Divine Dartmoor Walks: from the smallest cross on Dartmoor to one of the biggest

By Gillian Adams, on Friday, July 9, 2010

From the smallest cross on the Dartmoor to one of the largest, this six mile medium difficulty walk is mainly on man-made paths and also takes in tors and disused tin mines.

As Hannibal from the A-Team would say: “I love it when a plan comes together!” This was how I felt when proudly stood next to the smallest cross on Dartmoor after taking up a friend’s challenge to find it.

Let me reverse a little to the start of the walk. Next to a small car parking area (SX 604708) is a man-made track which takes you the half mile to Nun’s Cross farm (SX 605 698).

The farm is empty and nowadays used as a training centre. To left of the farm cross a field towards Devonport Leat and Nun’s Cross Ford.

I knew the cross was nearby and had read that it was on a triangular-shaped boulder so after crossing the ford I scanned the hillsides in front of me before noticing that there were quite a few triangular-shaped boulders on the moor!

I headed for the hill that was about one o’clock to me and towards the left one of the two largest boulders I saw. As I drew closer I spotted another boulder a little further up the hill to the right which bore Northmore’s Cross (SX 613693) – success!

You get a view of the farm you’ve just passed and also to your right are Fox Tor Mires, believed to have inspired The Hound of the Baskervilles from the imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Northmore’s Cross is just under 11cm tall and believed to be made from the propellor of an old ship and erected in 1980 by Mr Bill Northmore, in gratitude for a lifetime of enjoyment from living and working on the moor.

The cross is about a mile and half from the car so you could go back from here for a shorter walk, but I pressed on.

Keeping the cross behind me I went in a straight line up and over the hill, eventually linking back to the main track. Please be aware that this area is a bog so don’t attempt it if it’s wet weather – just go back down the hill and to the right for the main path.

Once back on the main track, it will turn in a man-made path as you go by lots of old tin workings and you can also see Lower Hartor Tor in the distance.

You can bear off the main track once Greater Hartor Tor comes into view which takes you around the ridge of the spookily-named Evil Combe. However no scary fate befell me and I arrived unscathed at Lower Hartor Tor (SX 603675).

A grassy track takes you up to Greater Hartor Tor (SX 599677) where there are magnificent views across to Sheepstor.

Back up to the main path and you are soon at the ruins of Eylesbarrow tin mine (SX 598681). It was active during the first part of the 19th century and one of the larger mines on the moor. The path comes to a T-junction, so turn right and keep going.

This path is also a favourite with cyclists and it runs from Princetown to Sheepstor and Burrator Reservior.

Eventually you will see Nun’s Cross farm again, passing it on the other side and also seeing a larger cross – Nun’s Cross or Siward’s Cross (SX 601699).

This is one of the largest crosses on the moor and also one of the oldest, dating back to the 13th century.

Keep on this path and you’ll come to a crossroads, so go right which takes you back to the path you started on and a short distance to the car.

Thinking of setting off on this walk, watch the video!

• Want to take this walk with you? Use our option. Or download it to your phone to check on the way.

View Mid Dartmoor: Northmore’s Cross in a larger map

• When walking on Dartmoor please ensure you take the right equipment with you, eg, waterproof, walking boots, water, a map, plus your common sense.