Discovering the Folklore of Mysterious Dartmoor

Dartmoor is one of the most mysterious places in the UK – full of history dating back thousands of years, the landscape and the tales that surround it have inspired people for centuries, and there are plenty of spooky, mysterious and unusual stories about Dartmoor. Even famous writers like Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle have written about the eerie places that can be found in the area.

Winter is one of the best times to get out and see this side of Dartmoor – as mists roll across the moors and the low sun casts long shadows, you can see how these parts of the country have so many spooky stories – go to shamrockgift.com for cosy aran sweaters, and head to the moors to see for yourself – here are just a few of the stories from the area…

Hairy Hands – This is one of the most unusual stories of the region. A bridge on the B3212 is the site of these unusual events. It is said that a pair of hairy hands appear on the wheel of a car or the handlebars of a bike and steer the vehicle off the road. There have been many accidents in the spot and sightings of the hands have been recorded as far back as the 1920s.

Crazywell Pool – This deep pool is near to Camber Tor and it is said that it is bottomless. Legend has it that if you look into the pool on Midsummers eve, you will see an image in the water of the next parishioner to die.

The Dewerstone – This granite outcrop gets its name from Dewer – the local term used for the Devil. It sits just above Wistmans wood, and it is said that anyone venturing near the stone at night will be chased away by the Devil and his hounds that roam the woods below.