Walking through the old mining landscape, there are distinctive landmarks and fine views
DISTANCE: 7.5 miles (moderate walking, with one steep ascent at the beginning)
NEAREST REFRESHMENTS: Dartmoor Inn or Lydford
CAR PARKING: Turn immediate right up a small track after the Dartmoor Inn at Lydford, though a gate to park at SX526853
This walk borders the Dartmoor Firing Range so don't wander off if the red flags are flying!
From the car park walk along the path by the wall and follow it down to the River Lyd. To the right there are some lovely picnic spots if you wish to loop back here at the end of the walk. For now cross over on the stepping stones or bridge and Brat Tor will be in front of you with Widgery Cross visible on the top.
Take the hill steady up to the cross on Brat Tor (SX 539856). This granite cross is 13ft high and was erected by artist William Widgery in 1887, to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
From the tor you’ll see the path to the north east, so head towards this, then along to the boundary stone (SX 552862). This is inscribed with BS, marking the division between Bridestowe and Sourton parishes.
There are also many old earthworks around here from Foxhole tin mine, which ran along Doe Tor Brook which meets this path. Though you are more likely to hear the running water than see it!
Continue along the path, which will veer to the left and around to Bleak House (SX 559865). Cross the river for a close up look at the old site manager’s house, of Rattlebrook Peat Works. The peat works ended in 1930 after only a couple of decades of trading.
If you crossed the river, cross back and continue along the path a little further and you’ll meet an old track, which will link into a wider track which was once part of the peat railway. The line was constructed in 1879 for the Duchy of Cornwall, was seven miles long and operated by horse.
Take a left on the old railway and you’ll be following this track most of the way back down, to near the start. It wends it way along and then around to the left, which lovely views of tors on the way, including Great Links Tor. The path turns at SX 545887.
Great Nodden will come into view, which is a very distinctive shape. Unusually for Dartmoor, it’s not made of granite, but rather is metamorphosed rock and is known locally as Plum Puding Hill.
When the path splits you can take either one, I took the right, but both end up at Nodden Gate (SX 530864). As you descend, look out for the wall on your right which is known as the King Wall. This marks an ancient route, the King Way, which was part of the Tavistock to Okehampton section of the Plymouth to London coaching road that took the King’s mail.
From Nodden Gate, cross some fields and then look for the stile over the wall which will take you back to the footpath you started off on.
Then it’s a right turn, back along the wall to the car park.
Watch video highlights of the walk
© Gillian Adams 2016
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