Haytor Rocks to Hound Tor Circular Walk, Haytor Vale, Dartmoor National Park
Walking two of the most popular and visited tors in Dartmoor National Park
Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor (East Dartmoor) are two of the most popular and visited tors in Dartmoor National Park. Haytor Rocks is located on Haytor Down. Hound Tor is located on Houndtor Down. Becka Brook divides them. A new granite footbridge and a much older clapper bridge span the brook and enable a superb circular walk.
This walk is particularly impressive in spring when bluebells carpet a section of Houndtor Down and in autumn when the colours turn. It also passes through a number of fascinating historic and prehistoric sites.
[Note that if you want to experience Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor on short, easy walks then we'd recommend one of the following:
Haytor Rocks. Park at Haytor National Park Visitor Centre. Follow the wide grass track up to the famous outcrops.
Hound Tor. Start from the car park by Hound Tor. Follow the wide grass track to the granite rocks.]
How far is the walk and how long will it take?
The walk is roughly 7 km/4.5 m in length.
The Ordnance Survey app states that this takes 2 hrs. We tend to cover a moorland mile in 30 mins so would plan for 2.15 hrs walking.
What's the walking like?
You're crossing open moorland. The walking is relatively easy although there are some steep-ish descents and ascents on either side of Becka Brook.
Is there a path?
Yes and no. There are wide grass tracks, old mining tramways and tracks created by walkers but no continuous, circular path.
Is it well signposted?
No. You're walking open moorland. As ever, we'd recommend studying the Ordnance Survey app, Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map or Harvey Mountain Map Dartmoor map for detail.
Take Ordnance Survey or Harvey Mountain Map mapping and a compass with you.
Start at the car park by Haytor National Park Visitor Centre
Start at the car park by Haytor National Park Visitor Centre. There's usually an ice cream van here. Note that there are also public toilets at the back of the visitor centre.
Haytor Rocks
Follow the wide grass track up to Haytor Rocks. If you have a head for heights, climb to the top of both outcrops. As you would expect, there are great views across the national park and over South Devon to the sea.
Holwell Tor
From Haytor Rocks, follow one of the paths/tracks across Haytor Down to Holwell Tor. You cross over Haytor Granite Tramway near the starting point for the Templer Way.
Pass Holwell Tor Quarries and pop inside the remarkable Holwell Tor Quarries Hut.
A path descends to Becka Brook and the new granite footbridge pictured in the photo gallery.
Cross Becka Brook
Cross the water and climb through ferns to Holwell Lawn. In spring, this is covered in bluebells.
Walk north past the pony and horse jumps to Greator Rocks.
Yomp up to Hound Tor.
Hound Tor
Having enjoyed the views from Hound Tor, drop down to Hound Tor Abandoned Medieval Settlement (English Heritage).
From there, descend to the clapper bridge spanning Becka Brook.
Smallacombe Rocks to Haytor Granite Tramway
A steep path climbs to Smallacombe Rocks and continues past prehistoric hut circles to Haytor Granite Tramway.
Follow the tramway east to the chunk of granite that marks the beginning of the Templer Way by Haytor Quarry. Explore the quarry. It's then a short walk back to Haytor National Park Visitor Centre and its car park.
Photo Gallery
