Okehampton and Belstone

Start Point; Okehampton
Distance 9 miles
Time 3.hrs 30 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 9/10

My favourite walk on Dartmoor!  Have done this 4 times now- it has everything; riverside woodland sections, rolling farmlands and a section of wild open moorland which is Dartmoor at its best.  The snows had fallen overnight and I knew it would look stunning today and indeed it did.

The walk starts at Okehampton...

and follows the river near the castle...

before we fork right to take an uphill section through woodland to the road that leads to the moor.

At the top of the climb we veer left for a stretch on private road where Guin enjoyed a play with his ball...

Next to an isolated farm which acts as an entrance to the wild moorland section of the walk.  Loads of Shetland ponies about today.  The views here were, as Bernard Mathews would have said had he not died yesterday, bootiful.

This section of the walks link up with South Tawton Common that we did back in June.  At the most isolate section today the mists descended but was I worried?  What me, experienced moorman that I am?

 

The pathway here leads back to Belstone.

Across farmland finds you at the final stretch along the river at East Okement (when it started snowing) before arriving back in Okehampton.

Lustleigh Cleave

Start Point; Lustleigh
Distance 6 miles
Time 2.hrs 30 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 8/10

A common walk for 'newbies' to the moor.  Very easy to follow and suitable all year round, this walk is quite delightful, though hard going at times, especially at the start as you climb for a mile or so.

 There is a lovely view at the top and a sturdy boulder to sit upon for a bite to eat.

There then follows an open moorland section to Hunter's Tor...

...before farmland down to a farm.  This is the turnaround point before the final stretch back through the wooded Bovey Valley and back to Lustleigh

 

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Ugborough Moor

Start Point; Harford Moor Gate Car Park
Distance 6 miles
Time 2.hrs 45 mins
Guiness enjoyment rating 7/10

A remote start to this one, just north of Ivyridge at Harford.

We headed east along a track...

Soon we joined up with the Two Moors way and headed north...

with Ugborough Moor in the background...

Veering north takes you up a climb to the 'Three Burrows'

Decision to make, should I return along the same track or head down to the river?

...choose the river route..(The Erme)

back through Piles Copse

a pic of Guin to end.

Widecombe in the Moor

Start Point Widecombe in the Moor                     
Distance 10.5 miles
Time 4.5 hours
Guiness Enjoyment rating 9

The walk starts at Widecombe in the Moor.  In the height of summer there can be dozens of tourists enjoying the tea rooms and gift shops but today scarely a soul to be seen.

Its an arduous climb for the first half a mile but worth it for the views back over witm.

The stretch of walking is one of of my (and Guiness's) faves on the whole moor - long, flat, dry and excellent ball throwing territory.

It eventually takes you passed 'Grimspound' and Hookney Tor before you veer north easterly through the heathers to reach West Combe.  Heading south through farmland you'll reach Heathercombe Woods and a delightful cottage.

After the woods is an excellent spot for a picnic at Natsworthy.  As I walked through the woods toward Natsworthy I said a prayer to the almighty that the clouds would miraculously vanish to give me wall to wall blue skies whilst I had my lunch. And they did and here's the evidence.  Where are those non believers now eh?

The rest of the walk is mainly on roads but take a detour to scrape by Honeybag and Chinkwell Tors before reaching Bonehill Rocks.

 From here just a short stroll down the lane to the start.

Scoriton

Start point Scoriton
Distance 9 miles
Time 4 hours
Guiness Enjoyment rating 9

Scoriton is a delightful little village; you half expect to find Miss Marple huddling out of a cottage, hot on the case of the latest gruesome murder.  I say only half expect because not only did she not exist but she must also be dead by now.  Think I also made up the word huddling.

The walk starts with a long and boring mile long climb up a dusty stony path but it's worth the effort to reach one of my fave spots on the moor, Chalk Ford.  A lovely place for a picnic.

 

From here is a lovely stretch of uphill, then flatish walking toward Hickaton Hill.

Actually I never crossed Hickaton Hill cos I took the wrong path, heading eastwards which meant a longer loop than intended to reach my intended target of the Avon Dam Reservoir.

Shortly after, I decided I needed help with my map reading so handed over to my trusty companion.  His sense of direction can't be any worse than mine.

 

The final stretch of the walk was delightful. 'Abbot's Way' through Lambs Down was through farmland and then the final section through Scae Wood takes you down to Combe, a gorgeous little hamlet with my favourite postbox in the world.

From here it is just a hop and a skip back to Scoriton. Great walk.

Around Fernworthy

Start point SX 681817(Bennett's Cross)
Distance 9 miles
Guiness enjoyment rating 8
Time 4 hours
 
From Bennett's Cross most walkers will head south to explore Hookney Tor and Hamel Down but this walk heads north along the Two Moors Way across Chagford Common.  
 

Crossing the Metherall Brook takes you to Fernworthy Reservoir.  This is a popular area for courting couples but ancient folklore states that a romance that starts by encircling the entire reservoir will be doomed to failure so please bear this in mind. 

Guiness and I didn't complete to loop anyway, veering west up through the forest to emerge northwest of Sittaford Tor when we followed the edges of the forest back.

Climbing Assycombe Hill you will find yet another chunk of rock stuck rather pointlessly into the ground.  Atop this is a small flatter rock siting at a counter point though this is of little historic significance.  I know this because I put it there.   

After this is a short section through some gorse to return to Bennett's Cross.

Perhaps not the most inspiring of walks but Guiness enjoyed it, especially the biscuit breaks. 

Sheeps Tor and Burrator Reservoir

start point SX559679
distance 8.5 miles
time 4 hours
Guiness enjoyment rating 7

Hestitated before putting this blog entry 'out there' - would not recommend this particular route to anyone.  I only went this way to find 4 x geocaches(new hobby, blame Phil) so there was a bit of scrambling through the bracken involved.  Started at the southern end of Burrator Reservoir and climbs to Sheeps Tor.

The view form atop the tor looking back over Reservoir is stunning.

From here I headed through the Roughtor plantation along the Narrator Brook to emerge south of Combshead Tor where there is a lovely view looking back...

I then headed in a north easterly direction (so said the compass) to find a cache and then westerly along a stone row toward Down Tor

The best route back from Down Tor would be simply to continue east and back to the reservoir but I headed south to find my final cache of the day and then I got a bit lost and waded through unexpected bracken and was a bit glad to reappear near Nosworthy Bridge.  A pleasant amble next to the reservoir found us back at the car...

South Tawton Common

Start point SX647933
Distance 7.5 miles
Guiness enjoyment rating 8
Time 3 hours

Starting from South Zeal this walk explores South Tawton Common, visiting Little Hound Tor and the Cosdon Beacon.  I suspect sections would be quite boggy after heavy rain but today it was nice and dry.  Walking up past Newlyn Cottage there are various routes to take but I headed east in an anti-clockwise direction between stone walls which open slowly open out onto the moor.

On the OS map there appears te be a well defined path along the western side of the common I couldn't find it and a bit of judgement is required before you reach the ford at 'White Hill'.  This area is great walking territory.

Climb the hill to reach Little Hound Tor.  There's not much here to look at so we'll have a close up of Guin instead...

 

Heading due north for a mile takes you to Cosdon Beacon...

And then various options open out to take you back to the start.  Not a challenging walk but well worth doing.

Princetown and Bellever

Start point SX593739
Distance 15.5 miles
Guiness enjoyment rating 8
Time 7.5 hours

Starts at the layby overlooking Princetown prison. Good place to go when you need to tell yourself things could be worse. A short walk along the road toward the town and turn left to find yourself on Dartmoor Way, an easy to follow route that can eventually take you to Dartmeet, but we veered off just after a lovely section near Swincombe.

Head north along thew West Dart through possibly the most beautiful area of Dartmoor, where there are two sets of Stepping stones to overcome. Guiness managed the first ones fine but then came up against the 2nd...

Worth mentioning that at the entrance to this section there is a notice saying that dogs are not allowed along this part so if you are bringing your dog I advise you not to read the notice. Crossing over the B3357 you will find yourself on route to Bellever Tor...

...where Guin insisted we have a picture taken together (it's his birthday).

Crossing over the B3212 takes to up to Longaford Tor but this section does require a tad of navigation to find a route that doesn't leave you waist deep in mud (slight exaggeration maybe).  Further East and you pass Wistman's Wood and then Beardown Tors and then follow a southerly route toward Two Bridges.  We were slightly set upon by a herd of cows soon after.  Guiness, to his credit, remained very calm but we were both relieved to reach the gate!

A very long but very enjoyable walk.