Harton Chest, Hunters Tor and Neadon Cleave

Time for another Dartmoor walk and this time its out on the eastern side around Lustleigh, I hadn’t been to Lustleigh this year and I think it was April 2021 when I last walked the area and possibly 2019 since I was last on Harton Chest which is really remiss of me, seeing as its in my top 3 tors. This walk was an easy one, up to Sharpitor, along the ridge picking off the tors, up and down over Foxworthy Bridge before climbing into Neadon Wood passing 3 tors and then down to Horsham Steps. This is always a lovely spot, perfect for lunch, sat deep in the cleave, on mossy boulders, with water under your feet. We then climbed back out of the cleave following a path diagonally upwards aiming for Harton Chest/Sharpitor area. Instead we found a new tor to us, and one that isn’t on many sites at all called The Lookout and the description seems to fit, given that you get a fine window view down to Lustleigh Cleave, similar to that of Harton Chest but a hundred metres or so northwest of Harton Chest. It was a lovely way to finish this walk before repeating a short section of out out bound route and down to the car. The parking at Lustleigh was full meaning we headed to Bovey Tracey for a well earned pint of cider in the hot sun before heading home.

Start – Lustleigh Parking

Hammerslake Tor – SharpitorHarton ChestFoxworthy TorHunters Tor – Peck Farm – Foxworthy BridgeNeadon Cleave North TorNeadon Cleave Summit TorNeadon Cleave South TorHorsham Steps – The Lookout – Harton Chest – Sharpitor – Hammerslake Tor

Distance – 4 1/2miles    Start time – 10:30am   Time taken – 4hrs  Highest Point – Foxworthy Tor 321m

Weather – Cloudy and humid

© Crown copyright 2022 Ordnance Survey FL 2022 SF
Lustleigh parking, this pot is a good one being near to Hammerslake Tor
And here is Hammerslake Tor and the large cave underneath
The view from beside Sharpitor to Hound Tor, the brown leaves of the trees showing the dry summer and the trees protecting themselves from the lack of water
Sharpitor
Clouds looking very threatening, but it stayed dry for us. Black Hill on the left hand side and Haytor at the back
On Harton Chest with that magnificent view, love it up here
Linda on Harton Chest
And the Chest itself, to get to the viewpoint head left here and pick your way through
Nearing Foxworthy Tor, rain passing in the distance around Black Hill and Haytor
Cosdon Hill in the distance as we reach Hunters Tor, the end of this ridge and giving great views across this eastern part of Dartmoor
Hunters Tor summit, that looks like Hameldown at the back, which I think it is
Foxworthy Bridge and the hamlet of the same name
Now the tors in Neadon Cleave are a bit scruffy, this one is Neadon Cleave North
And Neadon Cleave Summit
Finally this is the south tor, at this point you will have reached houses and hung a sharp left and dropped down to this path under the tor
Linda at Horsham Steps, time for a late lunch over there
We walked at angled path up away from Horsham Steps, heading for the Sharpitor area, we ended up coming out a bit further north on the main path than we expected, however it unveiled a lovely surprise
This huge rocky outcrop, called The Lookout, can’t argue with the name and the great view to Black Hill
After heading past Harton Chest again we went and had a closer look at Sharpitor, a huge rock face hidden in the woodlands above Lustleigh, like lots of other tors in this area. The walk was a lovely one and it was great to stumble across a new spot for me in The Lookout. It won’t be my last visit to it.

11 thoughts on “Harton Chest, Hunters Tor and Neadon Cleave

    • Yes the lanes are narrow to get the parking spot. The easiest way I found is to head through Lustleigh village, turn right at the end of Rudge Hill and follow the lane, you’ll see the lane widen which is the best place to park

      Liked by 1 person

  1. I hear Max Piper has a book coming out on lost East Dartmoor tors – should be advertised soon on the Dartmoor News website. Used to bivvy at Hammerslake.

    Liked by 1 person

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