Dartmoor forum 5 room
Image by GLADMAN
Dartmoor

On Dartmoor​…

close
more_vert

faerygirl wrote:
Firstly I spent a day soaked to the bone on Dartmoor, but hey... it could have been worse.

I wanted to ask about a few things. Firstly, near where you park at Batworthy Farm there is a natural rock outcrop that we just couldnt resist climbing, especially as we couldnt get any wetter. Behind the outcrop are several stone rows leading towards the natural outcrop that you can even see on Google Earth if you zoom in (they are not on here though).

Then following the Shovel Down row towards Scorhill, There seemed to be endless little cairns and concentric circles, practically everywhere you looked! Sadly I got no photos as the rain was like no other rain experienced by man and I was worried I would drown and my camera would be ruined!!

Finally, around Fernworthy Reservoir we found a stone row or wall made from HUGE blocks that lead away into the water. Then a little further along towards the dam there was a very deep sided circle/ hut, again with large stones. Any guesses? I couldnt believe how much stuff seemed to be in the area!

Not sure where you mean for the natural outcrop. Is it Kes Tor? If so the stones would be part of the extensive settlement in the area.

The stuff around the reservoir is all either stone walls or the remains of huts. The deep sided circle is definately the remains of a round house. When the water is low enough there are many more showing.

Definitely sounds like the hut circles near the dam. There is an old track that leads into the reservoir over a submerged bridge. Occasionally in the drier years it's possible to walk across it !
The natural outcrop near Batworthy sounds like Kes Tor as Lubin says ! Did you see the natural rock basins on the summit ?
It's certainly an area rich in stones - Fernworthy has a stone circle and several rows as well as clusters of hut circles in the forestry. There's also a nice kist on the Northern side of the reservoir (near the lifebuoy).
There's definitely a special kind of rain on Dartmoor !!