Bank holiday weekend and walk number two and the weather continues to be scorchio!! Now don’t get me wrong I like a bit of sunshine however the warm weather does have its downsides. Firstly the midge and horsefly bites, I’m a magnet for these little things and they love the taste of Steve. I end up itching and scratching for hours, even with an insect repellent sunscreen on. Secondly, sweating, this obviously happens in warm weather and when mixed with a bit of sun tan lotion on your face it makes for very itchy eyes!! Third and finally, adders, these fellas love a bask on a path in the sun. On Dartmoor they tend to hide beside a gorse bush or long grass patch (which cover most of Dartmoor), I’m not afraid of snakes as such but I’m always very wary in hot weather that they will be waiting. Aside from those things this was a great walk, it was warm, especially in the valleys, but on the tops the breeze was lovely and the views were great. Again I chose a part of woodland to walk through which gives a great change from the high moorland, as well as some shade. It was brilliant to be back up on the north moor and I was left wishing I’d planned a wild camp when I saw people setting up around Taw Marsh. Next time maybe
| Start – East Hill parking |
| Route – East Hill – Ashbury Tor – Chapel Ford – Cleave Tor – Scarey Tor – Nine Maidens – Watchet Hill – Tors End Tor – Belstone Common Tor – Belstone Tor – Irishmans Wall – Higher Tor – Lower Tor – Knattaborough Tor – Oke Tor – Skit Bottom Bridge – Hart Tor (Okehampton) – Okehampton Camp Bridge – East Hill parking |
| Distance – 9 miles Start time – 10.30am Time taken – 6hrs Highest Point – Belstone Tor 479metres |
| Weather – Lovely sunshine and pretty warm, nice breeze on the tops |
© Crown copyright 2017 Ordnance Survey FL 2017 SF
I’m parked on the right and I’m looking at the line of three tors, Rowtor, West Mill Tor and Yes Tor from left to right. Okehampton Camp starts at the trees on the right
The town of Okehampton from the trig point on East Hill
Those three tors again from the same spot
Ashbury Tor sits above a cleave, the gorse was smelling lovely here so I sat for a coffee for a bit in the sunshine
Looking further left I can see the Belstone Tor group. I’m heading left out of this photo and down into the trees next
This was a lovely part of the walk which takes you down to the East Okement river and the A30
The East Okement, the path follows the right hand bank for a mile to Chapel Ford
There was plenty of things springing into life in the warm weather, these are wood anemones (apparently)
and patches of bluebells
It was very hot here, no wind and a real sun trap. This is Chapel Ford
I walked back to Cleave Tor, the cleave is beyond as is East Hill
I’m heading that way towards Belstone Tor and first Scarey Tor, which isn’t very scary!
Lots of these little things around today
Scarey Tor, with Winter Tor peeking up and further left is Higher Tor
Nine Maidens, Scarey Tor is above the right hand edge of the circle
Military flagpole on Watchet Hill
This is the last tor on the northern moor, so they’ve called it Tors End Tor, from here you can see the Atlantic north coast of Devon
The village of Belstone
Between Tors End Tor and Belstone Tor (which is up there) lies this group of rocks, which is called Belstone Common Tor. I originally thought this was Ladybrook Tor but that sits across the valley behind me (also known as Ottery Tor).
I’m on Belstone Tor now, that’s Taw Marsh down there in the depression
A tiny cloud must mean its clouding over above Yes Tor and High Willhays
Irishmans Wall, with Cosdon Hill opposite
On Higher Tor now looking down to Lower Tor and the ridge which continues on to Oke Tor
A bit of climbing on Higher Tor
This is Knattaborough Tor, a small lump on the ridge to Oke Tor, I’m looking back up to Belstone Tor
On the right is West Mill Tor, then Yes Tor and High Willhays. East Mill Tor is in the foreground centre left
On my way to Oke Tor, Steeperton Tor is beyond that but I’m not going there today. Up to the right is Okement Hill
On Oke Tor looking back at the ridge I’ve just walked
Cosdon Hill beyond Taw Marsh, a very boggy place
Oke Tor is one of the bigger tor formations, Steeperton Tor is another one that I need to visit again
I’ve walked down from Oke Tor a couple of times but this is the first time I noticed this little bridge in Skit Bottom. That’s Oke Tor above
None shall pass
Very cute lamb at the side of the road
Glorious photo of Skit Bottom
OP22 which also marks Hart Tor, that’s West Mill Tor over there
Hart Tor and the back of OP22, Skit Bottom beyond that
I read somewhere that these are trenches built for Boer War practice. I guess its possible. Rowtor and West Mill Tor are in the background, the keen eyed will also see Yes Tor which is hiding behind West Mill Tor
Down at the bridge by the Okehampton Camp, with the three tors all lined up again. A great walk in some fantastic weather
treksandtors 
Super Pictures.
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A great walk and fabulous pictures. I was camped down by the river Taw at the bottom of Irishman’s wall on Thursday evening. A lovely part of the moor.
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That’s a great place to camp in a great area
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Glorious photos and weather. Nice to see what that area looks like, ever so slightly nicer weather than the soaking I got up here in January! 😀
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It was well worth the hour’s drive around to Okehampton
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