Drizzlecombe
Megalithic complex
SX 592 671
An aptly named site this week for sure. To reach it take the same route to
Burrator reservoir as for Down Tor but turn right when you reach the
reservoir. Carry on and turn left to cross the dam over the reservoir and
head to Sheepstor (signed). Go through the village (the lanes are very
narrow) and carry on until you reach a left turn signed No through road.
Take this lane and carry on to a car park at the end near a bridge. This
is the same place to set off to the Yellowmead circles. For Drizzlecombe
walk towards the trees ahead and follow the fence around them until you
reach a grassy path heading due south. This path heads along the edge of
Eastern Tor until it meets a gravel track and a farmhouse where you take
the path NE along the side of the farmhouse wall. Continue along this and
you will reach the site.
Approaching Drizzlecombe with the Giant’s Basin cairn in the distance
The Drizzlecombe complex is a very impressive site beside the River Plym in the natural bowl on the slope of a gentle hill with a panoramic view of the horizon. There is no obvious alignment from this group although the Trowlesworthy Tors are prominent to the southwest. There is a stone NW of the standing stone at the south end of the most southerly row, which is set edge on pointing to Hen Tor due south. The stone rows are very striking, each one having a raised cairn at its head. The monument stands in an area extremely rich in Megalithic remains. There is an extensive pound close to the site in the west known as Whitten Knowles and a large pound and hut circle complex at Legis Tor to the southwest where the remains of decorated pottery have been found.
The site includes a group of small stone circles around the cairns, long rows, standing stones, cists, cairns, hut circles and pounds.
The SE cairn circle
A good starting point is the trio of cairns that are in a 50m SE–NW line. The SE cairn circle is just over 10m across and has 13 low stones and from it a 90m row extends SW ending with an impressive terminal stone near the Giant’s Basin cairn.
The 4.3m terminal stone near the Giant’s Basin cairn.
This stone stands 14ft (4.3m) high. Just to the south of this stone is a small cairn with a 150m row extending SW with another large terminal stone measuring 10.5ft (3.2m). This is the first feature you come to when you walk up to the site.
The central cairn circle
The central cairn circle is about 30ft (8.8m) diameter and has 12 stones tilted outwards, many are hidden in the tufts of long grass. A row also stretches from this cairn SW for 150m to a tilting terminal stone that is 8ft (2.4m) high.
The NW ring cairn
The NW ring cairn is 30ft (9m) across and consists of 9 small stones. This cairn has no row but nearly 300m SW is a solitary standing stone measuring 3ft (1m) that might have been the terminal stone for an intended but abandoned row.For more about Drizzlecombe visit the Drizzlecombe 2 page
Oct
2001