First taking in the renowned ten commandments stone, the walk then takes in three tors which give marvellous views over Dartmoor's landscape
DISTANCE: 6 miles (moderate)
NEAREST REFRESHMENTS: Bovey Tracey or Widecombe-in-the-Moor
CAR PARKING: Cold East Cross car park (SX 741743)
Opposite the car park at Cold East Cross is the path, so cross the road and and take it. You’ll also pass a boundary stone along the way.
Once you reach the granite wall, keep straight on with the wall to your left. It’s not far until you can see Buckland Beacon (SX 735731).
Buckland Beacon sits on a hill above the pretty village of Buckland-in-the-Moor and was used as a fire beacon. An inscription near the top reads: "Buckland Beacon. A beacon fire one of a chain lit here by the Parishioners of Buckland-in-the-Moor in celebration of their Majesties' silver jubilee May 6th 1935. And the people shouted and said 'God save the King." Buckland Beacon was part of the fire chain of beacons for both the Millennium and Queen Elizabeth's Jubilee celebrations.
The ten commandment stones sit at the base of the beacon (to the left) and have weathered a bit since they were carved in 1928, commissioned by the then lord of Buckland, Mr William Whitely of Wellstor. There have been a couple of restoration works done on them since then by Dartmoor National Park Authority.
Once you’ve enjoyed the far-reaching views, retrace your steps back along the path, remembering to keep straight on when the wall ends. A short distance after this, a path will run right to left in a north-west direction. Follow this which will take you down to some trees and a car park at SX 734746.
A few paths leave the car park and they all meet up with the track, but I took the one closest to the stream. Upon meeting the track, go left and down to Blackslade Ford (SX 736753). Along the way look out for the spiral of stones at SX 737750.
As with most fords on Dartmoor, your feet would get a little wet if you used it, so use the stones to the left of the path. Continue on the track, up and around to the left and where the wall ends, leave it. Once you reach the corner of the wall you’ll be able to see Wittaburrow and south of it is a large cairn (SX 734753). From here you can also see back to Buckland Beacon.
There a number of Bronze age remains in this area, as you’ll see from the OS map and some are easier to spot than others in the landscape.
A little to the north are Tunhill Rocks (SX 732758) so find a small path to follow, there are a few here, down and up to the rocks. The rocks themselves are picturesque and also give lovely views towards Widecombe-in-the-Moor and its church.
Next is Pil Tor (SX 734759), which is 420 metres high, and the path runs through the middle of it, then continue along to Top Tor (SX 735763), which is a group of granite outcrops. On the map you’ll notice an old settlement marked, Foale’s Arrishes, but you can’t see much apart from rocks and a better view is to be had when you look across from Rippon Tor.
Once you’ve enjoyed the views from Top Tor head for the stack closest to Rippon Tor, and to the left of it you’ll see the path wending it’s way down to the road and car park known as Hemsworthy Gate (SX 743762).
Cross the road, but before you go through the gate, follow the wall down to the corner. Here you will find Stittleford’s Cross. This marked a boundary of the manor of Dunstone. It's not an actual cross, just a large stone with a cross carved on it and the initials RM, which are thought to represent Rawlin Mallock, the 18th century lord of the manor.
Now go through gate, then another gate and the path up Rippon Tor is in front of you. Near the top of the path, just before you get to the boulders and summit cairn there is a cross on the ground, known at the Rippon Tor Cross - carved on a natural granite block.
From the top of Rippon Tor (SX 745756), at 473m, you have magnificent views across to Saddle Tor and Haytor. Don't miss the trig point at the top.
A path runs to the south west, so take it, going through a gate in the wall and then follow the wall down in the direction of Cold East Cross.
Once the wall ends and you’re walking across moorland, with another granite wall on your right. Keep on this path, ignoring the the left split, and you’ll come to a gate. This brings you out onto a road, a little past the car park, so go right and back up to Cold East Cross.