Bellever Tor, Bellever, Dartmoor National Park

Bellever Tor, Bellever, Dartmoor National Park

Look at the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map and you'll see Bellever Tor marked as a beauty spot providing panoramic views of the National Park. Situated in the heart of Dartmoor overlooking Bellever Forest, the tor is near Postbridge and its famous Postbridge Clapper Bridge. Given its location, it can get busy up top on sunny weekends or during the high season.

 

Recommended route to Bellever Tor for the first time

We've positioned Bellever Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. To visit for the first time, we'd recommend walking in from the Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre area.

Start from either the car parking area at the visitor centre or from the car parking area across the road at the entrance to Bellever Forest. A very obvious forestry track runs south through Bellever Forest to a clearing where you'll see Bellever Tor rising in front of you. This forestry track, and the path, are clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map.

A wide, grassy path takes you to the rocky outcrops and the views. A trig point tops one of the outcrops. It's roughly 1.5 miles in one direction which should take about 40 minutes to walk at a leisurely pace. The climb to the top of the tor is very gentle so it's a great tor for kids.

 

Other routes and directions to Bellever Tor

As is the case with most tors on Dartmoor, you can walk in from all directions. Here are other routes. We've walked them all with very young kids in all weather conditions and they're all straightforward.

 

Routes and directions to Bellever Tor from the north/Postbridge

In addition to the recommended route above, you can take other paths from the Postbridge area to Bellever Tor. Use the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map for detail.

Bellever Forest is packed with prehistoric sites. You can explore these on your way to Bellever Tor. Start at the car parking area by the entrance to Bellever Forest (to the right of the cattle grid as you turn off the B3212 into Bellever Forest). Instead of following the forestry track all the way to Bellever Tor, take the first right and you'll very shortly see a track to your left that takes you to Kraps Ring. From there, walk past the cairn circles, cists and stone rows to Bellever Tor that very obviously rises in front of you.

For a longer route from Postbridge, start at Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre. Cross the road to see Postbridge Clapper Bridge. A path, marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, runs west of the East Dart River to Bellever. Turn right past the YHA Dartmoor complex. You are now following the ancient Lichway/Lych Way. This takes you to the clearing below Bellever Tor. Walk up top.

Clearly, there are many variations of this approach given how many forestry tracks there are. It's also fun to walk south from the car parking area to Laughter Hole Farm. Either yomp up to Laughter Tor across rugged terrain and then proceed to Bellever Tor or loop around Laughter Tor on the paths marked on the OS map.

 

Routes and directions to Bellever Tor from the east/Bellever

There's a large car parking area in Bellever Forest by the East Dart River. This area is popular for family picnics. To get to this car parking area, head for Postbridge and take the turning to Bellever. Drive through the village and follow signs for the car park. The easiest route to Bellever Tor from here is to walk back up the road from the car parking area to the centre of Bellever. Walk past the YHA Dartmoor complex which will be on your right. Follow the aforementioned ancient Lichway/Lych Way to the clearing below Bellever Tor. Walk up top.

The forest south and west of the car parking area is covered with forestry tracks. Referring to the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, you'll see one forestry track running to the south west corner of the forest and then curling north to the east side of Bellever Tor. A rough, rocky path that is marked on the OS map climbs to the clearing in which Bellever Tor sits. Walk up top.

For a longer walk from the south east, start at Dartmeet. Walk up the B3357 in the direction of Two Bridges and you'll very shortly see a turning to Brimpts Farm on your right. Walk through the farm, cross the East Dart River on stepping stones and continue to Babeny. The path runs north west to more stepping stones by Laughter Hole House. Continue to Laughter Tor and then Bellever Tor as above.

 

Routes and directions to Bellever Tor from the west

There's a small car parking area off the B3212 at Higher Cherrybrook Bridge. A forestry track runs east and connects with the ancient Lichway/Lych Way that takes you to the clearing in which Bellever Tor sits. Walk up top. Note that Powdermills Pottery is near Higher Cherrybrook Bridge. Pop in for a superb cream tea.

 

Routes and directions to Bellever Tor from the south

There's parking down by Dunnabridge Pound Farm off the B3357 Dartmeet/Two Bridges road. It's an easy walk north on a path to Bellever Tor. Again, the route is clearly marked on the Ordnance Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map.