AS one of the Festival of British Archaeology's many heritage events being held across the UK, West Devon residents were able to join a guided walk on Dartmoor this month.

The purpose of the walk, held in the Cox Tor area, was to visit some of the prehistoric monuments on the tor, and particularly to see the volunteers of the Dartmoor Preservation Association's conservation team surveying the summit cairns.

These cairns, although apparently just piles of rock, are very ancient, probably New Stone Age, Listed monuments under the care of English Heritage.

The DPA team has surveyed and repaired over 40 of these monuments on Dartmoor so far under the guidance of Dartmoor National Park and English Heritage archaeologist, Andy Crabb.

The Dartmoor Preservation Association carry out work to protect a number of archaeological and heritage sites on Dartmoor and new volunteers are always welcome.

If interested, contact the DPA office 01822 890646.

Further events are being held in the locality, including the Dartmoor National Park Authority's 'Hands on Heritage' event in Princetown Community Centre on August 1.