Grey Wethers

Grey Wethers consists of two stone circles positioned on Dartmoor's high ground, each roughly 30 meters across. One circle contains around 20 granite stones while the other holds around 30, forming distinctive rings of weathered boulders that still stand intact today.

These circles were built during the Bronze Age, with excavations revealing charcoal deposits at ground level inside both rings. The charcoal suggests people gathered here for fire-related rituals or ceremonies that held significance in their society.

The name comes from how local shepherds saw the stones as sheep appearing in the mist, with 'wether' being an old English word for a castrated ram. This naming reflects the intimate connection between the people who lived on the moor and the landscape around them.

The site sits on open moorland and can be reached by marked trails from the Fernworthy Forest car park across rolling terrain. The area is exposed to the elements, so visitors should prepare for changing weather and bring provisions since shelter and facilities are not available nearby.

This site stands at a higher elevation than any other prehistoric monument on Dartmoor and forms part of a larger complex with several burial mounds nearby. The combination of two large circles alongside additional smaller structures made this a special gathering place for ancient communities.

Location: Devon

Part of: Two stone circles known as The Grey Wethers, three round cairns, two ring cairns and an oval enclosure in Great Stannon Newtake

Website: https://megalithic.co.uk/article.php?x=263950&y=83150

GPS coordinates: 50.63196,-3.92620

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:01