East Okement River, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park

East Okement River, Okehampton, Dartmoor National Park

Okehampton is one of Dartmoor's gateway towns. It sits beneath the highest ground in the National Park. As clouds are blown across Cornwall, they hit this high ground and dump rain on the moors. The rain collects in rivers and flows downhill back towards the coast. The River Okement is one such waterway. It's formed by the West Okement River and the East Okement River that rise in two separate locations on Dartmoor's north plateau.

The East Okement River rises at East Okement Head on the northern flank of Okement Hill. The area is very easily accessible on foot, bike or horse as there's a military road rising to an army hut on the hill. From East Okement Head, the river runs north below Oke Tor and past the ford at East Okement Farm to Cullever Steps. There, it drops down into the beautiful West Cleave before it flows through Okehampton to meet the West Okement River near the centre of town.

A small section of the Tarka Trail follows the course of the river through West Cleave. It's a stunning place that's not particularly well known so it's a nice spot in which to walk. In West Cleave, the East Okement River is joined by Moor Brook.