This was our first walk after returning from the Lake District and a pure Dartmoor 365 bagging walk, a list ticker! We’d had a lazy morning and eaten some lunch, before heading out to the furthest point away from our home on Dartmoor. South Zeal takes over an hour to get to and if I head this way it normally means a climb to up to Cosdon Hill and the high ground of north Dartmoor. Not today, this was a lanes walk around some of the villages on this side of the moor, through lots of woodlands and trees, it was perfect for the day. On arriving at South Zeal the normal village car park was packed and it was clear that a village fete was in progress, so we headed just up the hill to the huge layby and parked there instead. Of the villages in this area, each one has a bit of magic about it. South Tawton is lovely, a café in the old Church House on the pretty square. Sticklepath has the Finch Foundry, with South Zeal and its pubs and church providing a lovely end to the walk. The message here, maybe don’t always head up to the obvious high places and instead look to have a look lower and around the edges for a walk that will give just as much pleasure.

Start – Belstone parking

Route – South Zeal – Ramsley – Middle Down Tor – Sticklepath – South Tawton – Oxenham Manor – Addiscott Cross – Dishcombe – South Zeal

Distance – 6 miles    Start time – 2.30pm   Time taken – 3hrs  Highest Point – Ramsley 290 metres

Weather – Sunny, white fluffy clouds, warm