The Hairy Hands of Dartmoor

Since 1921, drivers on the B3212 road across Dartmoor have reported seeing disembodied hairy hands grabbing their steering wheels, causing them to lose control. Several fatal accidents have been attributed to this bizarre phenomenon.

The Location

The B3212 crosses the wild landscape of Dartmoor between Postbridge and Two Bridges in Devon. The stretch of road where the incidents occur is remote and atmospheric, surrounded by the ancient moorland.

The First Incidents

In 1921, two separate fatal motorcycle accidents occurred on the same stretch of road within months. Survivors of related incidents described seeing large, hairy hands appearing on their handlebars before losing control.

The Description

Witnesses describe disembodied hands, large and covered with dark hair, that appear suddenly on steering wheels or handlebars. The hands grasp and force vehicles off the road. They appear solid but vanish after causing the accident.

The 1924 Incident

In 1924, a woman camping near the road awoke to see a large, hairy hand crawling up the outside of her caravan window. She made the sign of the cross, and the hand vanished. This incident remains the most detailed description.

Continuing Reports

Sightings and incidents have continued sporadically to the present day. Drivers report feeling their steering being fought by an invisible force. The reputation of the road has made some motorists avoid it entirely.

Assessment

The Hairy Hands of Dartmoor represent one of Devon’s most unusual supernatural phenomena. The consistency of descriptions and the genuine accidents suggest something beyond simple legend or suggestion.