Fur Tor from Postbridge Circular Walk, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park

Fur Tor from Postbridge Circular Walk, Postbridge, Dartmoor National Park

Walking to the most remote area of Dartmoor and southern England

This is a big walk into the most remote area of Dartmoor National Park and southern England.

There are many routes to Fur Tor but this one starts at Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre. It's the 'classic' Fur Tor route. Other routes are outlined in our Fur Tor listing.

Refer to Ordnance Survey or Harvey British Mountain Map mapping for detail. Browse the photo gallery to see the walk before you go.

 

How far is the walk and how long will it take?

The walk is roughly 16 km/10 m in length.

The Ordnance Survey app states that this takes about 4.20 hrs. We tend to cover a moorland mile in 30 mins so would plan for 5 hrs.

 

What's the walking like?

The first stage of the walk to Sandy Hole Pass is relatively easy. The stretch from Sandy Hole Pass up to Cut Hill is more difficult. It's boggy terrain.

We tend to walk to Fur Tor in winter and summer months when the ground is either frozen or dried out. This walk is to remote ground on the high north moor so prepare for boggy conditions underfoot if it has been raining for a period of time.

 

Is there a path?

Not really. There's a path at the beginning of the walk by Postbridge. You then cross high moor. You pick up short sections of paths and tracks created by walkers and livestock but you won't find paths like those leading to the summits of Snowdon or Pen y Fan.

 

Is it well signposted?

No. You're walking high moor. Take Ordnance Survey or Harvey Mountain Map mapping with you.

 

Start at Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre

Start at Postbridge National Park Visitor Centre. In addition to the visitor centre, there's a large car park and public toilets. If you're visiting during the busy tourist season and the car park is full then leave your vehicle across the road in the car parking area at the entrance to Bellever Forest.

Wander around the back of the building and walk through a gap in the hedge onto Drift Lane. Follow that past Roundy Park, cross the little stream and follow the left hand side of the wall all the way up to Broad Down. Stiles are situated along the wall towards the top of Broad Down. Ahead, below, is the East Dart River and then Sandy Hole Pass.

 

East Dart River Waterfall and through Sandy Hole Pass

Walk the left, or west, bank of the river past the East Dart River Waterfall and through Sandy Hole Pass to the foot of Cut Hill.

The remains of the tin mining industry are all around. The dome of Cut Hill rises to the north west and is one of Dartmoor's highest summits at 604 metres or 1981 feet.

Cross Cut Hill Water in the direction of the North West Passage Peat Pass. Note that the terrain around Cut Hill Water is difficult to walk. It's perfectly safe but boggy and rough cut.

 

The border of the Merrivale/Okehampton firing ranges up to Cut Hill

You'll see the red and white striped firing poles demarcating the border of the Merrivale/Okehampton firing ranges. Follow the line of those poles and you come to Cut Hill North West Passage Peat Pass and Memorials.

Explore Cut Hill. The mass of rocks that top Fur Tor are in front of you.

 

Cut Hill to Fur Tor

Walk across the neck of moorland to get to Fur Tor.

The tor is huge with equally big views of north and west Dartmoor. You'll see Tavy Cleave and Great Links Tor, High Willhays and Yes Tor. Enjoy the experience.

 

Returning to Postbridge

Turn around and retrace your footsteps. By 'circular walk', we mean you start/end in the same place.