"Monastic Crosses" Top 5 Page for this destination Dartmoor National Park Local Custom Tip by freya_heaven

Dartmoor National Park Local Customs: 3 reviews and 3 photos

Hawsons Cross, sorry it blends in to the tree!

by freya_heaven

These wonderful Monastic crosses are dotted across Dartmoor. They were put here to guide the monks across the moor to and from the Abbys at Buckfast, Tavistock & Buckland, also travellers used them in the absence of paths, you could always see one cross from the last. Today it is a popular trail for walkers too.

These crosses vary greatly in age from as little a 100 years old to some being over 1000 years. You will see them in many different stages of decay from a granite stump to a full blown cross as in the photo.

This is Hawsons Cross near Holne, one of the arms was was broken off by a wagon wheel but was restored in 1952.

Website: http://www.dartmoor-crosses.org.uk/

Review Helpfulness: 2.5 out of 5 stars