Get a new angle on Burrator Reservoir along an old railway track and enjoy the spectacular views on this fairly level and easygoing walk…

DISTANCE: 2.5 miles (easy walk, fairly level all the way)
NEAREST REFRESHMENTS: Burrator Inn or Meavy
FACILITIES: As above.
CAR PARKING: Small car park at Lowery Cross.

Burrator reservoir is a beautiful landmark on the moor and also a popular area for weekend recreation. I decided to delve into its history a little with an easy walk which takes in part of the dismantled Burrator railway.

Starting at Lowery Cross car park (SX 5487 693) keep the trees behind you and follow the path around Yennadon Down. On your right is the small old mining settlement of Dousland and past this is a patchwork of fields with a view to the horizon. Continue on and Plymouth Sound will be in front of you looking tantalisingly close enough to touch.

Also to your right are some remains of the old mining industry and disused quarries, some now just odd-shaped mounds as the landscape has reclaimed them. You will come out onto another path, running right to left, close to the disused mine (SX 543 684), so carry straight on keeping the granite wall to your right.

The path will take you past some houses, also on your right, after which you will find a water trough, then you will easily spy the dismantled railway track the other side of this.

Go left and you’ll find it’s a wide, easy-to-walk track with remnants of the past scattered along it. The road to the reservoir also runs parallel to it. After a short while you will join another path, just above the quarry car park at SX 550 677. To your right the path will link to a different footpath that will take you down to the dam itself.

Otherwise go left along the railway track and you will soon see glints of metal through the trees, down on your right. These eventually give way to glints of water and then you are rewarded with a fantastic view across the reservoir and dam.

Burrator dam was built in 19th century in response to the population growth of Plymouth when the existing leat system couldn’t cope with demand. Work began in 1893 and took five years to complete. The granite for it came from a quarry 200 metres upstream so when, 25 years later in 1923, work began to raise the dam an alternative site was found. This is now the quarry car park which you just passed.

The railway was opened in 1924 and was initially just for the dam workers, but was later opened to the public. As you continue along the path you will spot some steps to your left and right. This is Burrator Halt, the old station. The railway closed in 1956.

The Dartmoor Archive has an image of the Princetown Branchline Railway passing beside Burrator Reservoir.

As you approach a gate on the path you’ll hear the sound of rushing water and will just be able to make out the top of a waterfall. It is possible to get a closer look, however this is not for the faint-hearted as it’s very steep and muddy!

Go through the gate, then another one and you’ll should now be in a beautiful forested area which is part of Peekhill Plantation. Before you get a a footbridge over the road veer off left as the car park is the other of this. Follow the old tracks up through this peaceful forest and when you come out the other side you will spot a boundary stone on the wall. It is marked PCWW 917 and is a boundary marker for South West Water.

If you’re looking for a cross at Lowery Cross you won’t find one – it has disappeared into the mists of time. However, if you’re feeling a little hard done by there is Yennadon Cross (SX 545 694) at the junction of the B3212 which you can view as you drive home.

Yennadon Cross (SX 545 694) is believed to have been an old marker stone for Buckland Abbey and is missing its arm due to some time spent as a gatepost.

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

View video highlights of the walk.

Take a gander at a map of the wallk

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

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: see the legendary Crazywell Pool A South West Dartmoor five-and-a-half mile walk of medium difficulty,...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: walking the standing stones on Dartmoor with the Fernworthy circular route From forest to open moorland, this seven-mile walk of medium...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: A modern masterpiece and a tragic legend – Jay’s Grave and the Giant’s Chair There might be giants on Dartmoor, and this 20ft sculpture...

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A pleasant five-and-a-half mile medium difficulty walk around Avon Dam reservoir taking in an ancient trackway and two crosses

Park at Shipley Bridge (SX 681629). It gets very busy here so if you want a parking space I’d advise arriving before 11am. There are a number of old industries dotted around this areas including peat works, tin mining and the structure in the car park is the remains of  19th century naphtha works which were later used for processing china clay from Bala Brook. Both these venures failed.

The first part of this walk is very pretty as it follows a surfaced road next to the river Avon. This path is a slow ascent but good for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Nearer the dam the path splits and the easier route is to the left, but I went uphill to the the right and ended up on the right hand side of the Avon Dam (SX 680 654) which was completed in 1957. It was 1.5 miles to this point.

From here follow the path alongside the reservoir and after a while it bends to the right and  temporarily heads away from the water to join onto the Abbot’s Way at SX 679 658. This is one of the many ancient trackways on the moor and if you want to read its legend visit here.

The path passes by ancient settlements and give you a lovely view back across the reservoir towards the dam. At some point you will sight a granite wall in the distance. This is where you are headed, though it can be a bit muddy underfoot at times.

Just in front of the wall and three miles from the walk start is Huntingdon Cross (SX 664 661). This was originally a marker for the Abbot’s Way but  in the mid-16th century was also utilised by Sir William Petre to mark the boundary of his estate, Brent. The granite wall is a more recent addition, probably in the last decade.

The Western Wallabrook meets the river Avon here and was nice spot for some lunch. On the map the path seems to cross the river around here but I couldn’t see anywhere so hooked on the Two Moors Way and continued up to a pretty clapper bridge (SX 656 667) which had nice views up and down the valley.

From here is a steep but relatively short hill and when you near the top at about 11 o’clock on the horizon you’ll see a boundary stone. Head across to this via animal paths.

For a shorter route go back down the hill a little to link with the path that takes you via Eastern White Barrows. Otherwise walk a uphill a short distance to the remains if Petre’s Cross (SX 664654) on Western White barrow. It doesn’t look very cross-like as the arms have been knocked off, but sits it an impressive location on a Bronze Age cairn.

You will also notice, in the distance, a very strange looking hill which is Green Hill. As the ferns were just starting to turn brown when I did this walk it really stood out – one to investigate another day!

A short distance after the cross and you will meet a track running right to left which is the remains of the old Zeal Tor tramway (SX 654 655). This was built in 1846 to take peat/clay from Redlake to Shipley Bridge and you can still see stones and iron nails in the ground at certain points.

Go left and follow this. You will also see another old tramway to your right which looks a lot more even, which is the Two Moors Way.

This track will take you right back past the Avon Filtration Station and on to the surfaced road you started out on, not too far from the car park. The last thing of note on this walk at the intersection of the paths is the Hunter’s Stone which dates from 1948 and has  the names of Masters of the Dartmoor Foxhounds inscribed on it.

There is usually an ice cream van in the car park and a fitting end to a pleasant walk.

View Avon dam and ancient crosses in a larger map

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

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

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: find the home of the piskie king on West Dartmoor An easy three-and-a-half mile walk on West Dartmoor called the...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: from the smallest cross on Dartmoor to one of the biggest From the smallest cross on the Dartmoor to one of...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: in search of the Devil’s Wisht hounds In search of the Devil’s Wisht hounds in an ancient...

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In search of the Devil’s Wisht hounds in an ancient stunted oak forest, this walk also takes in 360-degree views from Longaford Tors. A 4.6 mile easy/medium walk.

This is one of my old favourites as I love soaking up the atmosphere of one of the last stunted oak copses on Dartmoor and there is also a great legend associated with it, which I’ll get to later.

You can park in the old quarry (SX 609751) opposite the Two Bridges Hotel and walk along a man-made track about half a mile where the path splits to a moorland path on the left which will take you along to Wistman’s Wood (SX 613770)

The woods are 1.3 miles from the old quarry and there is a notice board just before the final stile giving some information about the woods and its Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status.

A small path runs above the woods so you can peek into their depths, but be careful of the Devil and his Wisht hounds! Legend has it that Wistman’s Wood is where the huge black hounds are kept and they range the moor on dark and misty nights looking for unwary travellers, led by the Devil or by the spirit of Old Crockern who lives on the nearby Crockern Tor.

As I followed this path I heard some loud echoing booms. Cautiously checking my surroundings for Wisht hounds I finally spotted a red flag on Beardown Tors opposite, which indicated the firing range was in operation.

Relieved that my soul was safe for another day I carried on to the far side of the woods briefly looking at the Druids Stone or Buller Stone (SX 613776) as it was later known. This has an inscription on it from 1866 commemorating Mr Buller removing a tree from the woods. Its original name came about as Wistman’s Wood is believed to have been a Druidic site. If you want a shorter walk of 2.6 miles in total, turn back here, otherwise continue on to the weir.

To get to the weir from here the path splits into two and if wet I’d advise sticking to the top one, but as it was dry I took the lower route, briefly climbing a stile (and back) to the river to get a nice photo back down the valley. A marshy path follows the wall along and up to the weir (SX 608781).

This weir on West Dart river is also the start of Devonport Leat which was built in the 1790s to carry drinking water from three Dartmoor rivers to Devonport in Plymouth.

From here head up towards Longaford Tor (SX 615778) and Little Longaford Tor. You can see Bellever forest on the other side which was the start of the Lych Way, sometimes known as the Corpse Road. This is the route the dead were bourne for burial at Lydford. For Dartmoor residents, up until 1260 all burials had to take place at Lydford and for those on the eastern side of the moor, the 12 mile (19km) route started at Bellever. After 1260, permission was given by Bishop Bronescombe to allow burials at Widecombe.

The route goes from Bellever, to the side of Longaford Tor, and across the weir you have just visited, continuing towards Lydford.

Longaford Tor is also known as an impressive granite pyramid, so once you have taken your fill of it and the 360-degree views, carry on along the top towards Littaford Tors (SX 616771). This area is quite rocky with the remains of Bronze Age settlements scattered around.

Follow the path along and down, over a stile and then you will meet the original man-made path for the half a mile back to the old quarry.

Watch a video of the walk highlights:

Watch a video of 360-degrees from Little Longaford Tor

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

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

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: find the home of the piskie king on West Dartmoor An easy three-and-a-half mile walk on West Dartmoor called the...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: from the smallest cross on Dartmoor to one of the biggest From the smallest cross on the Dartmoor to one of...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: peat works, tin mines and 19th century naphtha works – plus the River Avon! This walk includes a peat works, tin mining and 19th...

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This medium difficulty walk in Mid Dartmoor is of six miles takes in an old potato starch factory and the beautiful Postbridge waterfall…

I’d decided to put myself into the capable hands of the Dartmoor National Park Authority to find the waterfall on the East Dart river as I followed its audio walk.

Having printed off the route map so I could reference my OS map, and downloaded the audio onto my iPod I turned up at the car park in Postbridge (SX 648 789) on an overcast day. I was looking to take some long exposure shots at the waterfall so an overcast day was perfect, but I’d packed a mac and sunglasses anyway – and needed both!

Leave the car park and turn left onto the road and admire the ancient clapper bridge (SX 648 789). According to the audio, if you can see the stones in front of the clapper bridge from the other bridge then you will be able to cross the waterfall. If they are covered by water the river will be too high to cross. I’m happy to say the stones were visible and I was able to cross later on.

Just over the road bridge the footpath is on your left through a wooden gate. Follow it along and past Hartyland House (SX 646 794), which was built in the 19th century.

Follow the path along past some bamboo bushes where the path will start to climb. On the left you can see Roundypark enclosure which you’ll pass on the way back. For now carry up the hill to Hartland Tor (SX 642 799) for some good views of the area.

From here the next stop is The Sheepfold, but don’t walk directly to it, follow the path along parallel with river (but higher) and after crossing second granite wall take a right and follow it along to it.

I did wonder whether to bother taking a closer look, but it was worth a little detour as it’s a unique piece of building work. The Sheepfold (SX 645 808) built by John and Thomas Hullett at the beginning of the 19th century. The same brothers who built Hartyland House. It was built as a place where starch was manufactured from growing potatoes. The starch was used for the main sails of the boats.

The starch factory business failed and it was taken over by a shepherd in the 1830s/1840s, who restored it for use with lambing. The design is quite unusual for the moor.

With the five-barred gate behind me I headed away from The Sheepfold across an area of gorse to the right of the mound and ended up back on the path that runs from Hartland Tor. It wasn’t too long before I came to tracks leading down to the river so followed them down, then located the Beehive Hut (SX 639 814) a little to the right. There are no bees here! This was a cache for tools and possibly a shelter used by tin miners.

There is path which follows the East Dart river up to the waterfall, though there is a smaller waterfall on your right on the way up – this isn’t it!  The main waterfall (SX 628 811) is a lovely place for a picnic.

I managed to snap a couple of long exposure shots before the heavens opened and drenched me and my camera. Safely under my waterproof I crossed the top of the waterfall and followed the path parallel to the river, down to a stile (SX 637 814).

The path follows the river and is quite pretty and you can see a change in the landscape here. Along the path at SX 639 812 are two granite slabs which make a small clapper bridge.  Beyond that is a dry ditch which is the start of Powdermills Leat.

The last stop on the audio tour is Roundypark Cairn (SX 639 797). In the centre of the circular, prehistoric enclosure is a granite monument. This is a Bronze Age burial cairn.

The path takes you back to the car park at Postbridge and the sun had come out. I was still feeling a little damp so I visited the shop by the road bridge for a take out hot chocolate and sat by the clapper bridge, enjoying the last glow of the afternoon.

I can recommend the audio walks. Find them here

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

View Postbridge waterfall walk 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.

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Find out where the piskies like to play, as well as a stunning stone circle. Most of this four-and-a-half-mile walk is on open moorland and sometimes the ‘track’ disappears and then re-appears again, but the landmarks are very prominent.

Ever had the feeling that you’re being watched? It’s very eerie to look up and find no-one there, except for a few sheep, which was how I spent the first half of this walk. After being puzzled by the wary expressions of these sheep, I realised it was lambing season and they were being protective of their young ‘uns, so gave them a wide berth after that and the ‘watched’ feeling lessened.

After parking near the scout hut (SX 579673) – great point of reference as the trees are tall and can be seen for miles – I headed out and three quarters of a mile later was standing in the Yellowmeade stone circles (SX 575678).

There are four circles within each other and it was restored in 1921 and is quite impressive. I wished for a step ladder to get a better angle for a photo, but had to make do with a small stone on the outer circle instead. Maybe one day I will take some steps to get the ultimate shot!

After snapping some pics I headed in the direction of the forest and the old blowing house (SX 580685). This is next to a stream as these were used in the tin smelting process as water-driven bellows would ‘blow’ air into the smelt. I also heard a cuckoo here, and apparently there is one often heard in these woods but never seen.

I crossed the stream and followed the fence up, along and down to another stream (Narrator Brook) and a signpost to ‘Deancombe’ – this last bit is quite steep. I took this pretty path to the left and came to a ‘meeting point’ of a few paths.

Go over the stream and up to a signpost and some old farm buildings. Deancombe Farm operated up until the 1930s and has gone to ruin but it gives lots of opportunities for some moody photos.

Onwards to Cuckoo Rock. I spotted a distinctive looking rock and assumed (rightly) this was it. It’s named as it was believed that the top of the rock looked like a cuckoo. There are a few myths about this rock, including it being a meeting place for Dartmoor piskies to dance in the moonlight. An ideal place for lunch! After a sandwich I skirted around the edge of Combeshead Tor (SX 670718), though it’s not too far to the top if you wish to visit.

I headed around the tor on a path which gradually wended down to the water. After surprising both myself and an adder and with some deviations over the old mining remains I made it back across the stream and headed back over the top of the hill towards the tall trees and my car.

A beautiful walk with lots of impressive views!

Thinking of going on this walk? Check out the video!

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

View SW Dartmoor: Yellowmeade circles and Cuckoo Rock 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.

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: The Ten Commandments written in stone on Dartmoor About as level as walk as it gets on Dartmoor...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: walking the standing stones on Dartmoor with the Fernworthy circular route From forest to open moorland, this seven-mile walk of medium...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: see the legendary Crazywell Pool A South West Dartmoor five-and-a-half mile walk of medium difficulty,...

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This is about as level as it gets on Dartmoor – an easy two miles to Buckland Beacon and back, taking in a beautiful view and the intriguing ten commandment stones.

Heading onto Dartmoor on an overcast day is akin to meeting a lover after a long period of separation – you’re not sure whether you’ll receive a sunny warm welcome or cold and misty indifference.

On occasions such as these (overcast days, not long lost lovers) I’ve learned to be prepared with the correct equipment or do a short walk – this time it was the latter.

I had recently seen some information about the ten commandments being carved into granite stones at Buckland Beacon (SX 735731) and wanted to see them for myself.

It was under a mile from the car park at Cold East Cross (SX 740742) to the beacon and I’m happy to say that the clouds lifted slightly to give me fantastic views over a wooded valley.

Buckland Beacon sits on a hill above the pretty village of Buckland-in-the-Moor and was used as a fire beacon. An inscription near the top reads: “Buckland Beacon. A beacon fire one of a chain lit here by the Parishioners of Buckland-in-the-Moor in celebration of their Majesties’ silver jubilee May 6th 1935. And the people shouted and said ‘God save the King.” Buckland Beacon was part of the fire chain of beacons for both the Millennium and Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebrations.”

The ten commandment stones sit to the left at the base of the beacon and have weathered a bit since they were carved in 1928, commissioned by the then lord of Buckland, Mr William Whitely of Wellstor. There have been a couple of restoration works done on them since then by the Dartmoor National Park Authority.

After enjoying the view and fine craftsmanship just follow your route back to the car, but if you wish to extend the walk then you can pop down and see Buckland-in-the-Moor up close.

There is a beautiful church here, St Peter’s Church, with an unusual clock face – instead of numerals is the wording ‘my dear mother’. This was also created by Lord Whitely.

However as the clouds were coming back in I decided to leave that for another day and abandon my fickle lover for a cup of tea and a slice of cake at Princetown.

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

View South Dartmoor: Buckland Beacon 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.

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: walking the standing stones on Dartmoor with the Fernworthy circular route From forest to open moorland, this seven-mile walk of medium...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: see the legendary Crazywell Pool A South West Dartmoor five-and-a-half mile walk of medium difficulty,...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: disused mines, distmantled railways and water glinting on Burrator reservoir Dartmoor is filled with history, and the trip to the...

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There might have been giants! Or there may once have been a 20ft sculpture called Giant’s Chair. This six mile Dartmoor walk takes in the site of the soon to be former modern masterpiece as well as a tragic legend, an ancient cross and the Bronze age settlement of Grimspound.

The day started at Jay’s Grave with a legend. The story of Kitty Jay is one of the more well known ones on Dartmoor and local award-winning musician Seth Lakeman even wrote a song about it.

In brief the legend says that in the late 18th century unmarried farm girl Kitty Jay became pregnant and after being left with no home and no reputation she committed suicide. In those days suicide victims were buried at crossroads to ensure that their restless souls didn’t wander and disturb the living. Every day fresh flowers are left on the grave and no-one knows who leaves them there.

There were plenty of flowers and even coins on Jay’s Grave (SX 732799), as I paid my respects and started on the footpath behind it towards Giant’s Chair.

After 0.6 of a mile Giant’s Chair (SX 733799) isn’t difficult to miss (unless you get here and it’s already been taken down). The 20ft sculpture was made from local oak by Henry Bruce in 2006. It was in a beautiful location overlooking the west Webburn valley. It’s also on private land so please be respectful if you take a closer look.

After taking my fill of photos I carried on along the footpath until I reached a gate and crossed a small road and through another gate, back on to moorland.

Here I ignored the signpost and kept left on a track which took me through a marshy area where lots of dragonflies and damsel flies kept me entertained while I tried to get some good shots with my zoom lens.

If you keep following this track on and then diagonally left it will take you on to the top of Hamel Down where you can join up with the Two Moors Way. This is the easier option, but I decided to follow the line of boundary stones up the ridge, so I found an animal path that took me right and over to Berry Pound (SX 713803) – the remains of a pre-historic enclosure.

After enjoying the view from Berry Pound I headed up the ridge and found Blue Jug boundary stone (SX 708803). This is at the head of the east Webburn river and is quite a boggy area so it might be prudent take the easier route if the weather has been wet.

These boundary stones mark the edges of the old Natsworthy estate and a little further on is the Grey Wethers boundary stone. Carry on up and you’ll meet a path.

Go left for a visit to Broad Barrow (SX 706799), one of the largest barrows on the moor, which is marked with a 19th century stone inscribed Broad Burrow.

Two Moors Way runs through this barrow and if you look towards the cairn on Hameldown Tor you’ll see it as the left path – the right being the one you just walked.

Follow the Two Moors Way along and on the left you’ll spot the remains of Hamel Down Cross (SX 704801). It is inscribed HC (Hamel Down Cross), DS (Duke of Somerest) and 1854.

Head towards Hameldown Tor (SX 703806) and admire the cairn, trig station and views. From here you have a steep descent to Grimspound (SX 700809) – a well-known Bronze age settlement of around four acres containing about 24 hut circles. The pound is large enough to go in and have a wander around with the dramatic backdrop of  Hookney Tor opposite.

Heading away from Grimspound the path splits into two so take the left one. This will take you to Heathercombe and down through the tranquil forest, ending up at the small road and gate which will take you back past the Giant’s Chair and then to Jay’s Grave.

Thinking of going on this walk? Check out the Giant’s Chair video!

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

Watch Seth Lakeman’s song Kitty Jay

View East Dartmoor: Giant’s Chair and Grimspound 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.

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: walking the standing stones on Dartmoor with the Fernworthy circular route From forest to open moorland, this seven-mile walk of medium...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: The Ten Commandments written in stone on Dartmoor About as level as walk as it gets on Dartmoor...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: see the legendary Crazywell Pool A South West Dartmoor five-and-a-half mile walk of medium difficulty,...

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From forest to open moorland, this seven-mile walk of medium difficulty takes in a wealth of history including stone rows and stone circles.

Some areas of Dartmoor seem to have a concentration of landmarks from the past. The area around Fernworthy reservoir is one of these, so as a nice weekend beckoned I prepared my camera to photograph some of the many stone/hut circles there.

There is a car park when you first get there (with a toilet), but you can also drive around to the very end and park which cuts about a mile off and I wish I’d known about it beforehand.

A friend accompanied me for this walk and we easily followed the forest trail to Fernworthy circle (SX 654 841). As the weather was good (despite a shower of hail!) we decided to press on to see the Grey Wethers circles, so headed straight up and out of the forest.

We easily got onto another footpath that took us to Grey Wethers (SX 638831). Keep on the left path unless you’re heading for Sittaford Tor.

The two stone circles are about 33m wide and quite close together and their centre points are aligned almost exactly north to south. The circle was restored in 1909.

The moor was sodden and I was glad for very waterproof boots – it wasn’t an easy path and quite often an innocuous bit of mud would be a couple of inches of squelch!

After a bit of lunch and seeing the lovely ponies at Grey Wethers stone circles, we kept on the path, then veered on left (across more bog) towards the forest. Following the forest wall along past White Ridge, we turned back into the forest just as we started up Assycombe Hill.

Another bonus on the way back to the car was a wonderful cairn and stone row (SX 662826) to the left of the path. The double stone row went down over a hill so our aching feet ruled out a full investigation, but it was, nonetheless, stunning.

More muddy forest tracks and we were soon back on the road and to the car park.

If you park at the further car park and just go up to Grey Wethers circles and back it would be about four and a half miles.

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

View Mid/North Dartmoor: Fernworthy circular 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.

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: Cuckoo Rock, where the piskies like to play Find out where the piskies like to play, as well...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: A modern masterpiece and a tragic legend – Jay’s Grave and the Giant’s Chair There might be giants on Dartmoor, and this 20ft sculpture...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: disused mines, distmantled railways and water glinting on Burrator reservoir Dartmoor is filled with history, and the trip to the...

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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.

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2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: peat works, tin mines and 19th century naphtha works – plus the River Avon! This walk includes a peat works, tin mining and 19th...
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A South West Dartmoor five-and-a-half mile walk of medium difficulty, crossing the ancient Monk’s Path and taking in ‘bottomless’ Crazywell Pool and Devonport Leat, which once supplied water to Devonport Dockyard

THE waterproofs were all packed on this overcast day as I headed off to Norsworthy Bridge (SX 569693) at Burrator Reservoir with two friends for a medium difficulty walk of 5.5 miles.

There are so many walks around this area it’s difficult to choose one but some beautiful views and a bit of history persuaded me onto this route.

The hill up from Norsworthy Bridge is not one of my favourites as it’s quite rocky and seems to go one for a long time (about a mile) – but it’s soon over and view back towards the reservoir is definitely worth it!

Once we left the trees behind us it wasn’t long before we saw the cross, so after following the main path for a bit, we went left, up over moorland to the cross (SX 584704) and enjoyed some more of those lovely views.

The cross is believed to have been one of many on Dartmoor which marked the Monk’s Path – an ancient trackway that linked Buckfast Abbey to those at Tavistock and Buckland.

Not far from the cross is Crazywell Pool (if you get to the leat before the pool, you’ve gone too far!). There are many legends about the pool including that it’s bottomless and it’s height rose and fell with the tides at sea. However, the reality is that it was most likely an excavation by tin miners – either a flooded shaft or a reservoir.

Then it was on to Devonpont Leat, which once supplied water to Devonport Dockyard. Built in the 1790s it now stops at the reservoir. There is a steep and rocky bit down to the aqueduct (SX 574714) which also gives the leat a nice waterfall effect. From here we popped up to Black Tor (SX 578714). If you don’t wish to view Black Tor up close the walk will be about half a mile less.

There are many remains of tin workings around Black Tor, if you wish to take some time to explore, including a blowing house and a logan stone, however, it was at this point that the overcast sky let rip and we all got a little wet so it was a short visit! Luckily, the rain stopped once we got back to the leat.

We followed the leat along and into Stanlake Plantation. The path was easy from here and it’s very pretty among the trees and also ideal for a picnic lunch.

Shortly after we came out of the gate at the other end of the plantation there was a signpost to Norsworthy Bridge, which took us down and back to the car, still feeling slightly damp, but the views were definitely worth it.

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

View Divine Dartmoor Walks: South West Dartmoor: Crazywell Pool and Devonport Leat 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.

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West Dartmoor walk, Pork Hill Circular. An easy three-and-a-half miles, taking in Pew Tor, home to the piskie king and passing the 16th century Windy Post Cross, a marker for an old track used by monks to cross the moor between Abbeys.

I was at Pork Hill car park (SX 531751) by 9am. If I wake up early I love being on the moors when not many people are about as it really enhances that feeling of getting away from it all, which is great if you need to de-stress!

I love this walk as it’s an easy three miles incorporating the beautiful Pew Tor, plus an old granite cross – both great places to sit and contemplate life.

Leave the car park behind you – there is a path that leads diagonally left, but ignore it as you come back on this one. After nearly half a mile you are at the top of a rise with granite wall bordered fields in front of you and Pew Tor on the horizon.

Now if you are a bird spotter there is a good place a few hundred yards to your right – a rocky outcrop where I’ve sat a couple of times and seen a sparrowhawk.

Bird watching aside, follow the path alongside the wall for a bit. Once you leave the wall the path can split into different directions, but as the tor is right in front of you it’s not really a problem. Just head for the tor and hop on and off different tracks. The tor is a-mile-and-a-half from the car park.

Pew Tor (SX 532734) has some interesting granite formations and is great to photograph and you can also just sit on top of it and enjoy the views over Tavistock and towards Brentor church. Though you may not want to linger too long as there is a Dartmoor legend about Pew Tor being the home of the piskie king and piskies can be mightly mischievous!

From Pew Tor you can see Feather Tor (SX 535741), so head there crossing a stream just in front of the tor, on a handy large rock. This is a small tor, but a pretty area and a nice spot for a picnic.

The path goes over the tor on the left and following the path will take you to a cross known as Windy Post Cross. This is a very old cross (possibly 16th century) and formerly a marker for the Abbot’s Way – an old track used by monks to cross the moor between Abbeys.

It’s also next to the Grimstone and Sortridge leat so you can balance your way over by the cross or walk a little further to a stone bridge.

The path is easily seen past the cross so follow it straight on and back to the car park.

The area by the car park is also reasonably level so if you are in a group of mixed abilities, this is an ideal spot for some to potter and enjoy the view from the car park while others can go on this short walk.

• Want to take this walk with you? Use our option. Or download it to your phone to check on the way.
View Divine Dartmoor Walks: West Dartmoor: Pork Hill Circular 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.

Related posts:

1. Divine Dartmoor Walks: from the smallest cross on Dartmoor to one of the biggest From the smallest cross on the Dartmoor to one of...
2. Divine Dartmoor Walks: peat works, tin mines and 19th century naphtha works – plus the River Avon! This walk includes a peat works, tin mining and 19th...
3. Divine Dartmoor Walks: in search of the Devil’s Wisht hounds In search of the Devil’s Wisht hounds in an ancient...

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