Guide to the Monuments on Buckfastleigh

Table of Ritual and Burial Monuments on Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh Guide Map

Guidance for walkers: The monuments featured in this database are archaeological treasures and need to be protected and preserved - please do not disturb any sites. Please check access and firing times before visiting sites, not all sites listed are on open access land. Firing ranges and boundaries of open access areas are marked on the OL28 OS Dartmoor Explorer map. Please stick to the country code and consider giving support to the numerous agencies that help to keep Dartmoor a fabulous natural and historic environment!

List of Ritual and Burial Monuments on Buckfastleigh

Pupers Rock Stone Ring Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 67281 67376
NMR record: SX 66 NE 10
HER record: MDV5219
Megalithic Portal: 45845
Alternate name: Pupers Hill Summit Stone Ring Cairn Circle
ShortName: RC:Pupers Rock
Butler map: 58.9
DPD page: 89
Grinsell: DEA 1
Turner: A58
Notes: "Ring cairn incorporating a large flat-topped granite outcrop. The stone ring measures 17 meters in diameter internally with 2.5 meter wide bank 0.6 meters high. There are the remains of a stone circle, around 1.0 meter high within the outcrop."
Nearby sites: SX67286738

Inner Pupers Stone Ring Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 67566 67421
NMR record: SX 66 NE 63
HER record: MDV13205
Megalithic Portal: 45847
PMD: Inner Pupers
ShortName: RC InnerPupers
Butler map: 58.9
DPD page: 89
Grinsell: BUC 6
Turner: A60
Notes: "The rock outcrop known as Inner Pupers is encompassed by a cairn of 13.0 meters overall diameter. It takes the shape of a platform 0.4 meters high around the rock, with a rim 1.5 meters wide and a further 0.4 meters high. Of small stones, with further 'natural' slabs protrude through."

NB. This feature is very visible on Google Satellite.
Nearby sites: SX67576742

Pupers Hill 1 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67391 67441
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV13191
ShortName: CN:PupersHill1
Notes: "A barrow lying between Puper’s Rock and Inner Pupers. A low circular mound lying on fairly level ground in an area of turf and heather, visible due to the difference in heather growth on the mound. The mound is flat topped, measuring 0.5 meters high and 4.5 meters in diameter north-south, but only 3.0 meters east-west. There is a well-defined kerbstone concealed by heather and probing of the mound shows it to have been stone built. At the centre a cavity extends downwards beside a flat slab of stone set on edge around 0.6 meters long, lying east-west, which may represent the remains of a cist."

The author visited this on 13 July 2024 and there is indeed a clear cavity into this cairn.
Nearby sites: SX67396744

Pupers Hill 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67775 67055
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV67607
ShortName: CN:PupersHill2
Nearby sites: SX67786706

Pupers Hill E Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 67800 67380
NMR record: SX 66 NE 65
HER record: MDV13190
ShortName: CN?PupersHillE
Butler map: 58.9
Nearby sites: SX67806738

Snowdon 1 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66898 68171
NMR record: SX 66 NE 11
HER record: MDV5221
ShortName: CN:Snowdon 1
Butler map: 58.10.1
Grinsell: BUC 4
Notes: NMR B Large cairn on Snowdon; the most southerly of a line of four cairns. Visible on Google earth.
Nearby sites: SX66906817

Snowdon 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66871 68281
NMR record: SX 66 NE 11
HER record: MDV5220
ShortName: CN:Snowdon 2
Butler map: 58.10.2
Grinsell: BUC 3
Notes: One of a line of four cairns. Visible on Google earth.
Nearby sites: SX66876828

Snowdon 3 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66846 68395
NMR record: SX 66 NE 12
HER record: MDV5222
ShortName: CN:Snowdon 3
Butler map: 58.10.3
Grinsell: BUC 2
Notes: One of a line of four cairns. Visible on Google Earth.
Nearby sites: SX66856840

Snowdon 4 Cairn

OS Map: SX 66860 68560
NMR record: SX 66 NE 73
HER record: MDV13203
ShortName: CN:Snowdon 4
Butler map: 58.10.4
Grinsell: BUC 1
Notes: One of a line of four cairns.
Nearby sites: SX66866856

Holne Lee 1 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67847 69575
NMR record: SX 66 NE 2
HER record: MDV5200
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 1
Butler map: 58.11.1
Grinsell: HOL 9
Notes: NMR A
Nearby sites: SX67856958

Holne Lee 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67884 69583
NMR record: SX 66 NE 124
HER record: MDV13208
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 2
Butler map: 58.11.2
Grinsell: HOL 10
Notes: ?
Nearby sites: SX67886958

Holne Lee 3 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67921 69599
NMR record: SX 66 NE 2
HER record: MDV5201
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 3
Butler map: 58.11.3
Grinsell: HOL 11
Notes: NMR B
Nearby sites: SX67926960

Holne Lee 4 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67992 69641
NMR record: SX 66 NE 2
HER record: MDV5202
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 4
Butler map: 58.11.4
Grinsell: HOL 12
Notes: NMR C
Nearby sites: SX67996964

Holne Lee 5 Cairn

OS Map: SX 68495 69805
NMR record: SX 66 NE 1
HER record: MDV5198
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 5
Butler map: 58.11.5
Grinsell: HOL 16
Notes: NMR A
Nearby sites: SX68506981

Holne Lee 6 Cairn

OS Map: SX 68490 69820
NMR record: SX 66 NE 78
HER record: MDV13209
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 6
Butler map: 58.11.6
Grinsell: HOL 16a
Nearby sites: SX68496982

Holne Lee Stone Ring Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 68656 69919
NMR record: SX 66 NE 1
HER record: MDV5199
Megalithic Portal: 45836
Alternate name: Holne Lee 7 Stone Ring Cairn Circle
ShortName: RC Holne Lee 7
Butler map: 58.11.7
Grinsell: HOL 17
Turner: A32
Notes: "One of four cairns on Holne Lee 1140 metres north-west of Greatcombe. Cairn diameter 20.5 metres, height 0.8 metres. Has a 4 metre wide circular bank surrounding a circular area measuring 12.5 metres in diameter. Location" NMR B
Nearby sites: SX68666992

Holne Lee 8 Cairn

OS Map: SX 68690 69930
NMR record: SX 66 NE 72
HER record: MDV13198
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 8
Butler map: 58.11.8
Grinsell: HOL 18
Nearby sites: SX68696993

Holne Lee 9 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67767 69497
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV61446
ShortName: CN:Holne Lee 9
Notes: 09/12/24. Fomerly listed as Holne Lee 11 but chnagew to 9.
Nearby sites: SX67776950

Mardle Embanked Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 67526 69359
NMR record: SX 66 NE 66
HER record: MDV5308
Megalithic Portal: 3374
Alternate name: Mardle Valley 1 Embanked Cairn Circle
ShortName: CC Mardle 1
Butler map: 58.12.1
Turner: B11
Notes: Embanked stone circle; an annular bank of earth and/or stone with an inner edge of orthostats. Much disturbed. Internal diam 6.5m with bank 1.2m wide and 0.4m high (turner). This cairn has a very interesting structure appearing to be multiple circles of stones similar to the cairns at Corringdon Ball. This structure is difficult to capture in a photograph as the stones are small and the site much disturbed.
Nearby sites: SX67536936

Mardle Valley 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67610 69220
NMR record: SX 66 NE 3
HER record: MDV5203
ShortName: CN:Mardle 2
Butler map: 58.12.2
Grinsell: HOL 13
Notes: NMR A
Nearby sites: SX67616922

Mardle Valley 3 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67720 69030
NMR record: SX 66 NE 3
HER record: MDV5204
ShortName: CN:Mardle 3
Butler map: 58.12.3
Grinsell: HOL 14
Notes: NMR B
Nearby sites: SX67726903

Mardle Valley 4 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67610 68950
NMR record: SX 66 NE 3
HER record: MDV24792
ShortName: CN:Mardle 4
Butler map: 58.12.4
Grinsell: HOL 15
Notes: NMR C
Nearby sites: SX67616895

Mardle Valley 5 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67790 68890
NMR record: SX 66 NE 3
HER record: MDV62034
ShortName: CN:Mardle 5
Butler map: 58.12.5
Notes: NMR D
Nearby sites: SX67796889

Mardle Valley 6 Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 67810 68720
NMR record: SX 66 NE 50
HER record: MDV5307
ShortName: CN:Mardle 6
Butler map: 58.12.6
Nearby sites: SX67816872

Mardle Valley 7 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67920 68550
NMR record: SX 66 NE 5
HER record: MDV5214
ShortName: CN:Mardle 7
Butler map: 58.12.7
Grinsell: BUC 5
Nearby sites: SX67926855

Mardle Valley 8 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67780 68760
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV62033
ShortName: CN:Mardle 8
Nearby sites: SX67786876

Ryders Hill Cairn

OS Map: SX 65982 69068
NMR record: SX 66 NE 13
HER record: MDV5223
ShortName: CN:Ryders Hill
Butler map: 58.13
Butler Vol 5: p.162 & Fig.101
Grinsell: HOL 8
Nearby sites: SX65986907

Huntingdon Barrow Cairn

OS Map: SX 66217 66912
NMR record: SX 66 NE 22
HER record: MDV5235
Megalithic Portal: 45571
Alternate name: Heap of Sinners Cairn
ShortName: CN:Huntingdon
Butler map: 58.14
DPD page: 87
Grinsell: LYD 103
Barrow Report: 65
Notes: On the highest part of Huntingdon Hill is a fine cairn 76 yards (approximately 70 meters) in circumference usually known as Huntingdon barrow but sometimes referred to as the Heap O' Sinners.
Nearby sites: SX66226691

Crad Hole Ring Cairn Circle

OS Map: SX 67210 66500
NMR record: SX 66 NE 58
HER record: MDV129288
ShortName: CC:Crad Hole
Butler map: 58.2
Notes: HER: Crad Hole Ring cairn at SX67216650 with a 'central piller'. Feature '4' at 'Crad Hole Ring' is a pair of huts the larger of which has been converted into a cairn of 7.5 metres diameters by 0.6 metres high with a small pillar in the centre.
Nearby sites: SX67216650

Crad Hole Ring 2 Cairn

OS Map: SX 67210 66500
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV5260
ShortName: CC:CradHole2
Notes: HER: Roughly circular group of stones on Hickaton Hill, north-east of a Bronze Age hut circle settlement. May possibly be the remains of two concentric circles of stones, 8-10 meters in diameter.

These two circles include one that has been covnverted into a cairn, see separate record for Crad Hole Ring.
Nearby sites: SX67216650

Hembury Castle (Buckfast) Fort

OS Map: SX 72608 68455
NMR record: SX 76 NW 7
HER record: MDV7776
Megalithic Portal: 34692
Alternate name: Hembury Castle Fort
ShortName: FT HembCastle
Notes: "Hembury castle. Ia hill fort with medieval castle within. Hill fort in hembury woods, south east of holne. A camp situated on the summit with a good view to the south and east. The main camp consists of an irregular area surrounded by a fosse and vallum with a small rampart on the outer side of the fosse. The height from the top of the vallum to the bottom of the fosse is between 25-30 feet, and the area is about 7 acres. On the west side near the ditch is a mound about 30m in diameter and about 20 feet high. This is surrounded by a level platform with a scarped edge descending to the level of the interior of the camp. This may be of a later date than the main ramparts. A bronze celt and some sling stones have been found within the area of the camp. The whole is on an enclosed moor with some trees growing on the area of the mound (ancient monuments)."
Nearby sites: SX72616846

Warmacombe 1 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 68590 67740
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV5180
ShortName: CN:Warmacombe1
Notes: HER: One of three mounds thought to be clearance dumps. Reported in the 1970s as having been removed; 'nothing archaeological' was found.
Nearby sites: SX68596774

Warmacombe 2 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 68470 67560
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV5181
ShortName: CN:Warmacombe2
Notes: HER: One of three mounds that appear to be clearance cairns. Reported in the 1970s as being largely removed, only a general spread remains.
Nearby sites: SX68476756

Warmacombe 3 Clearance Cairn

OS Map: SX 68560 67390
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV5182
ShortName: CN:Warmacombe3
Notes: HER: One of three mounds that appear to be clearance cairns. Reported in the 1970s as being largely removed, only a general spread remains.
Nearby sites: SX68566739

Holne Ridge Reported Cairn

OS Map: SX 66000 69000
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV5251
ShortName: CN:HolneRidge
Notes: HER: Holne Ridge, tumulus indicated by Ordnance Survey, while making the 6 inch map.

NB. This description is so vague as to be of no use. For this reason this record is being marked as a duplicate to exclude it from most listings. It is only included for completeness of HER records.
Nearby sites: SX66006900

Gibby Coombe Cairnfield Master

OS Map: SX 68200 68900
NMR: No record found
HER record: MDV62227
ShortName: CN:Gibby
Notes: HER: Historic cairnfield north-west of Gibby Coombe. A scatter of around 70 small cairns lying within two large fields. These cairns are the result of clearance of surface stone.
Nearby sites: SX68206890