Dartmoor National Park Authority

Dartmeet

This PAL is divided into three units: Holne Moor, Yar Tor/Corndon Down and Riddon Ridge

This is an outstanding archaeological landscape of international importance, recognised as being one of the best preserved in North West Europe, most notably for its extensive prehistoric field systems.  It plays a significant role in the history of archaeological discovery on Dartmoor as it was the location of a series of very important excavations in the 1970s and 80s, which helped establish the importance of Dartmoor’s prehistoric landscapes and also to improve our understanding of medieval field systems.

Prehistoric ritual monuments, about 4000 years old, are scattered throughout the PAL: these include a stone row and a number of round stony burial mounds (cairns). A prehistoric  field system extends from Holne Moor in the south, over the river Dart and northwards as far as Riddon Ridge – over three thousand hectares (c. 7,400 acres) in size.  Long straight parallel field boundaries (known as reaves) can clearly be seen crossing the landscape in a NNE/SSW direction.  Others run in the opposite direction, subdividing the long narrow fields.  Reaves appear on the ground as low stony, vegetation-covered banks. The field system is about three and a half thousand years old and contains the remains of stone built round houses (hut circles) and associated enclosures.

Overlying the prehistoric field system in places are later, medieval fields, dating from the 12th or 13th century, defined by low stony banks with ditches.  Within the medieval fields are slight traces of cultivation, such as low terraces (lynchets) or ridge and furrow.  The remains of two or three medieval longhouses survive.

The southernmost part of the PAL, beyond the limits of the prehistoric field system, contains extensive areas of tin-working, dating from the medieval period through to the 19th century. Holne Moor is crossed by a number of leats.

Significant parts of Holne Moor and Riddon Ridge have been designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs); the Yar Tor/Corndon Down area has yet to be assessed.

This is also an outstanding area for ecological interest and includes parts of two SSSI’s and two SACs (Dartmoor & South Dartmoor Woods). The area includes a wide range of UK BAP species with several having their national stronghold in this area.

The key species found within the PAL are listed below with those found on adjacent land in brackets, Plants – English Sundew, Insects- Double Line moth, High Brown Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth, Bog Hoverfly, Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, (Blue Ground Beetle, Kugelann’s Ground Beetle, Hornet Robber Fly).  Birds- Reed Bunting, Curlew, Snipe, Lapwing, (Nightjar). Mammals - Greater Horseshoe Bat, (Dormouse, Otter).

What it should look like: The most appropriate vegetation for this site would be a mosaic of short acid grassland (averaging between 5 cm and 15cm in height), western heath and heath. The gorse and heathers should be managed on a rotation (c12 years) to provide a range of heights from a maximum of 50 cm to recently burnt ground. In some areas the existing Gorse and Bracken are causing damage and should be controlled.  The ultimate aim would be their removal from substantial areas of the PAL except in those specific areas where there is UK BAP butterfly interest or areas of western heath on steep slopes with no archaeological interest. The current extent of tree cover is acceptable but there should be a presumption against any expansion of woodland.

Interactive Mapping (GIS) System

The link below provides access to an interactive map which shows the PAL at Dartmeet.  You can zoom in further on a specific area of interest using the tools provided.  (For additional help using the system please refer to our GIS help page.)

Page updated 16 September 2009