King's Tor, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park

King's Tor, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park

King's Tor is a superb collection of granite outcrops roughly 3km west of Princetown. The tor overlooks the prehistoric complex at Merrivale and provides top views of this section of the National Park in addition to the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Cornwall. The Granite and Gears Princetown Railway Cycling Routes curve around the tor. The Dartmoor Way, as marked on older versions of the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, follows the same route. In addition, the disused Foggintor Quarries and Swelltor Quarries are nearby.

We've positioned King's Tor on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.

To visit, we'd recommend following the trackbed of the old Princetown Railway (Princetown to Yelverton Railway Dismantled). This is the route of the Granite and Gears Princetown Railway Cycling Routes and the Dartmoor Way. Start from the car park by Princetown National Park Visitor Centre. Turn left at the entrance to the car park and you'll very shortly come to a track on your left that runs along the side of a field at the other side of which is Dartmoor Brewery. This track connects with the trackbed of the old Princetown Railway (Princetown to Yelverton Railway Dismantled). Walk to Foggintor Quarries and then to King's Tor.

Alternatively, wander up to North Hessary Tor and drop down to Foggintor Quarries. Walk through the quarries and pick up the old trackbed to which we referred above.

You can also walk in from the car parking areas along the B3357 by the prehistoric complex Merrivale. For example, start at Four Winds car park to the east of Merrivale Stone Rows. Follow the moorland track that rises to the outcrops of King's Tor.