DARTMOOR WALKS
See also walks 10 to 15 on the West Devon Way page
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Starts from: Lowry Cross carpark on the north eastern end of the reservoir.
Distance: About 3 miles.
Difficulty: easy stroll.
Description: An easy walk which skirts Leather Tor with no long steep hills just a couple of gates and a ladder stile which might be a bit challenging for an old dog. A lovely 3 mile evening walk to enjoy the views over Burrator reservoir.
Starts from : Okehampton station
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Walking up the Irishman’s wall is a bit strenuous otherwise a moderate walk
Description: A walk from Okehampton station to Belstone passing The Tors Inn and walking nearly the full length of the wall and over Culliver Steps. The whole walk is outside Okehampton range Danger Area so can be walked at anytime.
Starts from: Cadover Bridge car park between Plympton and Yelverton.
Distance: 4.5 miles.
Difficulty: There are three short but quite steep hills on the way but generally an easy walk.
Description: On the southern edge of the Dartmoor National Park this walk is of archaeological interest both ancient and industrial as it goes through long since disused clay workings and mine and quarry workings as well as a prehistoric settlement. A lovely walk through woodland along the pipe track and back over the open moor to Cadover bridge where there is usually an ice cream van.
Starts from: Norsworthy bridge at the eastern end of Burrator Reservoir.
Distance: 6 miles.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
Description: A walk of just over 6 miles to see a Bronze age settlement a stone row a bottomless pool the beginning of a 28 mile leat built in 1793 and of course Drivage Bottom an extensive area of tin streaming all within easy reach of Burrator Reservoir.
Starts from: Bal Lane Mary Tavy
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Easy walk no steep hills but there is a ladder stile
Description: A 6 mile gentle climb up from from Mary Tavy onto the moor to see Wheal Jewell Reservoir the header reservoir for Mary Tavy Hydro-electric power station. To then walk on down to the picturesque Hill bridge and walk by the leat that once took water to the Wheal Friendship mine. You may also see some magnificent ferns as you walk by the leat.
Merrivale and the Walkham valley
Starts from: The road by the Merrivale Inn between Tavistock and Princetown.
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: It’s an easy walk. There is just one quite long hill but it is a disused road so quite firm under foot.
Description: A walk to explore the upper Walkham valley passing Hucken Tor and King Tor on your way out and Pew Tor and Vixen tor on your way back.
Starts from: The very edge of Mary Tavy on the Brentor road.
Distance: 7 miles.
Difficulty: Easy walk. Moderate if you walk up to the top of Gibbet Hill.
Description: See fine views of the church on top of Brentor which is the logo for the West Devon Way on this countryside and moorland walk. Go through the village of Brentor and walk to the top of Gibbet Hill that has a grizzly history.
Starts From: The village car park opposite the Castle Inn at Lydford.
Distance: 6 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Description: A splendid scenic moorland walk from Lydford out to Doe Tor Common then skirting around the very outside edge of the Wilsworthy Range Danger area to return along ancient lanes and underneath the disused Lydford Viaduct.
Starts from: Meavy Primary School.
Distance: Just under 5 miles.
Difficulty: Mostly an easy walk perhaps moderate in places.
Description: A scenic walk starting in Meavy and walking out to Sheeps Tor. Best time to go is in May when all the bluebells are out.
Starts from: The “Scout hut” car park at Nattor a mile or so east of Sheapstor village on the edge of Burrator Reservoir.
Distance: 5 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate walk.
Description: On this entirely moorland walk you will pass by the house used in the War Horse Film. See some magnificent standing stones walk up the upper Plym valley and come back via a Victorian tin mine.
Double Waters A Long and short walk
Start from: The longer walk starts at the large lay-by just south of Tavistock on the A386. The short walk starts from the woodland car park at Grenofen bridge
Distance: Long walk 6.3 miles.
Short walk 3.2 miles.
Difficulty: Short is an Easy walk.
The long walk is a moderate one as you do have to walk up out of the valley.
Description: A moorland and woodland walk to Double Waters where the river Tavy meets the river Walkham. A lovely walk on the very edge of the Dartmoor National Park especially in the Autumn to see the changing colours of the oak woodland. You will see ancient moss encrusted mine workings, walk through a railway tunnel on a disused railway line and see white water rapids on the river Walkham.
Wistmans Wood and Devonport leat
Starts from: The quarry car park opposite the Two Bridges Hotel on the B3212 a couple of miles north east of Princetown.
Distance: 4.5 miles plus a an extra 2 miles if you go on the excursion.
Difficulty: Moderate. A summer walk or when the river level is low.
Description: The walk takes you right past the wood, which you absolutely must not go into, and to the start of the Devonport Leat. You will have a near level walk along the leat and along the banks of the river Cowsic. There is an excursion to a remote standing stone called the Beardown Man but this is only possible when there is no live firing on the Merrivale range Danger Area.
Starts from: Peat Cot car park high up on the moor on the Princetown to White works road.
Distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate.
Description: A truly moorland walk. Whiteworks is a remote place once busy with mine workers a very long way into the moor via a road from Princetown. You are given the opportunity to cross the dreaded Fox Tor Mire said to be the bog in the Hound of the Baskervilles….. if you dare.
Starts from: Car park on the top of Pork hill on the Tavistock to Princetown road.
Distance: 4 miles 3 if you take the short- cut back.
Difficulty: Easy moorland walk.
Description: A reasonably level moorland walk from the large car park below Cox tor. The walk takes you all around the base of the Tor returning via the Grimstone and Sortridge leat having looked down into Merrivale quarry.
This walk has been sponsored by The Royal Oak Inn Meavy
Starts from: Royal Oak at Meavy
Distance: 5.25 miles
Difficulty: Easy moorland walk with no significant uphill climbs.
Description: This 5.25 mile walk starts in the village of Meavy and goes to Brisworthy where you will find the stone circle. You will twice cross the Loveton Brook using small granite footbridges and on your return to Meavy cross the River Meavy either by the Higher Meavy Bridge or some stepping stones if the river is low enough. You will also pass Marchants Cross another restored antiquity that was twice damaged by runaway cars.
Also see pub walks.
Crock of Gold Cairns and Cists.
Starts from: Princetown to Whiteworks road.
Distance: 6 miles (4.75 Shortcut)
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: A Mostly moorland off road walk that will take you to see ancient burial chambers, the Conchies road and the Crock of Gold. You will walk past extensive abandoned mine workings and in June see awful lot of cotton grass. Pick a blue sky day for this splendid moorland walk.
Starts from: Burrator Dam
Distance : 6 miles
Difficulty: Generally an easy walk with no very steep hills.
Description: A walk that uses footpaths and tracks to circumnavigate the reservoir. Smallest possible amount of road walking. You will pass abandoned farm houses walk by the Devonport leat walk on an old railway track and see some lovely views of the reservoir. Perhaps take a picnic as there is a picnic table en route.