Hameldown, Grimspound and lots of sun

/ 02/03/2025

A settles spell of weather had meant sunshine, and a fair bit of it. Not that it was warm, far from it, but the easterly winds usually means good things for us in the South West of England, as the eastern side sees more of the cloud. We probably saw two weeks of dry sunny weather, before it broke briefly, which was a real bonus as February turned to March. So where to walk, lots of opportunities to head a little higher as the daylight lengthens beyond 6pm and the ground dries a little. The plan was to head for the area around Chinkwell Tor, but the good weather had drawn out the crowds, even at 10.30am. So we continued through Widecombe and up the other side, for a traverse of Hameldown, returning along the Challacombe valley. The walk starts off with a gentle climb, passing three tors, which really aren’t much, other than a decent spot for a brew as you head for Hameldown Beacon. Once past this spot you are treated to a wide plateau of very easy level walking, all the way to Hameldown Tor. Next you drop down to the Bronze Age gem of Grimspound, before turning left and back on yourself, heading along the road passing through Challacombe. About halfway back we turned right and headed up to Blacka Tor, which sits on open access land but I’m never sure which way off you should go other than returning the way you came. We didn’t do that and ended up on the lane between Hatchwell Farm and Soussons Forest, quickly rejoining the road heading to Langworthy Farm and then our car. In this weather its a superb walk and Hameldown always delivers with the views in good weather.

Start – Widecombe parking

Route – Langworthy Tor – Kingshead Tor – Stoneslade Tor – Hameldown Beacon – Two Burrows – Broad Burrow – Hameldon Cross – Hameldown Tor – Grimspound – Challacombe – Blacka Tor – Langworthy Farm – Widecombe parking

Distance – 7 miles  Start time – 10.45am  Time taken – 4hrs 15mins  Highest Point – Broad Burrow 530 metres

Weather – Lots of blue sky and glorious sunshine

© Crown copyright 2025 Ordnance Survey FL 2025 SF
Before the walk I’d visited my mum’s and saw this Small Tortoiseshell butterfly in the garden, last day of February and they have started already.
Looking towards Princetown as we start up the gentle pull towards Hameldown
Corndon Tor with Ryders Hill at the back
Langworthy Tor is first up, no brew for us here
Views to Haytor also from here
Looking back towards Wind Tor
Heading further up the hill the views east get better, Honeybag Tor is furthest left, then Chinkwell Tor, Haytor in the distance with Saddle Tor and Rippon Tor to the right
Up against a wall a large puddle holds some frogspawn
As you walk the path you climb over Kingshead Tor
These two had snaffled the best brew spot on this tor, but don’t worry there’s one more tor for us
Stoneslade Tor, and Linda searches for a good perch for a brew
Views into the central north moor from here
Still views to Haytor from Stoneslade Tor
After a brew we continued towards Hameldown Beacon with an azure sky above
Hameldown Beacon
Loving the blue skies but plenty of layers on still, as the breeze was pretty cold.
Two Burrows
And the high point of the ridge at Broad Burrow. Fernworthy Forest in the distance
Looking back across Hameldown, the path splits at this end of the Down, the left track will head down towards Berry Pound and Natsworthy, we will take the right hand one behind me towards Hameldown Tor
Hameldon Cross, this one is fairly damaged, but has been erected as a boundary marker with the DS symbol for the Duke of Somerset on it.
Hameldown Tor, cairn and trig point, think that’s Dartmoor bingo! Cosdon Hill above the trig point
Lunch spot, with views to Exmoor, away in the distance from Hameldown Tor
Dropping down we find Grimspound, there were plenty of people sat in the hut circles inside the Pound, so this was the best photo I got. Hookney Tor is above and behind the Pound
Looking back at Headland Warren as we walk the lane to Challacombe
Challacombe village in the trees, the farm comprises of a few long houses to house the animals and the farmer’s family.
Fine trees as we walk towards Blacka Tor
After walking up the boggy lane we popped out near to Blacka Tor with views over Soussons Down and Forest
Linda was enjoying the view, time for another sit and a brew
Looking back into Challacombe, Hameldown up to the right
We found a way down off Blacka Tor and reached Blackaton Cross, turning right here to continue to the car.
Still plenty of blue above us as we look towards Postbridge
Another Dartmoor 365 spot is Langworthy Farm
The gatepost to the left of the metal gate has clearly been there for a while, with holes which would have supported poles previously
Before long we were back at the car, with Hameldown up to the right. An early finish for us but it meant we could get back and have an hour or two digging parts of our new garden ready for planting. Spring is on its way!

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16 thoughts on “Hameldown, Grimspound and lots of sun”

  5. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : one last fling, at Paderne | Still Restlessjo

  6. Incidentally, I see online there’ve been a lot of cars broken into and vandalised at the Grimspound car park. Best to avoid that one.

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  7. Stunning day. It’s been a warm start to March up here as long you are out of the wind. We were out on Sunday and it was gorgeous and spring-like in the morning sun but there was a brutally cold wind roaring across the summits

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