Improvements for car parking at Bonehill Down

The parking areas at Bonehill Down have benefited from some recent improvement works, funded by Dartmoor National Park and the British Mountaineering Council (BMC).

Three parking places close to Bonehill Rocks have been resurfaced after they’d become badly eroded and gullied. 

The work was funded by a £1,000 contribution by the BMC’s Mend Our Mountains campaign. 

Bonehill Down is a popular part of Dartmoor for walking, runners, day-trippers and more. It commands fantastic views to Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Hamel Down and further afield, with fascinating tors and granite formations close by. Bonehill Rocks are a popular buildering destination and are well known with rock climbers of all ages and abilities. 

Tim Russell, Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Recreation and Access Projects Officer, said: “The contribution from the BMC’s Mend our Mountains campaign, together with landowner support, really helped us get the job done.

"The area had suffered from erosion, mainly due to the Dartmoor weather, the lie of the land and frequent use so parking was becoming a bit of a challenge. The works have improved drainage and levelled the parking areas, making it easier for people to access and enjoy Bonehill Down, the tors and rocks nearby and the area’s natural beauty."

Dave Turnbull, BMC’s Head of Access, Conservation and Environmental Sustainability, said: “It’s great to see these improvements coming to fruition and we’d like to thank the National Park Authority for coordinating the work; Bonehill Rocks is a beautiful corner of Dartmoor and has been a popular site for rock climbers since the mid-1980s.”

Work was carried out by local firm Dartmoor Rural Services. Practical works improved drainage, redirected water runoff from the surrounding area, levelled up the car park surfaces and included the addition of locally sourced granite gravel.