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DISCLAIMER: When walking on Dartmoor please use your common sense and also ensure you take suitable equipment for the terrain, eg walking boots, waterproofs, water, map, compass, etc

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12/27/2015

North-east Dartmoor: Scorhill stone circle and Kestor Rock

A moderate walk with one steep hill taking in woodland, ancient ruins and scenic views

ScorhillWEB

Distance: nearly 5 miles (over moorland and road, one steep hill)
Nearest refreshments: Chagford
Parking: Past Gidleigh, at the end of the small road at SX661877

Scorhill stone circle
When you’re not quite sure what type of walk you want to do, then this one seems to have it all. There’s open moorland, scenic views from a tor, woodland and some ancient antiquities.
 
From the small car park area follow the path onto moorland and down to Scorhill Stone circle (SX 654873). Sitting on Gidleigh Common, it’s an English Heritage scheduled monument and also considered to be one of the most impressive stone circles on Dartmoor.

Only 34 stones remain of the original 65, and only 25 of those are standing, and one at over eight feet high. It’s certainly an impressive site, set on the edge of the rugged moorland.

From here head South West, cross the stone rock/bridge over Walla Brook and follow the tiny path down to the river to find the tolmen stone. This is a large stone with a hole in, eroded by the North Teign river over thousands of years.
 
2. Tolmen stone near scorhill circle
 

Once you’ve marvelled at this unique stone, follow the river upstream and back on the main path to cross over a small stone bridge.

The path runs parallel to a stretch of trees and takes you past Batworthy Corner, up an incline to the stone rows on Shovel Down. Don't be tempted to head straight up to the tor as you'll miss these lovely antiquities. This area has many Bronze Age megaliths and stone rows.

3. View to Batworthy from stone rows

Carry on to the Long Stone which is the fourth tallest menhir on the moors, standing at  3.1 metres.

If you’re interested in antiquities then take some time to look around before continuing the walk. The ceremonial complex at Shovel Down has much to offer and includes an open stone circle, a fourfold cairn circle, six double stone rows, a long single stone row, several other standing stones, cairns, and the remains of an ancient settlement. 

From the Long Stone walk to Kestor Rock (SX 665862) where there are magnificent views of this ancient landscape. Some historians believe Kestor was the focus for druidical ceremonies in previous centuries. It’s certainly a nice spot for a lunch stop.

4. Kestor Rocks

Once you've enjoyed the views from the tor, take the path to the road at Batworthy then follow it, right, until just before Teigncombe, where a footpath goes left into the wooded area of South Park. 

Gidleigh Woods is split into North Park and South Park by the North Teign river. This section of the route through the woods is part of the Mariners Way, which runs between Dartmouth on the South Devon coast and Bideford on the North Devon coast, and was walked by ancient mariners travelling between the two ports.

The path in South Park takes you downhill, then over a bridge into North Park. Walking uphill you’ll pass the small Gidleigh Tor on your way which is hidden among the trees.

5. Bridge in Gidleigh Park

You’ll emerge onto a track, which will take you to a road near Gidleigh, then turn left and follow the road to get back to the start point.

 

© Gillian Adams 2015

 

For information on where to stay, eat and visit on Dartmoor, please see www.visitdartmoor.co.uk

To view my Dartmoor walks ebook click here, and my Dartmoor colouring book click here

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