Land Holdings

The DPA & High House Moor

The DPA has owned High House Moor(HHM) since 1968.

In 1959 High House Moor, and Dendles Moor to the east, were acquired by a forestry company with plans for planting conifers.  Forestry was not under planning control at that time and despite a campaign against afforestation, planting on Dendles Moor commenced in 1960 and the only way to save HHM was by purchase.  The DPA was against conifer planting because it would spoil the prehistoric and historic sites, reduce the amenity value for access and enjoyment (including the magnificent views over south Devon) and destroy the wildlife.  In 1964 HHM was bought by  an individual on behalf of the DPA.  The DPA launched an appeal for money to purchase the site in July 1964, which reached its target and was closed in late 1965.  When it became DPA property it was with a view to offering it 'to the National Trust or some similar body or to be vested in trustees'.  A deed of trust was set up in 1969 with three trustees.

Sharpitor Summit

Location: near Burrator, to the west of the moor. Close to Princetown-Yelverton road, B3212. Grid reference SX 559704. Area: 12.41 hectares (30 acres). Access: There is easy access from the B3212 and from Burrator and the neighbouring area.

Description: The land is unfenced open moorland, and includes the summit of Sharpitor and surrounding area (a rough pentangle). There are five DPA boundary stones – one at each corner.

Swincombe

Location: South east of Princetown, near the junction of the Rivers Swincombe and Brake, north-east of Fox Tor Mire and north of Childe’s Tomb. Grid reference SX 624711. Area 19.35 ha (50 acres).

Description: The land is unfenced open moorland, within the South Dartmoor SSSI. It includes the land where the Swincombe and Strane rivers meet and runs north-east on both sides of the Swincombe, ending at the wall which runs north-west from Ter Hill. As well as the river, there are extensive areas of mire and grass moorland. There are the remains of tin workings and two leats. There are ten DPA boundary stones.

High House Waste

Description: The land is bordered by streams on the east and west - Broadall Lake and the Ford Brook. High House Waste is within both the South Dartmoor and Dendles Wood Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Most of the site is grass moor or heath; there is an area of upland oakwood and two areas of valley mire on the east-facing slope. There is a ten-year management plan and a grazing tenant. There are two Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The northern newtake wall follows the line of a Bronze Age reave. There is a prehistoric settlement in the north-east corner and remains of a possibly medieval farmstead with approach tracks in the centre of the site. Although we have seen Dartford Warblers here in the past few years, there have been no recent sightings.  The species has extended its range greatly in recent years and the pairs that are appearing in gorse habitat on Dartmoor are just part of this extension.

 

Location: on the south-west of the moor, near Cornwood. Grid reference SX610625. Area 57 hectares (142 acres). Access: There are gates in both the north and west walls, as well as into the woodland to the east.