Wayside cross near Saddle Bridge

This wayside cross sits on Down Ridge in the open moorland south west of Saddle Bridge, a scheduled monument from the medieval period. Such crosses were placed at important junctions and crossing points on moorland routes, serving as waymarkers and gathering places. The exact date of this cross is uncertain, but wayside crosses of this type are characteristic of medieval Dartmoor.

Today the cross remains a modest but significant landmark in the exposed moorland landscape. Its presence speaks to the long history of travel and trade across Dartmoor, where such markers were essential guides across featureless terrain. The site rewards those walking the ridge paths with a tangible connection to centuries of moorland movement.

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