Steps Bridge to Heltor Rock Circular Walk, Dunsford, Dartmoor National Park
Most people head to Steps Bridge to explore Dunsford Local Nature Reserve, the River Teign and the eastern section of Fingle Woods. We'd also recommend wandering up to Heltor Rock for super views of the local area and beyond.
Start at Steps Bridge car park. This is on the south side of the River Teign just up the road from Steps Bridge. From the car park, cross the road and walk in the direction of Steps Bridge. Very shortly, you'll see a signpost and National Trust sign for Bridford Wood on your right.
You'll see the forest track split ahead of you. Take the track on the right that crosses a stream on a small wooden bridge. This leads to a clearing and then climbs either side of a stream to the edge of the wood. This path is one of many marked on the modern paper and digital versions of the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. The clearing and stream are clearly marked.
Leaving the wood, the path continues past Burnicombe to a skinny moorland road. Heltor Rock is the giant lump of granite to the west.
Once you come the road, head right, or west, and very shortly you'll come to a stile. From this stile, a path runs to Heltor Rock. The path curls around the back of the rock and you clamber up top. Take care as there are steep drops. That said, we've been up there with kids as young as four.
Having taken in the views, wander back to the road. This is a remote spot so there's not much traffic. Head right, or west, to the crossroads. Now turn right, or north, to Thorn. Leave the road at Middle Heltor and follow the path through Lower Heltor back to Bridford Wood. There are super views along this stretch of the walk. The path takes you back through Bridford Wood. You'll come to the B3212 opposite the car park. You are exiting the wood about a hundred metres up the road from where you entered at the beginning of the walk. Clearly, you can walk in either direction.
Photo Gallery
