Hound Tor Deserted Medieval Village
Newton Abbot, Devon
Four 13th century Dartmoor longhouses reached with your dog across open moor. Free, always open, and one of the best free sites in the portfolio.
This is one of the best free sites English Heritage hold if you have a dog. Hound Tor Deserted Medieval Village is a cluster of 13th century stone longhouses on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, built on land farmed since the Bronze Age. In a longhouse the family lived at one end and the animals at the other, and the layout of each building, including the drains, is still clearly readable in the granite.
Whilst you read the longhouses out of the stone and take in a hamlet abandoned in the early 15th century, probably as the climate worsened, your dog gets the walk in across open moor from the Hound Tor car park: granite tors, close cropped moorland grass, gorse and heather, skylarks in summer and long views over Dartmoor in every direction.
Free and open at all times. The site has no published dog policy, because it is unenclosed moorland, which means the moorland rules apply instead: Dartmoor ponies, sheep and cattle graze freely here and there are ground nesting birds, so leads on. Download the audio guide before you go, as signal is unreliable. No facilities on the moor.
At a Glance
- Site Type
- Medieval & Tudor
- Entry
- Free
- Members
- Free for English Heritage members
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Planning Your Visit
Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hound Tor Deserted Medieval Village dog friendly?
Yes — and it's genuinely one of the best free dog-friendly sites English Heritage has to offer. The medieval village sits on open, unenclosed moorland, so rather than a managed visitor attraction with restrictions, you're arriving across open Dartmoor with your dog: granite tors, close-cropped grass, gorse, heather and long views in every direction.
Are dogs allowed at Hound Tor Deserted Medieval Village year round?
Yes, the site is free and open at all times with no seasonal restrictions on dogs. Because it's unenclosed moorland, there's no gate to close and no opening hours to worry about, so you can visit any time of year.
What should I know before visiting Hound Tor Deserted Medieval Village with my dog?
Keep your dog on a lead throughout — Dartmoor ponies, sheep and cattle graze freely on the moor, and there are ground-nesting birds to protect. It's also worth downloading the audio guide before you leave home, as mobile signal on the moor is unreliable, and there are no facilities on site, so come prepared.
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