White Tor, Dartmoor (July)

PLEASE NOTE: The GPX trace on this route is for use as a guide only, its accuracy may change depending on the scale of map you are using. Use in combination with judgement and a paper map. We have taken all reasonable steps to ensure these walks are safe and correctly described. However things do change and all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk. The publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for any injuries or accidents that occur whilst following this walk. Trail magazine, Copyright Bauer Media Limited.



Distance day one 10.5km (6½ miles); day two 18.5km (11½ miles)
Total ascent day one 390m; day two 255m
Time day one 4 hours; day two 5½–6 hours
Start/finish Lydford car park (SX510848), no charge at time of writing
Nearest town Okehampton
Terrain footpaths, bridlepaths and minor roads; on moorland the route is mainly pathless, but easy underfoot with avoidable boggy patches.

Accommodation Okehampton YHA hostel (01837) 53916; Fox & Hounds camping barn and campsite, Bridestowe (01822) 820206; Lydford Caravan & Camping Park, Lydford (01822) 820497; B&B at Lydford House Hotel, Lydford (01822) 820347
Public transport Beacon bus 118 from Okehampton and Tavistock, regular service Mon to Sat, two only Sun; Traveline 0871 200 2233
Tourist info DNP High Moorland Visitor Centre, Princetown (01822) 890414 

Situated near the western edge of the moor, and standing
apart from its neighbours, White Tor makes a good
viewpoint over much of Dartmoor, the Tavy valley and on
into Cornwall. It’s separated from the tors to the south and east
by the expanse of Langstone Moor, where there’s a tall standing
stone and a stone circle – both visited on day two’s route.
The tor itself has a number of broken rock outcrops and
several ancient cairns, and is surrounded by the remains of a
prehistoric enclosure wall. The grass is short here and, best of all,
there’s no bracken (there’s rock just below the turf, though, so
you’ll need to search around a bit for a pitch) – so why not camp
overnight and watch the sun set over distant Bodmin Moor?
From here you can see Brent Tor and its church to the west, and
many other Dartmoor tors including Great Links and Hare Tors
(north), Fur Tor (north-east), Beardown Tors (east), and nearer, to
south-east and south, Great Mis, Roos, Staple and Cox Tors.
By contrast, the route out and back to Lydford crosses the
countryside around the Tavy, on field paths and byways, with
the moor always in view. The leats (water channels) and the
mine chimney passed are reminders of copper and lead mining.
In Mary Tavy churchyard William Crossing’s grave is under a treeby the top hedgebank; his writings on Dartmoor are classics.




Avoid Bracken

When wild camping on Dartmoor one of the potential hazards is picking up ticks [see page 46 of the June 2012 issue for much more on these unpleasant wee beasties]. These nasty little parasites are most likely to be found in thick vegetation, especially bracken, so try to avoid these areas.  High ground in the north and west of the moor is mainly bracken-free because this side is more exposed to prevailing wind and rain. White Tor has short turf around it and is free of bracken and gorse. 


Safety note
The route crosses part of Willsworthy and Merrivale ranges; check firing programme on 0800 458 4868 or www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk; weekends clear, except possibly second weekend in month at Willsworthy range. (White Tor is not within ranges).

Day one SX510848 Turn right from the car park, then fork right into Silver Street. At the road end continue on a track. At crossroads turn right, signed to Beardon. Under the viaduct, pass a cottage then cross a footbridge over the Lyd. Soon fork right up a sunken path by the wood. Turn left onto a track, pass a farm and carry on to the A386. Cross (beware fast traffic) to a bridleway opposite. This leads to a gate onto the moor.

SX520838 Follow the wall to a corner, then turn right on a track (SE). Cross a tarmac road and follow the track to its end, then carry on south on a path, soon crossing a footbridge. Further on, cross a track and aim for the right end of the trees. Over a stile go through three fields, then beside a stream to reach a road. Turn left. Round a corner turn right to Higher Willsworthy. Follow the track until you see a stile right (Lich Way sign). The path crosses three fields; keep to the right edge of the third field to a gate. A path between rocks leads to the River Tavy.

SX539811Cross the stepping stones and take the path signed to Brousentor. Through the gate, fork right up to a wall gateway, bear left, then go diagonally across two fields to a wall corner. Keep the wall right, then turn right on a concrete track. Fork left onto a stony track to reach a gate onto open land. Ahead is Bagga Tor and beyond, by an army hut, a gate. As this ‘funnel’ opens out, keep close to the right wall. At the bend follow it down to a dip (avoid bog either on the wall bank or skirting left), then up the far side. At the next corner turn right on a track parallel with the wall, west-south-west. Continue to a range marker post where the wall bears right – now head uphill to White Tor.

Day two SX542786 From White Tor walk east to reach a tall standing stone. From here you can see a stone circle nearly 1km away SE. Contour left around marshy ground to reach it. From here the route turns south-west to cross Langstone Moor. Soon you’ll reach a grassy track bearing SSW to Roos Tor, just over 2km from the circle.

SX543766 From Roos Tor descend south, then contour west below Staple Tor to reach a pond in the dip below Cox Tor. Contour round the north a gate take the bridlepath signed to Peter Tavy. At a signpost fork right and aim for a rocky outcrop, then the far right corner. Go via the left gate and between walls to reach Great Combe Tor. Descend either by the left wall or around the right of the tor the west. Pass a pond and cross footbridge. At the junction turn left for Peter Tavy. Continue on a lane past cottages. Over a bridge turn right on an unsigned path by the stream. At the road turn right, then right again at the T-junction.

SX514775 Turn left where the Peter Tavy Inn is signed. Past the pub fork right for Mary Tavy. At the river, cross the footbridge and continue to a road. At the church, take the path through the churchyard to a stile at the top left corner. Follow the left edge of the field, then up the next field to the top left corner. Pass a mine building and chimney; fork right for Horndon. Keep right to a stile; go half left and down to a stable to a track. Leave it at the bend and cross a field right to a sunken path. Turn left to a road.

SX517800 Turn left. In 75m, opposite the Elephant’s Nest Inn, climb a stile right and take the field-edge path (all the stiles on this section are high, steep and not dog-friendly). Cross the next field on a left diagonal, past an upright stone, to a stile right of a gate. After three more fields take a gate left of a barn, then right into the farmyard at Kingsett.  Reaching a road, turn right. It soon becomes a track and leads to a gate onto open land.

SX513808 Continue NE bythe hedgebank until it bears right, then head NNE to a track near Wheal Jewell reservoir. Fork left, NW, then north for 2km to a tarmac road. Turn left to A386 at Willsworthy range car park. Cross the road to follow the track, forking right to reach the bottom corner. A track runs between trees, then hedges. At the junction turn right to follow the lane to the road. Turn right on it and follow back to Lydford.