Where exactly is the Hairy Hands road on Dartmoor?

It's the B3212 between Postbridge and Two Bridges on Dartmoor. This stretch of moorland road became notorious for accidents in the early 1900s where drivers reported phantom hairy hands grabbing their steering wheels.

Is there a rational explanation for the Hairy Hands legend?

Most likely, yes. Early motorcycles and cars were mechanically unreliable, Dartmoor's roads were poor, and the weather could turn conditions dangerous quickly. The road surface and camber may have had quirks that affected handling, and traumatised survivors probably sought an explanation that made psychological sense.

Do people still see the Hairy Hands on the B3212 today?

It's unclear if anyone still reports them. Modern vehicles are far more reliable than 1920s motorcycles, and the road has improved over the past century, so accidents happen much less frequently now.

Dartmoor Tors & Legends

The Hairy Hands of Dartmoor: When Drivers Lost Control on the B3212 and Blamed Something Invisible

The Hairy Hands legend grew around early-twentieth-century accidents on the B3212 between Postbridge and Two Bridges, including a fatal motorcycle crash in 1921. Later accounts claimed that phantom hands seized handlebars or steering wheels, combining documented accidents with witness stories and Dartmoor folklore.

17 August 20268 min read