I’ve been banging on about the weather down in these parts a fair bit recently, with all the rain the ground underfoot has been boggy to say the least. Well this time I decided to change things. I chose a walk that was fairly low (nothing over 350 metres high) and involved plenty of tracks and roads. Now these roads aren’t really that busy, even on the stretch through Poundsgate I only came across 10 cars, so I’m looking at more of these walks for now, which means that I don’t get back to the car looking like I’ve been fishing without my waders! I really like the section of this walk from Leusdon down to Newbridge as it gives some nice variety of paths and sights, from there it is a bit of a plod up to Aish Tor but all that downhill, at some point, means up hill will follow. I went looking for Hockinston Tor on this walk as well, which is probably the hardest tor to find on Dartmoor and certainly one of the toughest to get to. Still I finished in bright sunshine on Mel Tor and I sat and enjoyed the sun for as long as I could before heading home. Maybe less is more when it comes to Dartmoor at this time of year.
| Start – Bel Tor Corner parking |
| Route – Bel Tor – Leusdon Church – Blackadon Tor – Spitchwick Manor – Poundsgate – Leigh Tor – River Dart – Newbridge – Aish Tor – Two Moors Way – Hockinston Tor – Mel Tor – Bel Tor parking |
| Distance – 6 1/2 miles Start time – 11am Time taken – 4hrs 15mins Highest Point – Bel Tor 354metres |
| Weather – Cloudy with some breaks, finishing with nice sunny spells |
© Crown copyright 2017 Ordnance Survey FL 2017 SF
A bit gloomy as I look down to Mel Tor with Venford reservoir in the distance
Looking north you can see the cloud base sitting around the 350-400m level. Normally Hameldown would be in view this way
Bel Tor is first up
As I drop down the road I pass this lovely cottage, Higher Uppacott, one of the Dartmoor 365. Bel Tor is up on the left
The two Diamond Jubilee stones as I approach Leusdon
Leusdon church
Inside Leusdon church, no service today
On Blackadon Tor looking south to some brighter patches of weather
Blackadon Tor
Sun breaks through as I look down to the church at Buckland in the Moor with Buckland Beacon up on the left
Heading into Spitchwick, the wooden house in front of the manor is a new build
Blimey he’s a big fella and he’s giving me the stare
Before long I’ve arrived at Leigh Tor, again Buckland Beacon in the distance
Looking back to Blackadon Tor (the brown covered hill in the centre of photo)
Looking down towards Newbridge (which is in the trees)
Down at the River Dart. Classic fun on this part of the river
Leigh Tor up on the left of photo (you can just make out the rocks in the trees)
Newbridge. Built in 1413 a great example of a classic Dartmoor bridge
This little fella was on the road up from Hannaford farm
Heading up to Aish Tor I look back in the direction I have come. The cloud is lifting and breaking for sure
Sunburst to my right
Aish Tor summit. Rippon Tor is at the back in the centre
Turning the other way I can see the Dart valley with North Tor on the other side. Sharp Tor is the pointy tor at the rear
Walking the Two Moors Way and looking back to Aish Tor. The Dart valley drops steeply on my right
Trying to get down to the tree line and through the thick gorse. Hockinston Tor is down to my left in the trees, the River Dart can be seen and Sharp Tor is still pointy
In the trees looking for Hockinston Tor, this is the typical terrain in here
Hockinston Tor is found
Sharp Tor through the trees
Its a tough slog back up from Hockinston Tor. I found a sheep track through the trees which helped get me across and up. I rest here and enjoy the view down the Dart valley again
On Mel Tor in the sunshine I look to the trio of tors to my west, with Sharp Tor, Yar Tor and Corndon Tor left to right
Still a bit dark over the Haytor area though
Back to the car park I take the same photo as number 2 in this post. Hameldown is now visible with Chinkwell and Honeybag Tor to the right
Same photo as the first one and a much better and sunny outlook
treksandtors 
That’s a walk I used to do regularly. I once spent a year living in a tent in Spitchwick’s Park Wood. Leigh Tor is an oft-neglected gem.
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Its certainly got one hell of a drop off on one side. It might be low but the views aren’t bad and considering how easy it is to get to I’m surprised how quiet it is
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The Victorian novelist Charles Kingsley was born at Holne. When his mother was pregnant with him, she used to walk on Leigh Tor hoping it might imbue the would-be Charles with a feeling for natural beauty.
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