The weather had been good for most of the week and on into the weekend, the mercury on the thermometer was dropping. The icy winds from Russia were certainly blowing as I headed out from above Widecombe In the Moor and it was certainly hard underfoot as I stepped on to Hameldown. It was Baltic to say the least. The skies were blue however and I’d cooked up a route that would take me the length of Hameldown then down into Challacombe and along the valley, bringing me out over Wind Tor and back to the car. On arriving at Widecombe it seemed as though there was a running event going on which meant I’d have plenty of company on the first half of the walk for sure. It was a glorious day for walking and one I’d call a two hat day!! On my way home I stopped near to Scobitor to take a look at this out of bounds tor and the folly at its summit, this isn’t the easiest tor to see with plenty of trees around but coming from the south east is the best approach to get a photo.
| Start – Widecombe parking |
| Route – Langworthy Tor – Stoneslade Tor – Kingshead Tor – Hameldown Beacon – Broad Burrow – Hameldown Cross – Hameldown Tor –Grimspound – Blacka Tor – Rowden Tor – Drywell Cross – Wind Tor – Widecombe parking |
| Distance – 8 miles Start time – 10.45am Time taken – 4hrs 25mins Highest Point – Hameldown Tor 529metres |
| Weather – Freezing cold, windy, sunny and blue skies |
© Crown copyright 2017 Ordnance Survey FL 2017 SF
Starting out and it was wrap up warm time. Here I look back to Wind Tor and the car park
Langworthy Tor, not much to this one and again I look back to Wind Tor which will be my last one
A dark looking Corndon Tor as I look west from Langworthy Tor
This is looking up to Hameldown. Those with a keen eye will see a line of brightly clad runners heading up the path
Looking back down the ridge from Stoneslade Tor
Looking to the centre of Dartmoor
This is Kingshead Tor, these first 3 tors are rocky outcrops on the side of Hameldown if I’m honest. However they get their own name and all have that fantastic view
Hameldown Beacon and the long line of runners
Looking east towards Haytor as more runners pass
After passing Two Barrows and Broad Barrow I arrive at Hameldon Cross, Hameldown Tor is on the right of photo
Hameldown Tor and trig point. Cosdon Beacon on the horizon
The circular wall down there is Grimspound, a bronze age settlement, likely older than Stonehenge. Hookney Tor rises up behind
The entrance to Grimspound
Looking down the road I will follow back towards Wind Tor. It was a little warmer down here as the wind had gone
Turning around to see Hookney Tor
After a long walk along the road I arrived at Blacka Tor
Looking back along the valley. Hameldown is up on the right, Challacombe Down on the left and Hookney Tor in between
Snowdrops in the sun
I quite liked this view across Cator Common
Hameldown is the mass bulk on the right as I climb up Rowden Tor. I’m looking over a wall here
Residents of Rowden Tor
That’s Wind Tor over there. I’m heading down to the right here and then looping around to Wind Tor
I’ve followed the road to get to Drywell Cross, now to get up to Wind Tor
Wind Tor is up to my right as I cross the road heading that way, that’s Assycombe Hill in the distance
Corndon Tor is silhouetted
The Dart Valley and Buckland Beacon to the left from Wind Tor
On Wind Tor looking to Hameldown, the car is that way as well
Hameldown left and Chinkwell Tor and Honeybag Tor right as I get near to the car
I’ve driven around the road a bit now to come and look at Scorbitor. Now the sharp eyed will see it towards the bottom left corner of the photo with Hameldown and Chinkwell Tor forming the backdrop
There it is. Complete with its folly
treksandtors 
A splendid bit of Dartmoor ridge walking – one of the first places on the Moor I knew really well. Grand pictures.
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Superb walk and cracking views, same day as I was out in the Brecon Beacons I think. Another walk on Dartmoor bookmarked
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Hameldown is a lovely part of the moor and with Widecombe at the bottom there’s a couple of nice pubs
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