After a night out on the beer (other refreshments are available!) I needed a walk the next day. The mind was willing but the body was weak, so it took me until 4pm to get myself together and get out the door. My navigational skills do not improve with a hangover, so it took me a while to find the right track out of Lustleigh so I could head up to the roadside parking below Sharpitor. To be honest it wouldn’t have been a hassle to park in Lustleigh and head from there (plus there is a superb pub in the village, The Cleave). Parking sorted, I headed out up a steepish path to Sharpitor (covered in trees) and onto the ridge (covered in bracken!!). This didn’t improve my overall feeling and mood! However I do this walk a dis-service, its a cracking little place, not very high but the views are immense. None more so than from Harton Chest which goes into my top 5 tors/places on Dartmoor. Well worth it.
The parking spots (wider road!) are just behind me, I’m heading up the path signposted on the leftThese are the lower parts to the tor, actually no. This is Hammerslake TorSharpitor top is in the trees to the left of this photo but the view as you pop up here captures all of your attention. Hound Tor in the distanceAs you walk towards Harton Chest you get glimpses of the views, as the path suddenly opens outLooking across again to Hound TorAfter a bit of a battle with the bracken I come out into open ground above Ravens TorThis isn’t the top of Ravens Tor but its not far off, the actual tor is down the hill a bit,, these rocks are sometimes named Foxworthy Tor(r to l) Hayne Down, Hound Tor, Rippon Tor and Haytor peeking out above Black HillNow I’m on Hunters Tor looking in the same direction as the previous photo along Lustleigh CleaveThe view north from Hunters Tor has that wow factor on a day like this. Cosdon Beacon is the high point on the leftBit of zoom shows the upright Bowermans Nose on Hayne DownCosdon Beacon on the right with Easdon Tor in the centreLooking back to Hunters TorAs I head forward towards Harton ChestBack into woodland, this is the top of Harton Chest, however if you walk past this rock to the left and head out another 5 metres or so you end up perched……….……Here!!!!!!!! Above the canopy of Lustleigh Cleave looking across to Black Hill and Hound Tor. The drop off the edge of this boulder is 50 or so metres and the boulder is circular and about 4m in diameter so be careful up here.I was sat taking most of these photos!! Great view along the cleaveYou can see Harton Chest boulder in the centre of the photo peeking out over the trees and from here its a case of retracing your steps past Sharpitor and Hammerslake Tor to the car
treksandtors 