Dartmoor is one of the great sacred landscapes of Britain. The granite uplands of Devon, rising to over 600 metres, preserve an extraordinary concentration of Bronze Age monuments — more stone rows, stone circles, and cairn circles than any comparable area in the British Isles. The open moorland has never been intensively farmed, and the monuments survive in remarkable condition, standing in landscapes little changed since they were erected between 2500 and 1000 BC.
The Dartmoor monuments are distinctive in character. The stone rows — processional avenues of low stones stretching across the moor, sometimes for hundreds of metres — are a uniquely southwest English tradition. The stone circles tend to be small and intimate, often with stones barely knee-high. The cairns and cist burials that punctuate the landscape speak of a people for whom the moor was both home and sacred precinct.
Walking on Dartmoor is a different experience from visiting lowland sites. The moor is vast, wild, and frequently weather-beaten. Fog, rain, and wind can arrive without warning. Navigation requires map and compass — GPS signals can be unreliable. Bogs are a genuine hazard. But for those prepared to engage with the landscape on its own terms, Dartmoor offers encounters with the ancient past that are unmatched in their intensity and solitude.
This guide covers seven sites, ranging from the accessible Merrivale complex beside the road to the remote Scorhill circle requiring a moorland walk. Each entry includes grid references and honest access information. Treat the moor with respect: carry adequate equipment, check weather forecasts, and tell someone your plans before setting out onto the open moor.