Belstone, Dartmoor Circular Walk with Dartmoor’s Daughter
Emma Cunis, Dartmoor’s Daughter, guides us on one of her favourite walks across the rugged and beautiful moorland around Belstone, unlocking its fascinating history along the way.
Belstone Circular Walk
6km (3.7m) moderately easy; some rocky sections
Use Ordnance Survey Map of Dartmoor OL 28 1:25,000
Park in the carpark opposite Belstone Village Hall – marked ‘P’ on the OS map at SX621938. Turn left out of the car park and follow the road up towards the village. Take the left fork where the modern standing stone commemorates King George V’s Coronation and 50 years reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Notice the fascinating old stocks (pictured) on your left as you walk past.
Continue along the road around the large village green sloping down on your left, taking time to enjoy the stunning views across Belstone Cleave. Follow this road (if you see the dead-end sign, you’re on the right track) through the tiny hamlet of Birchy Lake before taking the left-hand fork past the vintage Massey Ferguson tractor (pictured) to Lower Birchy Lake Gate.
Follow the public footpath sign through the gate down the hard track and past Bernard’s Acre. Walk through the metal Sheepfold gates to reach the River Taw (pictured); notice the old granite fireplace in the walls of the granite mason’s yard and forge.
Pick up the beautiful path upstream along the right/west bank of the River Taw until you reach the weir and old stone-built Water Works building where you’ll encounter some steps leading to a hard track. In winter, or after heavy rainfall, the river path may be impassable in places, so following the hard track above is a safer option. Continuing upstream, follow this until you reach the pretty ford and horseshoe bend in the river on your left, a beautiful picnic and swimming spot depending on the amount of recent rainfall.
Keep an eye out for the small tor across the river up on the hill above you. No longer named on maps, it’s called Ladybrook Tor due to its proximity to the Lady Brook.
The Taw and Torridge rivers were the inspiration for Henry Williamson’s ‘Tarka The Otter’. Written in 1927 and set in the “Country of the Two Rivers” it follows the joyful life of a dog otter and remains one of the most cherished animal stories in world literature.
Up ahead to the south is the sweeping valley known as Taw Plain, an ancient lakebed and classic Dartmoor scene, which for three decades until the 1990s had water pumped from it to North Devon. The high aluminium content put a stop to this venture and the area is now a thriving blanket of valley bogs – an important Dartmoor habitat.
Retrace your footsteps from the ford/horseshoe bend back to and directly across the hard track. There is a grassy path climbing west up to Higher Tor, a magnificent tor with jointing patterns.
Cross north over the break in the ruins of Irishman’s Wall (a 19th century landgrab attempt built by Irish labourers and knocked down by Belstone Commoners, pictured below) and walk across to Belstone Tors.
Turn around to take in the stunning views across Taw Marsh, Watern Tor, Hangingstone Hill, Steeperton Tor, and Oke Tor to the south west, while High Willhays, (highest point on Dartmoor), Yes Tor, West Mil, and Rough Tor dominate the skyline to the south east.
East Okement Farm (also known as Hartor Farm) is one of the highest and remotest farms in England and is seen nestled in the valley. It was the setting for Eden Phillpott’s novel ‘The Secret Woman’.
Continuing north from Belstone Tors you will reach ‘Tors End’ (last small tor on Belstone Common but not named on OS map), turn north west and follow the path down to the Bronze Age burial Nine Stones Cairn Circle SX612928 (pictured) where legend tells how nine maidens were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath. As punishment, they were damned to dance for eternity and some say they can be seen moving at noon each day.
Walking north east now, towards the ‘Tumulus’ and Watchet Hill with the military flagpole on top, you can exit using the moor gate north northeast of here at SX616933.
Wander down past the waterworks (Resr on the OS map) following the road past the old chapel that once served as a ‘Telegraph Office’ and now has a red telephone box with a defibrillator inside.
You are now back in Belstone village where you can make your way back to the carpark. The Tors Inn will offer you a friendly welcome and The Old School Tearoom is open afternoons on Monday, Friday, and the weekend.
Dartmoor’s Daughter offers a range of outdoor experiences with a local expert on hand to help guide you across this ancient Devonshire upland region. We would love for you to share with us your Dartmoor walking experiences. Please contact us on info@dartmoorsdaughter.com
Upcoming walks, talks, gift vouchers, and bespoke days out are available at www.dartmoorsdaugher.com