Autumn looked like it was coming over the previous weeks, and I was planning some last longer walks before the days shorten too much to complete them. The northern moors involve an hours drive each way so these needed to be done soon. I picked this out and back to Hangingstone Hill from Belstone, this is a long walk but once you are up on Cosdon Hill the paths undulate nicely along the ridge to Hangingstone, meaning quick progress can be made. The return gives you a couple of options, either east or west of Taw Marsh, I chose east this time as I’d previously walked the Oke Tor ridge back from Steeperton Tor and I fancied a change. This meant a quick down and up to Metheral Hill and then around Taw Marsh and back to Belstone. The weather started out as forecast, looking a bit grey and hazy, meaning the photos lacked a bit of colour. However the return back from Hangingstone brought a different weather with the sun clearing the clouds and making for a very hot walk back, it was still 25 degrees when I reached the car at 5pm, and I was grateful for a drink in the Tors Inn. A fab walk and one of my favourites with the added bonus of hardly seeing a soul.
| Start – Belstone parking |
| Route – Belstone Cleave bridge – Belstone Cleave – Ivy Tor – Cosdon Hill – Little Hound Tor – Whit Moor Stone Circle – Hound Tor – Wild Tor – Hangingstone Hill – Steeperton Tor – Metheral Hill – Taw Marsh – Ottery Tor – Belstone Cleave bridge – Belstone |
| Distance – 10.5 miles Start time – 10.45am Time taken – 6hrs 15mins Highest Point – Hangingstone Hill 603metres |
| Weather – Cloudy and hazy start clearing to very warm sunshine |
© Crown copyright 2018 Ordnance Survey FL 2018 SF
Belstone Green with Cosdon Hill rising beyond the cleave. I’m heading down along the path into the trees to reach the bridge
Belstone Cleave bridge across the River Taw
Belstone Cleave and those with a keen eye might be able to pick out Ivy Tor in the trees centre of photo
In the other direction, from Ivy Tor to Belstone along the cleave
Its a tough climb up through the scrub to start up Cosdon Hill. I rested here for a coffee looking to Belstone village
Higher up you get views across to Belstone Tor
Cosdon Hill summit. It was a bit grey and hazy up here which creates a bit of a dull palette of colour. The views are still magnificent from here
The beacon on Cosdon Hill with the highest points on Dartmoor behind. Yes Tor and High WIllhays
A short downhill walk to Little Hound Tor and looking along the outward ridge to Hangingstone Hill
Belstone Tors right and Yes Tor furthest left. Rowtor and West Mill Tor in between
Whit Moor Stone circle. Hameldown is in the far distance
On Hound Tor now and looking back to Cosdon Hill
Steeperton Tor from Hound Tor. I had considered going to Metheral Hill first but decided to tag it on to the return journey after Steeperton. Yes Tor again forms the backdrop
Wild Tor. I’d never noticed the hanging stone before on this tor. Hangingstone Hill behind
Wild Tor, Steeperton Tor left then Belstone Tor and Cosdon Hill on the right looking a long way away now
Looking to Watern Tor, with Hameldown just to the left
Up on Hangingstone Hill by the military hut. Cut Hill and Fur Tor are in view. The sun starts to come out here
To the west is Great Links Tor with Hare Tor peeking up on the left
North to great views and Cosdon Hill, Steeperton Tor and the Belstone group
I needed to get a bit of a wiggle on, so before too long I was on the track to Steeperton Tor
The sun was very warm here and lit up the views beautifully
Military regalia all over Steeperton Tor, looking to Yes Tor and High Willhays
Looking back again to Hangingstone Hill
Fantastic views to Taw Marsh, I’m heading down to the right to Metheral Hill
Metheral Hill and back to Steeperton Tor
The Belstone Tors and the sun still shines
Bit of zoom, past Oke Tor and East Mill Tor to Yes Tor
I’ve done a bit of searching on the internet and can’t find anything on these two stones, they were down the hill from the top of Metheral Hill heading towards Small Brook before the main path crosses it. I’m guessing they are boundary stones but not sure
Having looped around Taw Marsh I look back across it to Metheral Hill left and Steeperton Tor centre. Oke Tor is up on the right
Ottery Tor with Belstone behind
Belstone Tor from Ottery Tor
Looking back along Taw Marsh from Ottery Tor
The final plod into Belstone, all that is left is a down and up through the trees and into the pub!!
treksandtors 
That’s a circuit I often used to do, sometimes adding Cranmere. On reflection, I think Cosdon’s my favourite Dartmoor hill, John B.
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I love Cosdon, I’ve been on Cosdon in both early sun and late sun and the views to the south are breath taking
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Very dramatic hill too as you approach it from the Exeter direction. I remember the old days long before the Okehampton bypass was built, when the bus used to drop me off down in Sticklepath.
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So that’s what those hills look like under sunny skies! My January walk around there was a little wetter. The walk up to Cosdon Hill from the stone circle was one of the longest, coldest, wettest and grim slogs I can ever remember.
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You need to go again the view south from the summit is one of the best on Dartmoor
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