If you were to go to certain places up on Dartmoor you would think to yourself, how on earth could anyone human have ever lived up here? Especially if it’s a day when harsh Dartmoor weather is at its worst. Well you could ask those people of whom live up there now, of course they’ll have good old central heating and modern appliances to keep them warm. But do you think other generations could have once lived there? Generations that had never even dreamed of electricity and heating? Well the answer is clear. Yes. Over the years many archaeologists have searched Dartmoor looking for clues as to what the history is behind Dartmoor. However you don’t have to be archeologically minded to see the remains of what used to be homes to past people. There is an estimated 5,000 hut circles that still stand on Dartmoor today! And the only signs of what used to protect the owners of these huts from the howling conditions on Dartmoor is the fact some of them have L shaped porches! Not the greatest way to stay warm you must agree, however quite genius as it would prevent the rain from entering your living room! It is believed that these are the remains from what generations in the Bronze age built! Huts such as these can be found at Grimspound, some of which were also restored in the 19th century.

There are many other reminders of Dartmoor’s past still up there, such as Stone Circles, Kistvaens, Cairns and Stone Rows are still standing! There are also numerous Menhirs up on the moor incidentally of which are more commonly known as longstones and standing stones to the locals.

Dartmoor prison is also another long standing piece of history that still remains to be on the Moor today and still running with many prisoners currently inside! The prison was originally built in Princetown for the prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars. The prison is greatly placed for the reason if a freak accident was to occur and a prisoner were to escape then they would have great difficulty getting off Dartmoor! Old tin mines and farmhouses can also be found scattered around over the national Park.

Dartmoor was created approximately 295 million years ago! From magma rising up through the earths crust and then later cooling, and forming Granite of which covers approximately 65% of all of the Moor!

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Dartmoor is famous for the piles of granite rock that can be found across the moor. These are named Tors, and there are over 160 of them on Dartmoor! These Tors are famous for the Ten Tors challenge that many people between the age of 14 and 21 shall possibly come up against if they choose to at some point in their life (More information can be found o n this, on our Ten Tors Link). Most Tors are positioned at the top of high hills that can be indeed very high! And just for example the highest of which is 621m above sea level! This is just next to the highest point on Dartmoor High Willhays 621m (2,039ft) above sea level! And that is no easy climb! 

Rivers are also very common on Dartmoor as up in the high atmosphere of the Moors there is an amazing amount of rainfall. A lot more than down in the lower regions of the South West. Ask anyone of whom has ever visited Dartmoor, and they’ll tell you, Dartmoor is NEVER dry! Even if there’s been a drought there is always guaranteed to be water up on Dartmoor! This is mainly because of the fact there are mass amounts of thick Pete that cover a lot of the National Park surface. This of which absorbs a lot of the water however never dispenses of it in a hurry. This is very dangerous as it can create a mass amount of bogs that can be very dangerous! Also Mires are created which are totally lethal when covered by bight green moss as they are barely visible and can be extremely easy to fall into! This is one of the many reasons that one should never hike across the Moors alone! All the rainfall that does fall on the moor, of course has to finish some where and a common place for this is the one and only River Dart that of course runs from Dartmoor down to Dartmouth. There are also many other rivers up on the Moors, just a few are ones such as the river Plym, Teign and Avon. These rivers do have a major impact on the formation land up on Dartmoor however the rivers are highly useful to the locals as they have in the past been used to power Tin Mining and Quarrying.

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Thanks, 

The All Around Dartmoor Team

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