Top 20 Natural Monuments in Dartmoor

Dartmoor is famous for its granite tors. Among the most iconic are Haytor Rocks, offering panoramic views, and Hound Tor, known for its breathtaking vistas and local legends. Other notable tors include Yes Tor summit and High Willhays summit, the second and highest points in Dartmoor National Park respectively, both providing expansive views.

Yes, several natural monuments in Dartmoor are suitable for families. Bellever Tor is accessible via a wide path, making it suitable for families with pushchairs, and the nearby Bellever Forest offers enchanting walks and picnic spots. Haytor Rocks also has a visitor's center nearby, making it a great starting point for family explorations.

Beyond the tors, Dartmoor is internationally important for its blanket bogs and wet heaths, which are crucial for wildlife spotting, including rare lichens and birds. You can also explore ancient upland oakwoods like Wistman's Wood, Dendle's Wood, and Black-a-tor Copse, which offer intimate, fairytale-like settings and unique habitats for species like the pied flycatcher.

Yes, Dartmoor boasts the highest concentration of Bronze Age remains in Britain, often deeply integrated with the natural landscape. Significant sites include the Merrivale Stone Rows, the well-preserved Scorhill Stone Circle, and Grimspound, an extensive Late Bronze Age settlement with visible roundhouse foundations. These sites offer a powerful connection to Dartmoor's ancient past.

Dartmoor's natural monuments are excellent starting points for various outdoor activities. You can find numerous hiking trails, from easy walks to more challenging routes. For example, there are many easy hikes and general hiking routes. The area also offers opportunities for gravel biking, with routes like the South Hessary Tor loop.

Visitors consistently praise the panoramic and expansive views from Dartmoor's natural monuments. From Haytor Rocks, you can see across the moorland to the coast on clear days. Yes Tor summit offers stunning vistas of North Devon and Cornwall, while Bellever Tor provides big views in all directions. Many find these spots ideal for sunrises, sunsets, and stargazing.

Yes, Dartmoor is rich in folklore. Hound Tor is famously associated with a legend that its rocks were once hunting dogs, a tale believed to have inspired 'Hound of the Baskervilles'. Bowerman's Nose is another distinctive granite outcrop known for its unique shape resembling a human profile, with local legend attributing its form to a hunter turned to stone by witches.

Dartmoor's rivers originate on the high moor and flow through deep-cut valleys. A picturesque spot to experience this is Dartmeet, where the East Dart and West Dart rivers converge. It's ideal for picnics, paddling, and enjoying the tranquility of nature amidst boulder-strewn rivers and broadleaf woodlands.

Yes Tor summit and High Willhays summit are the highest points in Dartmoor National Park. Due to their proximity to a military range, visitors should check for firing times before visiting Yes Tor. It's always advisable to start out well-equipped for tours through Dartmoor, especially when heading to these higher, more exposed areas.

Dartmoor's diverse habitats support a variety of wildlife. In the blanket bogs and wet heaths, you might spot rare lichens, butterflies, and birds. The upland oakwoods are home to characteristic species like the pied flycatcher and salmon, as well as rare species such as the marsh fritillary butterfly. Wild ponies are also often seen grazing near tors like Bellever Tor.

Dartmoor's natural monuments offer unique experiences throughout the year. Spring brings vibrant new growth and milder weather, ideal for hiking. Summer provides longer daylight hours for exploration. Autumn showcases stunning foliage in the woodlands and dramatic skies over the tors. Even winter offers a wild, remote beauty, though conditions can be challenging, requiring appropriate gear.

For those seeking solitude and unspoiled beauty, Chinkwell Tor (also known as Clinkwell Tor) is a less-known gem. Perched along Bonehill Down, it offers imaginative shapes in the rocks and stunning views over Dartmoor's vast openness, providing a more secluded experience away from the more popular spots.

Haytor Rocks is arguably the most famous and photographed tor, especially at sunrise and sunset. Hound Tor and Brat Tor (Widgery Cross) also offer dramatic backdrops, particularly magical at sunset. The unique shape of Bowerman's Nose provides an interesting subject, and the ancient, moss-covered trees of Wistman's Wood are perfect for atmospheric shots.