South Dartmoor

Dartmoor National Park covers 365 Square miles. The north moors are higher, rougher, and contain three military live firing ranges. The south Moors only contain a training ground where there is no live firing.

Most of my exploring has been on the south moors between Yelverton and Princetown. Within this area there are many examples of civilization from the Bronze age that includes the remains of settlements, Stone Rows, and Menhir’s. Through out the moors there are many ancient Crosses that mark the route of ancient paths.

The moors continued to be farmed and later mined (for tin and granite) right up to the last century, when the population moved to lower land to avoid the severe conditions. Today most of the moors is open to the public with ponies, sheep, and cattle grazing on.

The visitor’s center at Princetown contains an exhibition about the history of Dartmoor. They also have details about the many activities in the area, including walks organized by the National Park throughout the year.

Quick Tips:

The visitor’s center at Princetown contains an exhibition about the history of Dartmoor. They also have details about the many activities in the area, including walks organized by the National Park throughout the year.

Be prepared, Dartmoor can be very inhospitable at times. Check the weather forecasts before you leave and take waterproofs and sufficient warm clothing. Take a map and a compass.

Best Way To Get Around:

There are many car parks around the area and also a Transmoor bus the between Plymouth and Exeter via the Moors.

This walk starts at the top end of Burrator Reservoir at Norsworthy Bridge Car Park.

From the car park, cross over Norsworthy Bridge and take the track on the right going uphill by the side of Norsworthy Plantation. This track climbs steadily up with trees on the left and Newleycombe Lake valley on the right. After about a mile you pass the posts of Cockles gate on to the open moor.

Follow the track to where it crosses a stream with a gert (mine cutting) on the left. Leave the track and walk up the edge of the gert to the head where you will find Crazywell Pool.

Crazywell pool is an old tinners mine dating back to the 16th century. From here follow a path eastwards to Crazywell cross and past the cross back onto the track.

The track continues on past Newleycombe Cross on the right to meet Devonport leat at Older Bridge. This leat (water channel) is still is use and enters the water system at Dousland treatment works by Burrator Reservoir.

Follow the leat upstream past ‘SLH’ and cross to the tunnel where the leat cuts through the moors. The path continues eastwards past a tinners hut which still has trees growing out of it. The hut still has a fireplace, but no roof.

At Nun’s cross head south along the track to boundary stone, where there is a junction. Take the right fork up the hill past several boundary stones with ‘PCWW 1917’. These mark the boundary for the water intake to Burrator reservoir.

On Eylesburrow Summit there are the remains of two Cairns. We also found a metal post (like a sword) sticking out of a granite rock. We were not able to remove the sword, but you never know, someone might.

From the top take the path heading west towards Combshead Tor. From this side of Eylesburrow there are fantastic views south of the sea.

This path heads down into Narrator Valley until it meets Narrator Brook. The path has disappeared, but if you keep heading downstream you will come to a ford with a footbridge about 20 feet away hidden behind bushes.

Cross the stream and follow the path down, on the right in the trees is a weather station.

The path heads northwest through several sets of gateposts, which eventually turn into a track. The track passes the remains of Deancombe farm and continues down to Norsworthy Bridge Car park.

Part 2 - This walk includes Menhirs, Stone Rows, Hut circles and Burial Cairns from the Bronze age, one of the largest tin mines on Dartmoor with power supplied from a water wheel and a warren farm with an attached Kennel Pound.

Part 1 - This walk starts at the car park by the Scout Hut at Nattor, to the east of Sheepstor (579673).

From the car park, walk south to join the track around Guttor Tor. Follow the track between Guttor Tor and Eastern Tor to Ditsworthy Warren House. Adventure training groups are now using this house.

Follow the track to the left of the house. The small enclosure next to the house is the 'Kennel Court' which has Kennels built into the stone walls.

From here take the north-easterly track towards the River Plym. Ahead you should see the Drizzlecoombe Menhirs (Standing Stones).

Follow this track until you come to a path on the left leading up to the Menhirs.

Here you will find three stone rows, each with a Menhir at one end and a grave with a retaining circle at the other. The tallest of the three Menhirs is over 4 metres high and is the tallest on the moors. Next to the stone rows is the Giant Basin, which is the collapsed remains of a large burial cairn.

Follow the path up the hill past the remains of enclosures and hut circles. Cross over two disused leats and continue climbing up to Higher Hartor Tor. Once at the top of Higher Hartor Tor, head north to Eylesbarrow Tin mine.

Around the mine are the ruins of several houses which once housed over 60 men who worked in the mine. Most of the mineshafts have been filled in, but there is still one on the left of the track, so be careful.

From the mine take the track to the west, which descends down the hill. To the right of the track there are pairs of standing stones that were used to carry power from the Great Wheel below to the mineshafts above. You will also find the remains of the pit that housed the Great Wheel and the leat that supplied the water to power it.

Follow the track downhill towards the trees around the Scout Hut. At the bottom of the hill is a bridge over the leat that still carries water from the Drizzlecombe vally to Sheepstor.

Continue down the hill past the Scout Hut and back to your car.