Good weather means good walks are possible. With the dry spell I decided to take the boys up to the highest point in Devon. In fact this is the highest spot in England, south of Derbyshire. We set out from the plentiful parking spots near to Rowtor, and took in 8 tors in total. 5 of these were new to the boys and they hadn’t been on Yes Tor and High Willhays for around 5 years now. So it was about time we got back up here, that time we set out from Meldon Reservoir and dropped back down to Fordsland Ledge and Black Tor on the return. We would stay to the eastern side of the Dartmoor high points this time, finding time to look and an old firing target railway on the way back. Despite the weather being overcast for the whole walk, this was a lot of fun and at around 7 miles was plenty for the boys. The army tracks around these parts make for quick progress to the tops and is a good way of getting youngsters to walk in this area.
Start – Rowtor parking |
Route – Rowtor – West Mill Tor – Little Tor – Pixies Pool – Yes Tor – Hampster Tor – High Willhays – Fordsland Ledge – Dinger Tor – OP3 – Rowtor Target Railway – Rowtor parking |
Distance – 7 miles Start time – 11.30pm Time taken – 4hrs Highest Point – High Willhays 621 metres |
Weather – Grey skies, cooler wind |

We’d left bright blue skies in Plymouth to be greeted by grey skies on North Dartmoor. Still the views are very good to East Mill Tor with Steeperton Tor back left

They get there first proper look at north Dartmoor. The last time they were up here on Yes Tor the cloud was down and saw very little. Hangingstone Hill is right at the back. There are a couple of army vehicles down there, despite no flags flying there were a group of soldiers firing blanks and throwing smoke grenades around the target railway.

The wiggling valley is the West Okement river as is feeds into Meldon Reservoir. North Devon’s patchwork of fields with Sourton Tor form the backdrop
I should really head down and climb Dartmoor’s high point. Hadn’t realized it was the highest point south of the Peak District in England although obvious when you think about it! 😀
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There are plenty of good routes up to this one. I’d recommend the parking at Rowtor (as its free, unlike Meldon Reservoir which now has a parking meter). I’d add on West Mill Tor and Yes Tor as both are very good tors. Black Tor down in the West Okement valley is also a fantastic tor if you can get down there and then loop around to the car
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Route so noted! 🙂
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Just had a look at the map, Basically park at SX596922, then up to Rowtor, on to West Mill Tor, Little Tor, Yes Tor, High Willhays, Fordsland Ledge, down to Black Tor (Black A tor Copse below is a classic high altitude oak woodland, very rare, only 3 on Dartmoor), then join the path going east at SX569905, across Red a ven Brook and across Black Down via the army tracks back to the car. About 7-8 miles I reckon
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Nice one – route bookmarked 😀
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