Bank Holiday weekend and one good day which allowed for one quick walk (here), however the Sunday didn’t look a wash out so I headed to the eastern side of Dartmoor and hopefully I would hang on to the drier weather for longer. As it was it drizzled a bit and the cloud dropped but in the main I stayed dry and had a great walk across new country for me. I’ve driven past Hound Tor a few times always put off by the crowds (not sure why I picked bank holiday to visit mind!!) but the granite stacks are very impressive and a must to climb! The area around Haytor is packed with tors, in fact a simple 3 or 4 miles will bag you at least 7 or 8, however for me the highlight was the Bowermans Nose and brilliant piece of artwork by mother nature!
| Start – Saddle Tor car park |
| Route – Holwell Tor – Smallacombe Rocks – Hole Rock – Leighon Tor – Becka Brook Clapper Bridge – Greator Rocks – Hound Tor – Hayne Down – Bowermans Nose – Leighon village – Black Hill – Haytor Tramway – Haytor – Saddle Tor car park |
| Distance – 8 1/2 miles Start time – 10.30am Time taken – 5 1.2hrs Highest Point – Haytor 457m |
| Weather – Cloudy, spits of rain and then the cloud dropped for the last part of the walk |
© Crown copyright 2014 Ordnance Survey FL 2014 SF
From the car park it looks a little brighter over to the sea by Teignmouth and Torquay
Despite parking right beside it I didn’t summit Saddle Tor today
First tor ahead is Holwell Tor
And looking right to Haytor
I’ll be on Hound Tor left and Hayne Down behind a bit later
First I’m heading to Smallacombe Rocks with Hole Rock just visible behind, Black Hill up on the right is visited at the end of the walk (told you they were all close to each other!!)
On Smallacombe Rocks with Holwell Tor far right, Rippon Tor in the middle and Haytor left
Chinkwell Tor on the left with the long flat top of Hameldown at the back of this photo
Leighon Tor from Hole Rock
On Leighon Tor looking to Hound Tor
I’m heading down into the trees before ascending to Greator Rocks halfway up the hill to Hound Tor
Crossing Becka Brook Clapper Bridge
Greator Rocks looking back to Hole Rock with Black Hill behind. It was a decent climb to the top here
Haytor and Rippon Tor from the same spot, the quarry at Holwell Tor can be seen more clearly from here
Next up, Hound Tor
On Hound Tor with Greator Rocks far left, Haytor and Rippon Tor across the valley
Hound Tor summit stacks
Chinkwell Tor from Hound Tor
Heading along the road to Hayne Down and these fellas win the prize for the worst haircut (he says bravely from the other side of the fence!)
And this fella easily wins “best horns”!!
After all that prize giving I’m on Hayne Down now
The cloud is definitely dropping as Haytor starts to get swallowed up, Hound Tor on the right
The brilliant Bowermans Nose
Flowering gorse bushes and Easdon Tor behind
As I climb out of Leighon village I get a misty view back to Hayne Down right and Hound Tor left
Black Hill cairn looking to Hayne Down which is barely visible now
The true summit os a group of rocks about 200 metres from the cairn, here looking to Hound Tor
Smallacombe Rocks with Holwell Tor behind from Black Hill
Haytor Tramway with Holwell Tor at the end of the tracks
Murky or not, Haytor is very busy as I make my way back to the car
treksandtors 