The Dewerstone, Shaugh Prior, Dartmoor National Park
The Dewerstone is a well-known beauty spot in the southern section of Dartmoor National Park. It's at the south west end of the Dewerstone Valley.
The Dewerstone is known for its climbing routes. The vertical rock faces are marked the Dewerstone Crags on local information boards. The Dewerstone, Devils Rock, Needle Buttress and Raven Buttress rise above the River Plym
The crags rise on a flank of Dewerstone Hill. On the top of Dewerstone Hill is The Dewerstone Carrington Inscription. The Ordnance Survey marks the rock at the top of Dewerstone Hill as Dewerstone Rock. Dewerstone Rock is within Dewerstone Fort/Neolithic Enclosure. Below are quarries and china clay works.
If you refer to the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map, you'll see Shaugh Prior in the south west corner of the Park. Just outside the village, you'll also see a parking area by Shaugh Bridge. We'd recommend exploring The Dewerstone area from there. Leave the car park and cross the River Plym using the footbridge that spans the water and then follow the well-used path up towards the foot of the Dewerstone Crags. It's a relatively simple scramble around the side of the crags and then a steep walk to Dewerstone Rock. We've done this on many occasions with young children but if you fancy a gentler ascent, you can follow the old quarry tracks that rise north from the car parking area and then switch back through woodland to the summit. These quarry tracks are clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map.
It's also great fun to follow the north bank of the River Plym up the Dewerstone Valley. The path can be difficult but it's a stunning place. Clearly, do not try this walk after a spell of heavy rain as Dartmoor's rivers regularly burst their banks in bad weather. Last, if time permits, we'd suggest you follow the circular route around Dewerstone Valley via Cadover Bridge. Autumn is stunning.
Other similar Dartmoor beauty spots where tors and crags provide fine views of valleys include Ger Tor in Tavy Cleave, Black Tor above Black-a-Tor Copse National Nature Reserve, West Cleave Tor over West Cleave, Sharp Tor (Teign Gorge/North East Dartmoor) in the middle of the Teign Gorge (National Trust), Harton Chest in Lustleigh Cleave and Bench Tor above the Dart Gorge.
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