After a couple of weeks away from a walking path, still on antibiotics and not wanting to push myself too far I sought a route that didn’t involve too much ascent. Distance would be ok if I could find a way not to be heading up and down hills too often. That ruled out the coastal path as that can’t be trusted to be flat, alongside lots of Dartmoor, however there are parts in the centre of Dartmoor that surprising are fairly flat. I concocted a route which stuck to a few lanes and roads as well as a great section across Royal Hill to Swincombe which was fairly flat as well. I even threw in a tor at the end for good measure. There was plenty of the West Dart River and some streams to circumnavigate as well, which involved a few fine stone bridges. The views are good and are mainly to the higher ground around this area and there are a few Dartmoor 365 squares to pick up on route. All in all the walk did exactly what I wanted, it got me out again and didn’t break me in doing so. Perfect.
Looking over the car park towards the Dart valley and Combestone Tor is the dimple above the valley. Ryders Hill up to the rightThe other side of the road is Bellever Tor, in view a lot on this walk. Back left is Longaford Tor and Higher White TorI’ve crossed over the Lower Cherrybrook Bridge down there, Bellever Tor back left and that’s the road to Dartmeet if you go that wayThis is the tree tunnel down to Prince Hall Hotel (hotel is behind me)Down the permitted path towards the West Dart. The rock over there is part of Ground TorPrince Hall Bridge and a burbling West Dart River, a lovely spot. I noticed a fair few large boulders and rocks in the trees behindPrince Hall Hotel from the bridge, the West Dart passing below meThese are the boulders. There was lots of them but not sure they get a name on any website. The hill they were sat on would lend itself to a tor type formation thoughBit of clitter as well beyond the trees. Parts of Ground Tor can be seen above the trees over there. The Princetown mast is at the backOn to open moorland now. I sat on the wall on the left here for a coffee. The path leads to Swincombe which is were I’m heading. Ter Hill and Skir Hill at the backBellever Tor and Laughter Tor in the distanceBit of zoom into Princetown and the mastJohn Bishops House (you’d think with all his money the comic would have done the place up!)The River Swincombe and Royal Hill at the back, I’m stood on the bridge here before turning left along the track on the other sideThe Gobbet Mine aditLooking back down the lane, Princetown mast in the distance, the trench on the left was dug in the direction of the majority of the tin streams (east/west)Heading towards Hexworthy. Yar Tor is the high point over thereThe Forest Inn and the commemorial stoneHexworthy Bridge and a still West Dart, this spot is popular for swimmingThe West Dart and coffee stop number 2. I was sat on a rock under a tree when to guys came to the other side of the bank with a fishing rod, they walked into the water with sandals on and cast off, trying to hit the calm waters before the small falls through the rocks. Eventually they caught a small fish and proceeded to yank the line so hard the fish came flying out the water and arched beautifully 20-30 metres downstream, still on the line. More Bob Mortimer technique than Paul Whitehouse I’d say!!St Raphael’s church in Huccaby, set in a very pretty locationAfter passing the church I headed gently uphill to the crossroads and turned left on the road back towards the car. A short detour off the road I came to Huccaby Tor. Ryders Hill is at the back and the Dart Valley is between me and Ryders HillBellever Tor (left) and Laughter Tor (right) from Huccaby TorSmall Tortoiseshell which took a bit of catching!!Bellever Tor on the right and back left is Higher White Tor, as I head towards Dunnabridge PoundDunnabridge PoundMore of the PoundDunna Bridge and the Pound beyondLast shot from the car park, again (as in the first photo) looking to the Dart Valley and Combestone Tor
Need to catch up on your posts – I’m way behind.
Sorry to hear you’ve been poorly. I’m sure you’ll soon be back up to speed and this looks like a nice enough walk through some pleasant countery even if you didn’t climb any hills.
It was exactly what was needed, some distance but not too much ascent. Back to full health again now, took a while to get rid of it but the antibiotics did there work in the end
treksandtors 
Need to catch up on your posts – I’m way behind.
Sorry to hear you’ve been poorly. I’m sure you’ll soon be back up to speed and this looks like a nice enough walk through some pleasant countery even if you didn’t climb any hills.
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It was exactly what was needed, some distance but not too much ascent. Back to full health again now, took a while to get rid of it but the antibiotics did there work in the end
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Good to see you out and about, proper nasty bout of tonsillitis by the sound of it. Dartmoor has the best bridges!
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There’s just so many of these bridges, all of them are good. Then there’s the clapper bridges which are brilliant
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