Dartmoor North To South Walk In A Day, Dartmoor, Dartmoor National Park
You can walk from Belstone near the northern border of Dartmoor down to Ivybridge on the southern border of the National Park in a day. Providing you don't get lost, it takes roughly twelve hours so you'll need to do it when there are sufficient daylight hours unless, of course, you want to walk by torchlight or under the stars. It's a long day. Good footwear and a rucksack that fits your back are essential as you're covering about 31 miles.
Dartmoor National Park consists of two high plateaus split by a central bowl. This route crosses the north plateau between Belstone and Postbridge before following the East Dart River as it flows through the central bowl to Dartmeet. The route then climbs to the south plateau and meanders towards Ivybridge. You'll walk through very distinctive landscapes including high moorland, forest, wooded valleys and farmland. When we walked this specific route in September 2014, the first 22 miles were relatively easy. By 28 miles, our feet were blistered and painful. Again, good footwear is essential. Take plasters and use them on the way. It's a great day out and an essential Dartmoor experience.
We've split the Dartmoor North to South Route into three sections. These cover the north plateau, central bowl and south plateau.
Section 1. North Moor
Start at Belstone. Follow the road that runs past Belstone Great Green towards the moors. Walk over Belstone Tors towards Oke Tor. Take the army track to the ford in Steeperton Gorge. From there, the track rises to the army hut on Hangingstone Hill. If the terrain is dry underfoot, you can bog hop to Whitehorse Hill. If it's wet underfoot, take the peat pass marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. From Whitehorse Hill, head for the cairn and army huts at Quintin's Man. Follow the wall to Sittaford Tor and then walk the east bank of the East Dart River to Postbridge. You've crossed the north plateau. Grab a cup of tea in Postbridge Stores.
Section 2. Central Bowl
The next section of the Dartmoor North to South Route takes you across the central bowl of the National Park. From Postbridge, walk to Bellever Forest. Follow the forest road and path to Laughter Hole Stepping Stones. Continue to Babeny. Cross the river again on the stepping stones at Brimpts Northern Wood as marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. Walk to Brimpts Farm by Dartmeet. From there, head for Huccaby St Raphael's Church. Just before the building, there's a path to your left that takes you down to Huccaby Steps. Use these stepping stones to cross the West Dart River and climb the moors to Combestone Tor. You have crossed the central bowl.
Section 3. South Moor
The final section takes you over the south plateau to Ivybridge. From Combestone Tor, follow the grassy track up to Holne Ridge. At Holne Ridge, walk south west to the trig point at Ryder's Hill which is the highest point on the south plateau. Head south across the boggy moorland to the Heap of Sinners cairn at Huntingdon Warren. Drop down to the clapper bridge. Climb the steep hill and connect with the disused railway trackbed clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. Follow the trackbed to the southern end of the plateau. A giant rock with MW markers on it point to the final descent to Ivybridge as you leave the Two Moors Way. The path takes you to the southern border of Dartmoor National Park on the edge of Ivybridge.
Route
The following information was taken from a GPS device used on the walk:
Distance - 30.7 miles.
Time - Roughly 12.5hrs. 07.30 - 20.04.
Walked on September 13 2014. Sunrise 06.30ish. Sunset around 19.15. Just enough light for finish around 20.00.
07.30 - Belstone.
09.51 - Hangingstone Hill.
10.16 - Whitehorse Hill.
10.37 - Quintin's Man.
11.09 - Sittaford Tor.
12.30 - Postbridge.
14.06 - Babeny.
14.53 - Huccaby St Raphael's Church.
15.46 - Combestone Tor.
16.29 - Ryder's Hill.
17.04 - Heap of Sinners/Huntingdon Warren.
17.30 - Huntingdon Warren Clapper Bridge.
17.45 - connect to old railway trackbed.
18.31 - Leftlake Mires.
19.42 - leave Two Moors Way.
20.04 - border Dartmoor National Park at Ivybridge.
Other routes
From Okehampton. Walk up to Okehampton Camp. Follow the army road up to Hangingstone Hill and pick up the route described above.
From Chagford. Follow the Two Moors Way to Chagford Common and walk across to Sittaford Tor and pick up the route described above.
From Sticklepath/South Zeal. Yomp up to the top of Cosdon Hill. Follow the broad ridge to Hangingstone Hill and pick up the route described above.
Longer routes
Buy a copy of the Harvey British Mountain Map 'Dartmoor' map and follow the ancient 'North-South (track)' across Dartmoor. This will take two days. The terrain is much harder to walk across and we'd only recommend trying a route like this after a period of dry weather and if you are an experienced walker. It's tough.
Cross the highest ground in Dartmoor National Park. Start at Okehampton. Head for Okehampton Camp. Climb Yes Tor and High Willhays before walking across to Dinger Tor, Great Kneeset, Black Hill and Cut Hill. Continue to Postbridge using the track next to the East Dart River and then walk up to Ryder's Hill. Finish using the route described above. Again, if you use this route, the terrain is much harder to walk across and we'd only recommend trying a route like this after a period of dry weather and if you are an experienced walker. It's tough.
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