Ryder's Hill, Dartmeet, Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor National Park consists of two high moorland plateaus separated by a central dip and fringed by stunning wooded valleys. High Willhays is the highest point on the north plateau. Ryder's Hill is the highest point on the south plateau.
Ryder's Hill is a shallow dome of moorland near the source of rivers and close to many mires. The walk up to Ryder's Hill can, therefore, be boggy so good footwear is essential.
To visit Ryder's Hill, we'd recommend starting at the car parking area by Combestone Tor which is located by the side of the road that runs between Hexworthy and Venford Reservoir. A grassy track rises south towards Holne Ridge. From there, walk south west across high moorland to the trig point that tops the hill. Note that there are no well-defined paths in the area so it's not like walking in, say, Snowdonia National Park. At the trig point, you'll also see Petre's Bound Stone. When walking to Ryder's Hill, take a compass and the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map as these vast, domed hills are more difficult to navigate than the rocky landscape around, say, High Willhays.
The views, as you would expect, from the trig point are superb. Highlights include the broad view over the northern section of Dartmoor National Park and down to the South Hams and South Devon coast.
From Ryder's Hill, a path runs south east to Snowdon. Boggy, grass tracks run south to the impressive Huntingdon Warren. To visit the Red Lake China Clay Work from Ryder's Hill, head south to Huntingdon Warren and cross the River Avon on the Huntingdon Warren Clapper Bridge. Again, refer to the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map for detail.
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