Don’t be fooled by the title, this isn’t the Welsh Snowdon. No this is the Dartmoor version, sat near to Ryders Hill on the southern moor. Its been over two years since I have been to Snowdon, that time I came from Ryders Hill and this time I chose to come from Avon Dam and over Huntingdon Warren. Now despite the lower altitude than the Welsh 3000 footer, this area needs respect, this area caught out an unprepared walker around a week ago, who called for help shortly after midnight after getting lost on Huntingdon Warren, suffering from hypothermia she was found around 3.15am. She was out without torches, maps, compasses or spare batteries for her phone or GPS. A lucky lady. It serves as a valuable reminder that these places deserve respect and thought. For me all was well, the sun shone, the walk was good and the ground not too boggy. In fact I quite like this part of the moor and I’m hoping the cold spell stays with us for a couple of weeks more!
| Start – Shipley Bridge parking |
| Route – Shipley Bridge – Brentmoor House – Black Tor – River Avon – Avon Dam and Reservoir – Huntingdon Cross – Huntingdon Warren – Snowdon – Pupers Hill – Abbots Way – Grippers Hill – Shipley Tor – Shipley Bridge |
| Distance – 8 miles Start time – Midday Time taken – 4hrs 45mins Highest Point – Snowdon 495metres |
| Weather – Blue skies, some cloud but lots of sunshine |
© Crown copyright 2017 Ordnance Survey FL 2017 SF
The sun is shining at Shipley Bridge as I leave the car park
Just after the bridge this waterfall is always good value, even better after the wet weather we have had
The River Avon and Shipley Tor, my last one on the route, is up on the right
The remains of Brentmoor House
Behind Brentmoor House is Black Tor, and a lovely view up the Avon valley towards Avon Dam
Black Tor, looking to Shipley Tor (follow the wall up to it) and Brent Hill in the distance
Glorious at Avon Dam and reservoir
Heading around the reservoir I look back towards the dam, Grippers Hill on the left
That’s Huntingdon Warren back right, the River Avon can be seen below and I’m heading to a point between the two, where Huntingdon Cross sits
Frogspawn!! Bit early for that surely. Hope it can survive the cold weather as its forecast to hit zero for most of the coming week
Looking back from Huntingdon Cross
The wiggling River Avon heads into the reservoir. Eastern White Barrow can be seen up on the right
Redlake looking black and moody from the climb to Huntingdon Warren, the sun is spreading that way as the moor shows its yellow and brown colour of winter
The zoom lens is on now. Rippon Tor with Haytor behind from Huntingdon Warren
Lovely shot of Redlake
Leaving Huntingdon Warren with Snowdon left and Pupers Hill right. Heading for the former first
North from Snowdon, the bright sunshine in the far distance illuminates the area around Cut Hill
To the east you can see Rippon Tor to the right and the flat topped Hameldown to the left
Ryders Hill beyond the summit mound on Pupers Hill as I now start to head back in the direction of the car
Grippers Hill is on the left, that one is next up
Grippers Hill with the area around Shipley Tor straight ahead and Ugborough Beacon far back right
Looking back to Pupers Hill from Grippers Hill
Lots of tors here starting with Hameldown left, along to Chinkwell Tor and Honeybag Tor. Then Emsworthy Rocks and Rippon Tor to the right and plenty more in between
Heading to Shipley Tor I come across this upright stone with Huntingdon Warren above it in the distance. Eastern White Barrow to the left
Shipley Tor looking across to Black Tor above the trees. Some lovely light now as I reverse the photo from earlier in the walk
Ugborough Beacon from Shipley Tor. Now its just down and through the trees, however private land blocks the way, so follow the wall down to the River Avon head south 50 metres and hop across on the good stones
treksandtors 
One of my favourite areas. Nice to be reminded by your splendid pictures,
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Agreed some of my first walks on the moor were up to Avon Dam from Shipley Bridge
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A grand walk in great weather. Never knew there was another “Snowdon”!
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The Dartmoor one is nowhere near as busy and I checked thoroughly for a cafe and shop. None was found!!
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We had a beautiful walk up to the damn in February. Such a pretty area that we hadn’t explored before in all the years we had been coming to the Moors.
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Its a great area
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