Fernworthy Round House

  • SX663835
Also known as:
West Lowton
Nearest town:
Okehampton (14km WNW)
OS reference:
SX663835
OS sheet:
191
Latitude:
50° 38' 6.87 N
Longitude:
3° 53' 27.05 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

This is the best of the seven houses and the only one visible from the road, if your not too eager to get to the stone circles further on.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

Four or five out of the seven houses are cleared of vegetation and the grass kept trimmed short. They could have taken the cuttings with them though, I had to clean all the stones.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

I get the feeling that some stone circle enthusiasts wouldn’t bother with a lowly hut circle, but this is really an exceptional place.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

The best house is just the other side of the small field beyond the house in the foreground.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

Between this hut and the dark trees is a track, 50 yards left are three more huts.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

See the stones by the tree in the right background, another hut circle.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

Four hut circles here all in a sort of row, I’m sure you cant see them, you’ll just have to go.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

The stones beyond the obvious hut circle in the foreground is also a hut, and the least of the bunch is just beyond that.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

The stones beyond the obvious hut circle in the foreground is also a hut, and the least of the bunch is just beyond that.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

Not a very photogenic hut circle, but better than the next one.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by postman

Of the seven houses I was able to locate this was the last and the least.

Image credit: Chris Bickerton
postman
postman Sep 24, 2020
Image of Fernworthy Round House by Lubin

One of the many round houses scattered around the reservoir.This one is easily accesable as it is beside the road.

Image credit: Peter Castle ©
Lubin
Lubin Feb 14, 2005

Articles

Fernworthy Round House

postman
postman Oct 11, 2020

I’ve seen the hut circles on the map, but largely ignored them, like almost everyone else, so after a lengthy trip in and around Fernworthy forest I head off to find them.
As I approached the parking place I looked up to the right and saw the stones of the front wall of the hut circle, why haven’t I spotted that before? Because I wasn’t looking!
Car parked, it is barely a minutes walk to the hut circle. It is actually just one of at least seven hut circles all within a hundred yards of each other, it is also by far the best of the seven.
All the stones used in the hut are big, bigger than Fernworthy stone circles stones. Like the stone circle somebody with a strimmer has been around here and meticulously tidied them up. But not all of them.
The big ‘n’ best hut circle is built into a presumably later wall, if you follow the wall round you’ll be brought to the next hut circle, its not as good as both it’s nearest neighbours. A round platform cut into the slight hillside with stones showing only on it’s south side, a small standing stone is just outside the hut, I assumed it was an entrance stone with a fallen partner just feet away in the rubble of the wall. A bit further up the hill is the third and fourth, both good examples, neatly trimmed, lots of stonework. A bit further on is the fifth, less lovingly cared for but still quite good, the sixth is barely recognisable and the seventh only a slight dish in the heather, you’ll need to get your eye in if your going to find number seven.
I really liked it here, the biggest and best one closest to the road is an epic place to sit and ponder things like the distant past the shapes of clouds or the rumbling of tummies, I’m hungry!

Sites within 20km of Fernworthy Round House

Like all websites everywhere, we use cookies.