Dartmoor’s windswept landscapes and ancient stone circles have inspired supernatural tales for centuries. These enduring legends reveal why locals still speak in hushed tones about the moor’s eerie power.
1. The Hound of the Baskervilles
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s infamous tale drew inspiration from Dartmoor’s:
- Fox Tor Mires (the real Grimpen Mire)
- Local accounts of spectral black dogs
- Dangerous bogs once kept by prisoner wardens
Visitors to Grimspound’s Bronze Age ruins often report an unsettling presence at dusk.
2. The Witch of Wistman’s Wood
This twisted oak forest harbors stories of:
- A 17th-century cunning woman who practiced herbal magic
- Strange lights seen dancing between the trees
- Unnatural silence – birds allegedly avoid nesting here
Hikers claim their compasses spin wildly near the wood’s center.
3. Jay’s Grave: The Cursed Resting Place
At this roadside burial site near Hound Tor:
- Kitty Jay, a servant girl who took her own life in the 1700s, lies buried
- Fresh flowers mysteriously appear daily
- Photographs often show unexplained misty figures
Locals warn against taking anything from the grave.
4. The Demon Dartmoor Beast
Sightings persist of:
- A panther-like creature stalking the moors since the 1970s
- Livestock mutilations with unusual precision
- Recent thermal camera footage showing large, unidentified animals
Naturalists suggest escaped big cats, but moor dwellers know better.
5. The Pixies of Dewerstone
Near Shaugh Prior, folklore tells of:
- Mischievous sprites leading travelers astray
- The Devil’s Rock, where pixies held midnight revels
- Modern disappearances near the River Plym’s gorges
Hikers report hearing laughter where no people are present.
6. The Grey Lady of Okehampton Castle
This Norman ruin’s most famous ghost:
- Walks the battlements in tattered medieval dress
- Predicted deaths by appearing to castle residents
- Still glimpsed by photographers capturing sunset shots
7. The Mystery of Childe’s Tomb
This ancient cross on Fox Tor marks:
- A nobleman who froze to death after killing his horse for warmth
- A curse on anyone who disturbs the stones
- Strange markings that appear after heavy rain
8. The Black Army of Dartmoor
Locals speak of:
- Phantom Roman soldiers marching near Princetown
- The sound of clanking armor on still nights
- A lost legion that vanished in the mires
Archaeologists confirm Roman activity in the area.
Experience the Legends Yourself
- Join ghost walks in Princetown or Tavistock
- Visit at twilight when shadows play tricks
- Listen carefully – the moor whispers its secrets
These tales endure because Dartmoor remains untamed. Whether myth or truth, they remind us that some mysteries resist explanation.
