Okehampton Camp to West Cleave Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park

Okehampton Camp to West Cleave Circular Walk, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park

West Cleave is a stunning place. Whilst you can walk in from all directions, our favourite approach is from the west. There are a number of circular walks you can complete from the Okehampton Camp area. Note that this is one of the best areas on Dartmoor for bluebells in Spring.

From Okehampton, follow the moorland road that climbs to Okehampton Camp. The road turns sharply near a house called Klondyke as marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. Go through the gate on the sharp bend and wander across East Hill to East Hill Hillfort. The views over West Cleave to Belstone Tors are magnificent.

Follow the path down to the bottom, or tail, of West Cleave where the A30 passes over the East Okement River. From here, walk the Tarka Trail all the way up the valley. There's a footbridge over Moor Brook, giant slabs of rock on which to picnic (after a dry spell) about half way up the cleave, stepping stones, an impressive waterfall and pools of water in which to wild swim.

At the upper end of the valley, steps take you up by the waterfall and a wooden footbridge spans the river by Chapel Ford. Cross the footbridge and yomp up the side of the valley until you hit a track. Follow this track past Scarey Tor to Cullever Steps.

Cross the East Okement River at Cullever Steps and take the track to your right that takes you to Higher Halstock, East Bowden and Lower Halstock. At Lower Halstock, follow the road west to where you started.

Note that there are many variations of this walk. A favourite short version is to walk from Okehampton Camp to Lower Halstock. Before the stud, a signpost to your left points to a path that follows Moor Brook down to the footbridge where it meets the East Okement River at the bottom of West Cleave. Follow the Tarka Trail up past the slabs of rock and waterfall. Before the upper footbridge by Chapel Ford, you'll see a path to your right that cuts back and climbs up through Halstock Wood to Lower Halstock. You can cross Moor Brook on stepping stones or wander through Lower Halstock if the stones are submerged by water. You then wander along the skinny road back to where you started.