Haytor sunset, without the sunset

/ 17/04/2025

So we were looking for a walk which would take advantage of the lighter evenings, plus somewhere we hadn’t been for a while. Haytor is always good for a short walk and visiting at this time means it is far quieter than in the day. We’d also checked the weather, with a small chance of a bit of a sunset, which when we pulled into the car park, near Saddle Tor, looked a reasonable possibility. The Saddle Tor car park also has the added bonus of not being pay and display, unlike the Haytor ones. The route is a very simple one and can easily be lengthened, taking in Black Hill, Smallacombe Rocks, Bag Tor or Rippon Tor, but for us the first spot was Saddle Tor. We then made it across to Haytor, ascending the couple of metal steps to reach the top of the summit rock, next we stopped under the cliff of Low Man, the western outcrop of Haytor for a bite to eat. We headed out towards Holwell Tor to see the quarries in the area, crossing the Templer Way (Haytor tramway) on route. All that was left was a bimble across to Emsworthy Rocks and Fitches Holt before a short ascent back to Saddle Tor and the car. No sunset for us however, but a lovely way to spend the Thursday evening before Good Friday. As it turned out the weather changed on the Friday and Saturday, and we never managed to get out walking again across Easter. But we enjoyed this start to our Easter weekend nonetheless.

Start – Haytor parking

Route – Saddle Tor – Haytor – Haytor Tramway – Holwell Tor – Little Holwell Tor – Emsworthy Rocks – Fitches Holt – Saddle Tor

Distance – 3 miles  Start time – 6.30pm  Time taken – 2hrs  Highest Point – Haytor 457 metres

Weather – Tiny bit of sunshine to start, clouded over though

© Crown copyright 2025 Ordnance Survey FL 2025 SF
On the way to our parking spot and we came across this bunch, we did a bit of a reverse and let them pass before they headed off into the field to the right
Parked up and Saddle Tor is a short hop, skip and jump away
Some darkening clouds over Rippon Tor, the possible sunset looking less likely at this stage
Looking east to Haytor however it looked more positive, but that’s the wrong direction for the sunset!
Saddle Tor and a sunburst over the rocks
From Saddle Tor looking more to the west, not sure yet whether the cloud will build and block out any sun. Hameldown is at the back
One more look at the dark clouds and bright skies, Rippon Tor on the left. We next set off towards Haytor
Low Man, the smaller of the two outcrops on Haytor, although the people on the far right of photo will give an idea of its size
Linda on the summit looking out to Black Hill on the right, Hameldown to the left and lots of tors between those two points
The B3387 on the left, Rippon Tor at the back and Saddle Tor is down there, although in the gloom it blends into the land a bit
Looking across Low Man towards the coast around Teignmouth
One of the quarries between Haytor and Holwell Tor. Hameldown again at the back left
Crossing the Haytor Tramway or Templer Way
On Holwell Tor, the valley below holds the Becka Brook and the pyramid shaped tor in the distance is Hound Tor. Black Hill up to the right
Looking down to the quarries on Holwell Tor, the tramway snaking away from the quarry. This would take the granite from here all the way along 10 miles of tracks to Stover and its canal. From where canal barges would take the granite to Teignmouth and on to London. Building places such as the British Museum, General Post Office and London Bridge.
Holwell Tor looking back to Haytor
A short distance to Little Holwell Tor again with views to Hameldown
Rippon Tor to the left from Little Holwell Tor
This is the spot for a sunset normally in these parts. This is Emsworthy Rocks and the tree which can frame the sunset nicely. However for the last 45 minutes of walking it has been clear that any sunset was a no go for us. Still its early in the year, and we can have plenty more attempts at an evening walk
Emsworthy Rocks looking to Haytor. Most of the tors in this area are pretty close to each other and you can pick up a dozen or more in a few hours of walking
Fitches Holt, I’ve got a good photo of the boys sat on this one like a large armchair
Almost back at Saddle Tor and Linda watches the Dartmoor ponies, I seem to remember one kept pulling a funny face and grinning. Or at least that’s what it looked like to us. Teignmouth in the distance
Back at the car and its getting a little darker now. A little walk to kick off the Easter weekend

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16 thoughts on “Haytor sunset, without the sunset”

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    • There have been discussions about large tors, and I know that Blackingstone Rock is huge and would dwarf Haytor. There are also lots in the woodland which are massive but difficult to measure. Plus ones with many outcrops like Great Mis Tor

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