Explore the real places in Dartmoor that appear in The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Baker Street, London, Baskerville Hall, Grimpen Mire, Devonport, Devonshire, Stapleton's House and 10 more.
221B Baker Street — Sherlock Holmes' residence
The novel begins here when Sir Henry Baskerville arrives at Holmes's lodgings with Dr. Mortimer, bearing the family curse of the Baskerville Hound. Watson and Holmes examine the mysterious portrait and the weathered manuscript describing how the Hound has haunted the Baskerville family for generations. Holmes immediately deduces the nature of the case and dispatches Watson to Devonshire as his eyes and ears on the moor.
Baker Street was London's most prestigious address for private residences in Victorian times. The fictional 221B inspired genuine pilgrimage, and the building Conan Doyle envisioned corresponds to real addresses on the street where wealthy professional men and physicians kept their rooms.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum operates at 221B Baker Street, featuring Victorian-era rooms decorated as Holmes's study and bedroom. The address is one of London's most visited literary landmarks, attracting millions of devotees.
Visit: The Sherlock Holmes Museum (museum)
Near Grimpen, Devonshire — The ancestral seat of the Baskerville family
This is the grand estate where Sir Henry Baskerville intends to settle after inheriting the title. Watson stays here as Sir Henry's guest, observing the atmospheric Yorkshire countryside, the ancient family portraits, and the weight of the curse. Mrs. Barrymore and her husband, the butler, harbor dark secrets within its walls. The Hound appears on the moor near the hall, and the final confrontation between Holmes, Watson, and the culprit unfolds on the grounds.
Baskerville Hall is a fictional estate, but Conan Doyle based it on grand Victorian country houses common throughout Devonshire, such as Knightshays Court and Ugbrooke House. The isolated moor setting was inspired by the desolate landscape of Dartmoor, which Doyle visited in 1901.
No singular 'Baskerville Hall' exists, though Dartmoor estates like Knightshays Court (now National Trust property) capture the atmosphere Doyle evoked. Literary fans explore the general Grimpen area seeking the fictional hall's location.
Dartmoor, Devonshire — The treacherous bog at the heart of the mystery
The Grimpen Mire is a vast, desolate swamp on Dartmoor where the Hound is unleashed and where the final climactic confrontation occurs. Watson and Holmes pursue Jack Stapleton and the gigantic phosphorescent hound through the fog-enshrouded bog. Sir Charles Baskerville was found dead near its edges, and Stapleton uses his knowledge of the hidden paths to his advantage. The mire represents both the wild danger of nature and the obscuring darkness of the mystery.
Grimpen Mire is fictional, but inspired by the genuine bogland of Dartmoor, particularly around Grimspound and the treacherous Fur Tor area. Dartmoor's mires have been feared by locals for centuries as places where travelers could disappear into quicksand-like terrain.
Dartmoor remains one of England's wildest landscapes, protected as a national park. The actual mires and bogs exist and are still dangerous in places, though marked paths guide visitors safely. Literary enthusiasts visit Dartmoor seeking the inspiration for the novel's haunted landscape.
Visit: Dartmoor National Park (park)
The harbor town — Gateway to the American venture
Devonport is mentioned as the point of departure where Sir Charles Baskerville returns from his American holdings before his mysterious death. The harbor represents both the commercial world and the threshold between the safety of civilization and the dark mystery awaiting him on Devonshire moors. Holmes studies shipping records and American connections here to uncover the Stapleton family's background.
Devonport was Britain's premier naval dockyard by the Victorian era, established in the 16th century and expanded dramatically during the Industrial Revolution. By 1901, it was one of Europe's most important naval facilities, the departure point for ships destined for colonies worldwide.
Devonport remains an active Royal Naval Dockyard, though its role has diminished. The historic dockyard is partially open for tours and public access, and the town preserves much of its Victorian-era maritime character along the waterfront.
Visit: Royal Naval Dockyard Devonport (historic site)
Merripit House, near Grimpen — The naturalist's quarters and base of operations
Merripit House is Jack Stapleton's residence, where he poses as a naturalist and butterfly collector while secretly breeding and training the enormous hound that terrorizes the moor. Watson visits repeatedly and meets Stapleton's supposed sister (actually his wife), Miss Cecile Stapleton. Holmes and Watson discover the secret kennel and breeding operation here. The final pursuit begins from this location when Holmes and Watson corner Stapleton and his supernatural-seeming creature.
Merripit House is fictional, but Conan Doyle modeled it on the remote farmhouses and manor houses scattered across Dartmoor's periphery. Naturalists and amateur scientists commonly lived in such isolated country dwellings during the Victorian era.
No specific 'Merripit House' exists as a marked landmark, though fans of the novel explore the Grimpen area searching for its potential real-world inspiration. The landscape of isolated moorland houses remains largely unchanged.
Near Grimpen — The eccentric lawyer's belligerent manor
Old Mr. Frankland, a cantankerous country lawyer perpetually engaged in lawsuits with his neighbors, lives here in irascible seclusion. Holmes befriends him to gather intelligence about the moor and the movements of suspicious persons. Frankland's obsession with litigation and his binoculars trained on the landscape provide crucial observations. His character represents the eccentricity of rural gentry and the narrow-minded feudalism of the English countryside.
Frankland's House is fictional, but represents the class of independent country lawyers who maintained small estates throughout rural Devon in the 19th century. Such figures were common sources of local gossip and information about their neighborhoods.
No specific house marked as Frankland's exists. The Grimpen area retains numerous Victorian-era stone houses that could match Doyle's description, now mostly private residences.
Village near Grimpen — Where the mystery deepens
This small village is where Watson encounters Laura Lyons, the woman at the center of the blackmail plot. She admits to writing the letter that lured Sir Charles Baskerville to his death, though she was ignorant of the Hound. Watson investigates the village postal system and learns crucial details about Stapleton's movements and identities. The village represents both the facade of civilized rural society and the hidden degradation beneath.
Coombe Tracey is a fictional village, but inspired by the small hamlets and villages surrounding Dartmoor, such as Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Chagford. These villages served as centers of local commerce and gossip for surrounding moorland communities.
No 'Coombe Tracey' exists by that name, though the landscape of small Devonshire villages persists. Widecombe and Chagford are actual villages that capture the character Doyle evoked in his fictional version.
London residence — Where the Baskerville papers are examined
Holmes examines the ancient manuscript detailing the Baskerville curse here, consulting with Watson and Dr. Mortimer about the historical document. The house serves as a point of scholarly investigation, where Holmes's rational methodology begins to crack the supernatural veneer of the curse. References to family papers and genealogical records are studied in careful Victorian scholarly fashion.
Pax Court House is a fictional address in London, representing the scholarly residences of Victorian naturalists and antiquarians. Such houses were repositories of family documents and historical manuscripts.
No specific 'Pax Court House' exists. The area where it would be located reflects modern London's commercial and residential character.
Dartmoor — The escaped convict's refuge
Princetown Prison on Dartmoor is the setting for a subplot involving Selden, the escaped murderer. Watson believes Selden to be connected to the Hound's attacks, and there is genuine fear that a violent criminal roams the moor. Holmes and Watson suspect Selden of involvement in the mystery, though he proves to be a red herring—a genuine criminal whose presence obscures the truth about Stapleton's machinations. The prison represents the dark underbelly of Victorian civilization exiled to the wild moor.
Princetown Prison (now Dartmoor Prison) was established in 1809 on Dartmoor as a high-security facility for the most dangerous offenders. By the Victorian era, it was one of Britain's most notorious prisons, feared by the local population and literature alike.
Dartmoor Prison remains an active high-security facility, though visitors can view the exterior and learn about its history. The museum and visitor center explain the prison's role in both history and culture.
Visit: Dartmoor Prison Museum (museum)
The woodland path — Where Sir Charles Baskerville dies
The Yew Alley is the secluded woodland path where Sir Charles Baskerville's body is discovered, apparently killed by the supernatural Hound. Watson examines the scene and finds traces of the creature's appearance. The alley becomes a symbol of vulnerability and isolation—despite its association with civilization and the estate, it is penetrated by wild forces. Holmes reconstructs the scene, finding evidence of human rather than demonic agency.
The Yew Alley is fictional but typical of Victorian estate grounds, where ancient yew trees lined formal garden paths and walkways. Yew trees were common features of English country estates, valued for their longevity and association with antiquity.
No specific marked 'Yew Alley' exists as a tourist destination. Devonshire estates preserve similar yew-lined walkways that evoke the atmosphere Doyle described.
The wild moorland — Setting for the climax
The Dartmoor Forest and surrounding moorland form the atmospheric backdrop for the entire novel's climax. Holmes pursues Stapleton and the Hound across the desolate landscape in thick fog. Watson witnesses the phosphorescent creature bounding toward them before Holmes shoots it. The moorland represents the wild, uncivilized world that Stapleton has artificially created his monster to command. The final confrontation sees Stapleton himself lost in Grimpen Mire, swallowed by the bog.
Dartmoor is an actual high moorland plateau in Devon covering approximately 368 square miles. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times and features Bronze Age stone circles and settlements. By the 19th century, it was valued for its wild, remote character and inspired numerous literary works.
Dartmoor remains a protected national park and is actively visited by hikers, naturalists, and literary pilgrims. The landscape is largely unchanged from Doyle's era, making it one of Britain's most authentic links to Victorian literature. The moor hosts Bronze Age monuments, wild ponies, and extensive walking trails.
Visit: Dartmoor National Park (park)
Dartmoor — Ancient stone formation and spectral landmark
Hound Tor is a dramatic rocky outcropping on Dartmoor that serves as an atmospheric landmark in the novel's setting. The tor's name itself evokes the Hound legend and represents the wild, ancient character of the landscape. Watson describes the moor's desolate beauty and mysterious atmosphere with Hound Tor as part of the brooding scenery. The landscape's ancient geological features contrast sharply with the contemporary mystery unfolding there.
Hound Tor is a genuine granite tor (rocky peak) on Dartmoor, formed by natural geological processes over millions of years. Near it stand the remains of a medieval village, indicating Dartmoor's long human occupation. The tor's distinctive shape has made it a landmark since ancient times.
Hound Tor is freely accessible to visitors across Dartmoor's open moorland. A walking trail leads to the tor, which offers panoramic views of Dartmoor and connects to the nearby deserted medieval settlement, making it a popular destination for hikers and literary enthusiasts.
Visit: Hound Tor and Deserted Medieval Village (landmark)
Market town — Base for local investigations
Chagford is a real market town near Grimpen where Watson establishes his base of operations while investigating the Baskerville mystery. The town serves as a connection to civilization while remaining close to the moor. Watson visits the local inn and gathers information from townspeople about Stapleton and the other principals. The town represents the threshold between the modern world and the wild, ancient landscape of Dartmoor.
Chagford is a genuine historic market town on the northern edge of Dartmoor, granted a charter in the 13th century. By the Victorian era, it was a center for local commerce and agriculture, serving the surrounding moorland villages and farms. Its position made it a natural hub for travelers and investigators visiting the moor.
Chagford remains a charming market town with Victorian and Georgian architecture. The town square, parish church, and local pubs are preserved much as they would have appeared in Doyle's era. It serves as a genuine base for visitors exploring Dartmoor and the literary locations of the novel.
Visit: Chagford Town Centre (landmark)
Exeter — Seat of ecclesiastical authority and ancient history
Exeter Cathedral represents the historical continuity and ecclesiastical authority of Devonshire. While not a major setting, it anchors the novel's geography and represents the settled civilization from which the Baskerville mystery emerges. The cathedral symbolizes the ancient Christian heritage that contrasts with both the pagan moorland and the modern criminal conspiracy.
Exeter Cathedral is one of England's greatest Gothic structures, begun in the 12th century and substantially completed by the 16th century. It has survived Civil War bombardment and World War II bombing. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Exeter and represents centuries of continuous Christian presence in Devon.
Exeter Cathedral is a functioning place of worship and major tourist attraction. Visitors can tour the interior, which features spectacular vaulting and medieval stained glass. The cathedral remains the religious and cultural center of Exeter.
Visit: Exeter Cathedral (historic site)
Isolated moorland — Site of supernatural manifestations
Wildford Moor is the desolate area where the luminous Hound is repeatedly sighted, creating a sense of supernatural dread among the moorland population. Farmers and locals report seeing the glowing creature, which Holmes eventually reveals to be painted with phosphorescent paint. The moor's reputation for haunting is deliberately cultivated by Stapleton to terrorize his victim and prevent investigation. Watson experiences genuine fear while investigating the moor at night, witnessing the creature's eerie phosphorescence.
Wildford Moor is inspired by the extensive moorlands of Dartmoor, which have hosted folklore and ghost stories for centuries. The local population's superstitions and fear of the moor are authentic historical elements of Dartmoor culture.
The moorland surrounding Wildford remains accessible to visitors across Dartmoor's open landscape. The wild, ancient character of the landscape has changed little, preserving the atmospheric qualities Doyle evoked.
Visit: Dartmoor National Park (park)
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