Bennett's Cross — Attraction in West Devon

Bennett's Cross is one of many stone crosses in Dartmoor. They were erected as way-markers across the moors before the construction of the roads; boundary markers between parishes or landowners; and memorials or sites of worship. Bennett's Cross is of unknown age. It is first mentioned in 1702 but its roughly hewn shape suggests it may be much older. Some of the Dartmoor crosses are a thousand years old. Bennett's Cross is most likely a way marker for the route between Moretonhampstead and Two Bridges and boundary marker for the parishes of Chagford and North Bovey. It was later used as a boundary marker for the Headland Warren, the WB carved on one face likely stands for Warren Bounds. It was also used to mark the boundary of the Vitifer Mine. The name may allude to the Benedictine order of monks, 16th century miner William Bennett or 18th century solicitor Ellery Bennett who reportedly found the cross fallen and erected it at its...

My favourite Dartmoor Cross. Easily accessible from the B3212, and with superb views across the Moor, it is highly photogenic, being covered with numerous different lichens and mosses, and having a quirky and irregular shape ( and posture). When the Heather and gorse is in flower it is especially beautiful, and if you're lucky you may find Highland cattle nearby. Parking if you can't walk far is just 100 yards away ( enough room for 6...

You could miss it as you drive past ,a small granite cross set a little way in from the road amongst the Heather .there's a space to park your car but only about 6 spaces . If there's no space you'll have to catch it on way back .. In distance is the ?Hameldown Tor that you can walk to.Opportunity to also see the Highland cattle, wild horses or sheep that...