Chagford Common, Chagford, Dartmoor National Park
As marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, Chagford Common wraps around the eastern and northern border of Fernworthy Forest and Fernworthy Reservoir. The land is on the edge of the high moor. Below, a gentler and more pretty rolling countryside surrounds the National Park gateway town Chagford after which the common is named.
For the purposes of this listing, and to help you explore the area, we've split Chagford Commin into two areas. To the north is the common around Kestor Rock. To the east is the common by Assycombe Hill. We'd recommend visiting each section of Chagford Common on different trips. Both have impressive prehistoric features and provide amazing views of the National Park, Mid Devon and the outline of Exmoor National Park on the horizon to the north.
To visit the northern section of Chagford Common, we'd suggest you start from Batworthy Corner. From there, walk up to Kestor Rock and then drop down to Long Stone. Trend north and you'll come to a complex of amazing stone rows with Dartmoor's high north plateau rising behind. The Shovel Down Settlements and Field System are to your left. The Kestor Settlements and Field System are to your right. You can extend the walk on Chagford Common to take in Middle Tor and Frenchbeer Rock. Use one of the stiles to cross the newtake, or Dartmoor farm, walls to trudge up to Thornworthy Tor for super views to Fernworthy Reservoir. Last, look out for the National Trust's Castle Drogo (National Trust) at the mouth of the Teign Gorge (National Trust). Note that you can also walk to Chagford Common from the parking areas in Fernworthy Forest and from Chagford itself. The latter is a bit of a slog.
To visit the eastern section, start from the road that leads from Chagford to the main car park on the edge of Fernworthy Reservoir at Fernworthy Forest. If you consult the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, you'll see the Two Moors Way running pretty much north/south along the common. Follow the path. It's a steady climb to the wonderful Hurston Ridge/Chagford Common Stone Row and then the pile of rocks on Water Hill. There are big views from the latter of a large section of Dartmoor National Park. You can also walk this part of Chagford Common from the many car parking areas just off the B3212 by the Warren House Inn. We've also walked in from the main car park at Fernworthy Forest and from the heart of the forest via tracks that lead to a gate at Assycombe Hill.
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