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!
About the database listings: In all listings clicking on the photo or the site name will open a page for the site with a larger photo and further details from the database. The database now has over 6680 records covering nearly all publicly listed sites on Dartmoor including around 4800 round houses. This level of detail is of interest to archaeologists but tends to swamp listings of sites more likely to be of interest for walkers. For this reason, the listings default to around 550 core sites only. These are the stone circles, stone rows and the ring cairns listed by Turner. The default search radius is 2 km. The controls below the map can be used to start a new search by entering a 6- or 8-digit reference (without the prefix "SX"). The search radius can be specified and you can add incremental Display layers of detail on top of the core sites. If using a more detailed layer you will need to decrease the search radius to avoid getting hundreds of search results.
These listings have incorporated, matched up and merged all of the records from all of the major archaeological listings including: Worth, Grinsell, Turner, Butler, Bill Radcliffe, Sandy Gerrard, Megalithic Portal, the National Monument Records and the Historic Environment Records. The author would like to thank Bill, Sandy, the lovely people both at Megalithic Portal (especially Anne Tate who did an amazing job to link listings) and at ACE Archaeology for collaborative work over the years to synchronise and correct listings across the various websites which now interlink. A culmination of years of work the final merger of cairn records took 3 months of cross referencing in 2017 the result being a snapshot of the records at that time. This data has in turn been refined since by field work and research. The round house data was supplied by Sandy Gerrard. Grid references are in order of accuracy: from Google Earth satellite, if visible and found, from a Garmin GPS reading, if visited by the author and from the literature otherwise. Individual site pages will state the source of the grid reference and provide satellite imagery. If a site listing lacks a photo it has not yet been visited by the author in which case the grid reference is from the literature.
Currently the database only includes sites which can be represented by a grid reference. Reaves are not included as they require GIS shape technology which is beyond the current capability of this system. To see the sources for the records, look at the tables on the resources menu. The database listings can also be viewed on a Google map and downloaded as GPS datasets for Garmin devices.
Corrections, or any feedback or suggestions are very welcome, email: info@dartmoorwalks.org.uk.
NOTE: Clicking on the icons for each monument in the map will give the name of the site. You can zoom in and out and drag the map around.
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 64317 91600
HER: MDV6886
Megalithic Portal: 1858
The Stone Rows of GB: Cosdon
PMD: Cosdon Stone Row
ShortName: SR Cosdon
Butler map: 40.6
DPD page: 152
Notes: "A triple stone row lies near the summit of Cosdon Hill and is 447 feet in length measured from the centre of the circled cairn which stands at the west end. At 225 feet from the west end there is a slight change in direction and the rows turn somewhat northward. This change of direction may be said to divide the row into western and an eastern section. Overall width, western part is 8 feet 10 inches, eastern part 10 feet 8 inches. The cairn is 26 feet in diameter and contains the remains of two cists; the retaining circle is very irregular. There is no formal feature to mark the termination of the rows at their eastern end"
Nearby sites: SX 64317 91600
Distance: 0.71km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 64331 91597
HER: MDV48906
Megalithic Portal: 813
PMD: Cosdon Stone Row
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill Stone Row Platform Cairn Circle and Cist
ShortName: CT Cosdon Row
Butler map: 40.6
Butler Vol 5: p.234 & Fig.165
DPD page: 152
Grinsell: ST 5
Turner: E15
Notes: "The cairn associated with the Cosdon Hill triple stone row is 26 feet in diameter and contains the remains of two cists; the retaining circle is very irregular. Of the two cists, one is intact, the other has been robbed of the cover-stone and two side-stones." Lethbridge diagram p.152, cists pictured. Butler Cosdon Hill Stone Row - Vol. 2. Map 40.6 (diagram p.205).
Nearby sites: SX 64331 91597
Distance: 0.73km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63717 91719
HER: MDV6924
Megalithic Portal: 10325
Alternate name: Cosdon Beacon 5 Platform Cairn Circle
ShortName: PC Cosdon 5
Butler map: 40.7.5
DPD page: 153
Grinsell: ST 1
Turner: E1
Notes: Cairn 13.5m diameter with signs of retaining circle. Crowned by modern stone heap. HER MDV6894. See also: NMR 444167. Lethbridge diagram p.152, photo bottom right p.153. Turner E1 (diagram p.59). Butler Cosdon Beacon 5 Vol. 2. Map 40.7.5. (diagram of Cosdon Summit cairns on p.207).
Nearby sites: SX 63717 91719
Distance: 0.24km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63611 91502
HER: MDV6885
Megalithic Portal: 10325
Alternate name: Cosdon Beacon 1 Cairn
ShortName: CN Cosdon 1
Butler map: 40.7.1
DPD page: 153
Grinsell: ST 3
Notes: Cairn 27m diameter, height 1.8m, crowned by modern stone heap and OS trig pillar. Large hollows in the top, from robbing, would have protected beacon fires. Butler Cosdon Beacon 1 Vol. 2. Map 40.7.1. (diagram of Cosdon Summit cairns on p.207).
Nearby sites: SX 63611 91502
Distance: 0.00km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63730 91654
HER: MDV6925
Megalithic Portal: 10325
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill 4 Cairn Circle & Cist
ShortName: CN Cosdon 4
Butler map: 40.7.4
Butler Vol 5: p.183 & Fig.125
DPD page: 153
Grinsell: ST 1b
Notes: "Cairn mound measures 7m in diam and stands up to 0.6m high. A central hollow, 2m by 1.8m by 1m deep, is faced on two sides with large slabs which may represent the cist described by falcon in 1905 as being 4ft long by 2ft wide. A ring of edge set stones around this cist is visible and may represent an internal kerb, which survives largely as a buried feature.". Lethbridge diagram p.152, photo bottom left p.153. Butler Cosdon Beacon 4 Vol. 2. Map 40.7.4 (diagram of Cosdon Summit cairns on p.207). Barrow Report 4 quotes Rowe (1872) and Rowe on this feature. See also Bate (1862) and Rowe's earlier account (1830). For Falcon's cist (1905) "Two stones set on edge on the eastern periphery of the mound may represent a second cist." see entry SiteID=463.
NB. The grid reference SX 63730 91654 had been assigned by the author to this feature - possibly as read from Google or a subsequent visit. Unfortunately no explanation can be found so rolling back to previous Garmin reading taken on 12/09/21.
Nearby sites: SX 63730 91654
Distance: 0.19km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63708 91593
HER: MDV6898
Megalithic Portal: 10325
PMD: Cosdon Summit S.
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill 3 Embanked Cairn Circle and Cist
ShortName: CT Cosdon 3
Butler map: 40.7.3
Butler Vol 5: p.164 & Fig.105
DPD page: 152
Grinsell: ST 2
Turner: B14
Barrow Report: 21
Notes: "Ring cairn and cist on summit ridge of Cawsand Hill. Cairn forms part of a cemetery including at least 2 round cairns, 2 ring cairns and one platform cairn. Earthwork survives as a 2m wide and 0.4m high circular rubble bank, faced with close set stones around its outer edge and surrounds an internal area measuring 18m ew by 17m ns. A mound measuring 6m in diam and 0.2m high stands in the centre of the area enclosed by the circular bank and contains a stone cist with 2 slabs surviving." Turner B14(diagram p.59). Butler Cosdon Beacon 3 Vol. 2. Map 40.7.3 (diagram Vol. 5. p.164). NMR Cairn B. Possible cist? This site is difficult to photograph, the photo shows part of one side of the ring.
Nearby sites: SX 63708 91593
Distance: 0.14km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63740 91653
PMD: Cosdon Summit N.
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill 6 Cist
ShortName: CT Cosdon 6
Notes: The cist was originally noted by Falcon as being approximately 3 1/2ft to 4ft long and 2ft wide, aligned apparently NE-SW. The SW and NE sides were fairly recognizable. This cist is very near to the Cosdon Hill 4 cairn (SiteID=419, HER MDV6925) and the details of this site have been incorporated and sometimes confused by numerous authors. Butler perhaps gives a fleeting mention as "Two slabs on the edge of the pit are probably the sides of a cist." although it is not clear whethr this is a reference to part of Cosdon Hill 4. Neither the NMR nor the HER have separate entries for this feature but it is mentioned as part of the covreage of Cosdon Hill 4 "Two stones set on edge on the eastern periphery of the mound may represent a second cist." (MDV6925)
Nearby sites: SX 63740 91653
Distance: 0.20km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63716 91666
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill 7 Reported Cairn
ShortName: CN Cosdon 7
DPD page: 153
Notes: An arrangement a few paces north of cosdon Hill 4 and of a very similiar appearance. Might be a modern arrangement, perhaps the work of stone cutters? There is a notable cist shaped hole within this feature. Lethbridge diagram p.152, photo bottom right p.153. This feature appears not to be mentioned anywhere else.
Nearby sites: SX 63716 91666
Distance: 0.20km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Cosdon Hill Triple Stone Row
OS Map: SX 63663 91492
HER: MDV6928
Megalithic Portal: 10325
Alternate name: Cosdon Beacon 2 Stone Ring Cairn Circle
ShortName: RC Cosdon 2
Butler map: 40.7.2
DPD page: 152
Grinsell: ST 4
Turner: A6
Notes: Located 25m to east of Cosdon Beacon. A near circular bank 1.6m wide of double slab construction and about 21m across. Turner A6 (diagram p.59). NMR Cairn A. Butler Cosdon Beacon 2 Vol. 2. Map 40.7.2. (diagram of Cosdon Summit cairns on p.207).
Nearby sites: SX 63663 91492
Distance: 0.05km
OS Map: SX 63350 92479
HER: MDV13064
Megalithic Portal: 22695
Alternate name: Cosdon Hill N.4 Encircled Cairn
ShortName: EC Cosdon N4
Butler map: 40.9
Grinsell: ST 10
Notes: Cairn at the junction of two Bronze Age reaves. "Round cairn on Cosdon Hill, measuring 7.3 metres in diameter and standing up to 0.8 metres high. A number of edge set stones visible around the southern side of the cairn mound suggests the existence of a kerb. There is a hollow in the north side of the mound, probably the result of partial robbing or an early excavation."
Nearby sites: SX 63350 92479
Distance: 1.01km
Prehistoric Dartmoor Walks: Dartmoor Site: Little Hound Tor Stone Circle
OS Map: SX 63285 89611
HER: MDV4374
Megalithic Portal: 528
PMD: White Moor Stone Circle
ShortName: SC White Moor
DPD page: 154
Turner: G11
Notes: The circle is in good condition today but only 13 stones remained standing when the Dartmoor Exploration Committee re-erected 5 of the stones in 1896. The site is a fairly accurate circle of circumference 20.2m. A cairn lies close to the circle, a heather covered mound about 8.5m across. The White Moor stone lies 160m to the SE of the circle and it is thought to be contemporary with the circle but probably out of position having been re-erected at some point. It is now a boundary marker. See also, Legendary Dartmoor: Dartmoor's Bronze Age Landscape of Whitmoor.
Nearby sites: SX 63285 89611
Distance: 1.92km
OS Map: SX 62656 90597
HER: MDV6887
Megalithic Portal: 36009
ShortName: ST:WhiteHill
Nearby sites: SX 62656 90597
Distance: 1.31km
OS Map: SX 63299 89545
HER: MDV4372
Megalithic Portal: 10327
Alternate name: White Moor Stone (NW of) Cairn
ShortName: CN White Moor
Butler map: 40.5
Grinsell: ST 7
Notes: "Cairn, nw of white moor stone … turf and heather covered, in good condition … small cairn 64m nw of whitmoor stone, … (grinsell) cairn, slightly hollowed towards centre. Diameter 7.0m, height 0.6m"
Nearby sites: SX 63299 89545
Distance: 1.98km
Page last updated 18/02/24