Black Hill (North Dartmoor), Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park
One for the Dartmoor obsessive, Black Hill is a remote stretch of high moorland near the sources of the East Dart River, River Taw and West Okement River. Cranmere Pool and its letterbox are to the north. Cut Hill is to the south. We've positioned Black Hill on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
Over the years, we've walked to Black Hill from Cranmere Pool, Black Ridge (and its impressive peat pass) and Cut Hill. We've also walked up from the East Dart River close to its source. After a period of rain, the moorland gets very boggy. Try walking to Black Hill after a period of dry weather or, if you are an experienced walker, in cold winter months when the ground freezes. Spring is a good time to go when the grass is dead. At this time, on sunny days, the moor is a beautiful blond colour against blue sky. Note that even in dry weather, the walking is difficult owing to the extensive peat cutting that took place in the area during previous centuries.
Black Hill is covered with peat hags and cuttings. When you are there, this means the terrain is uneven and tussocky. As is the case with other cuttings and peat passes on Dartmoor, you'll see a number of piles of pale rocks that guide you through the landscape. Whilst you don't need to follow them, they can assist. There's a particularly large pile of rocks at what we assumed to be the top of the hill. On our last visit in April 2014, Red Grouse were on Black Hill.
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