember finding much at all. This has been helped by a lot of clearance of gorse etc. I followed the ruined triple row downhill to the north, and was pretty sure I could make out remnants of it right up to the field wall at SX67977427, further than I have seen mentioned anywhere else.
Mardon Down S
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Mardon Down S submitted by TheCaptain on 25th Mar 2019. View across Mardone Down stone circle. I was slightly surprised to find it so cleared of all the gorse, and easy to find.
Who could believe this was February on Dartmoor !
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Log Text: Further south along the ridgetop path, and I arrive at a large wide open green area, where I can see the remains of the stone circle extending around the exterior. The first part I get to has another of what looks like a little cairn right on the circumference of the circle, but again the hole in the centre looking too deep and recent. I initially wonder whether I can see the remains of a sort of cist capstone at one place, but which later I wonder whether it is one of the remaining circle stones fallen and buried here. The circle is the largest on Dartmoor at 38 metres diameter and clear to see, but in a very ruinous state, with only 2 or 3 stones still standing of what was probably once between 60 and 70. There is still a nice arc of stones on the southeast side, with one still standing and a large fallen block. Opposite to this on the northwest side is another good arc, with one very interesting shaped large slab still standing, and a couple more a bit further round. I dont get great feelings here, probably as its all pretty much wrecked, and too easy to find. Perhaps it would have been more atmospheric it it was all still hidden and lurking within the gorse. This gorse was still surruounding the whole circle, preventing seeing any of the fabulous views available from elsewhere on the hill.
Down Ridge
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Down Ridge submitted by TheCaptain on 15th Apr 2019. Approaching from the northwest
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Log Text: I am not really sure what to make of this, the remains of which are on sloping ground on the northeastern flank of Down Ridge above Hexworthy, just above the enclosed areas below. There is not a huge amount left, and much of that is at the uphill side, large slabs set on their long sides, several of which are adjacent to each other sort of making a solid wall. There are also a couple of standing stones forming part of the same arc, indicating a diameter of about 25 metres. On the lower side of the circle are several fallen slabs, which seem to have been moved about and not in their original positions. It's all a bit sad really, I would like to have seen this in better condition. The views over to the north and east over the river Dart are fabulous.
Joan Ford Newtake E
Date Added: 2nd Oct 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 11th Apr 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2
Joan Ford Newtake E submitted by TheCaptain on 16th Apr 2019. The cairn has a well defined circular structure, with the wall built over the northern side, but leaving the large central cist clear. The cairn has a clear 8 metre diameter kerb of stones around the outside.
Here looking west.
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Log Text: From here it was unclear whether I should procede along the northern wall on the inside, or the outside in order to find the Joan Ford Newtake E cairn and cist. I went down the outside, and found the remains of the cairn after about a hundred yards, but on the inside of the wall. I got a boot full of boggy water in my attempt to get to the wall and take pictures, and there was no way I was going to get over the wall and barbed wire fence from here, so it was back to the gateway and along the wall again, this time on the inside. The cairn is a well defined circular structure, with the wall built over the northern side, but leaving the large central cist clear. The cairn has a clear 8 metre diameter kerb of stones around the outside, and all four sides of the cist remain, as well as the displaced capstone. I stopped to have my sandwich for lunch. Since leaving Sherberton Farm, I had not seen anybody all day until an RAF Hawk flew right above me at about 50 feet with a wing waggle!
Mardon Down N
Date Added: 28th Sep 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 26th Feb 2019. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Mardon Down N submitted by TheCaptain on 16th May 2019. Febrary 2019: Approaching from the hilltop ridge path down to the northern circle, and the standing pillars of it make a splendid sight against the distant fields and forests.
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Log Text: Approaching from the hilltop ridge path down to the northern circle, and the standing pillars of it make a splendid sight against the distant fields and forests. I am not sure what to make of it, is it a stone circle, a cairn with a surrouding circle of stones, or perhaps even a large roundhouse with large pillars incorporated ? There seems to be a double faced ring of edge set slabs, with half a dozen upright pillars incorporated. Now I am home and reading my Butler, it seems he is not sure what to make of it either, stating "it is unparalelled among the numerous cairns on the moorland massif only a short distance to the west, emphasizing the very localised nature of some cairn designs." Whatever it is, its a nice thing to visit, and i sit here listening to the skylarks and buzzards for a while before heading back down to a sandwich at the car and decide what to do next.
Shaugh Moor South Cairn Circle
Date Added: 24th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 25th Aug 2008
Shaugh Moor row submitted by thecaptain on 25th Aug 2008. This stone row is about 180 metres long, running uphill to a cairn with remnants of a surrounding circle.
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Log Text: None
Holne Ridge 2
Date Added: 24th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 5th Oct 2010
Holne Ridge 2 submitted by TheCaptain on 5th Oct 2010. Holne Ridge cairn 2 looking west.
I didn’t think I was going to be able to find this as the area it’s in is all covered by fern and bracken, but it was quite obvious once I got near.
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Log Text: None
Holne Ridge 6
Date Added: 24th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 5th Oct 2010
Holne Ridge 6 submitted by TheCaptain on 5th Oct 2010. Holne Ridge cairn 6, looking east.
This is a nice ring cairn about 12 metres diameter, with a clear ring of stones and rubble surrounding a flat platform within it. There seems to be remnants of a kerb in places.
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Log Text: None
Holne Ridge 5
Date Added: 24th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Devon)
Visited: Yes on 5th Oct 2010
Holne Ridge 5 submitted by TheCaptain on 5th Oct 2010. Holne Ridge cairn 5.
This is a fairly large and prominent round cairn, about 14 metres diameter and 1.5 metres tall. However, I wasn't going to look too closely, as there were some stroppy looking guard cows staring me down!
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Log Text: None