About
Visiting Merrivale Stone Rows with your dog is a fantastic way to combine ancient history with a scenic walk in the heart of Dartmoor National Park. With its rows of standing stones and nearby cairns, this prehistoric site offers a peaceful and atmospheric destination you and your dog will love.
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your trip.
Dog Access and Rules
Merrivale Stone Rows is dog-friendly, allowing your four-legged friend to explore alongside you. As it’s an open, outdoor site, dogs are welcome, but keeping them on a lead or under close control is essential. Sheep and ponies graze throughout the moor, so keeping your dog in check ensures their safety as well as the welfare of the animals.
Things To See & Do
Merrivale Stone Rows is located on Dartmoor, near the village of Merrivale, about 4 miles from Tavistock. This mysterious site dates back to the Bronze Age, making it one of the oldest archaeological sites on the moor. The stone rows, cairns, and standing stones are thought to have had ceremonial or astronomical significance for those who built them, though their exact purpose remains a mystery.
Take a walk through the prehistoric stone rows with your dog, weaving in and out of the ancient stones. The site is relatively flat and easy to navigate, suitable for dogs of all energy levels.
The site consists of two parallel rows of stones, several stone circles, and burial cairns, all set within the rugged and remote Dartmoor landscape.
Merrivale offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Dartmoor landscape. Whether you’re admiring the vast moorland or the distant tors, it’s a breathtaking spot to take in the natural beauty with your dog.
If your dog enjoys more exercise, you can head to Vixen Tor or nearby rocky outcrops for a more challenging walk. Dartmoor’s tors offer great opportunities for climbing, with plenty of new sights and scents for your dog to explore.
Access and Facilities
Getting to Merrivale Stone Rows is straightforward, located off the B3357 road, which runs across Dartmoor between Princetown and Tavistock. There is a layby near the site where you can park, and from there, it’s a short walk to the stone rows. Public transport to Dartmoor is limited, but buses from Tavistock can get you part of the way, followed by a walk to the site. Driving is the most convenient way to reach Merrivale.
If you’re exploring Dartmoor on foot, the stone rows are a great stop-off point on longer walking routes across the moor.
This is a remote site with no facilities other than car parking.
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