Signal Coverage:

Generally good, but can be patchy within the quarry itself, so don’t rely on maps loading mid-walk. Best to check before you set off.

 

Unique Feature:

The double-windowed quarry ruins are one of Dartmoor’s most striking landmarks. Once home to the workers who carved out granite here, these old stone walls have been standing against the elements for over a century. You can almost picture the bustling industry that once filled this remote spot.

 

Historic Feature:

The tramway running through here isn’t just a convenient path - it was once a lifeline that carried Dartmoor’s famous granite all the way to Plymouth. From there, it helped build some of Britain’s most iconic landmarks, including London Bridge and Nelson’s Column. If you ever wonder how such huge slabs of stone were moved across Dartmoor, picture horse-drawn wagons trundling along these tracks, shifting thousands of tonnes of rock.

 

Quarry Origins:

Foggintor was one of Dartmoor’s busiest quarries, churning out high-quality granite from the early 1800s until it closed in 1906. The huge blocks quarried here didn’t just stay local - some ended up as part of Buckingham Palace. It’s hard to imagine now, with the quarry abandoned and filled with water, but this was once a place of hard graft, constant noise, and heavy machinery.

 

Nearby Pub:

The Plume of Feathers in Princetown is the perfect post-walk stop for food and a pint. Princetown itself is full of history - its famous Dartmoor Prison was built using stone from this very quarry. The prison’s imposing walls are a stark contrast to the wild beauty of the moor, but they’re a reminder of how much Dartmoor’s resources have shaped the surrounding communities.