Walk up the valley and back along the ridge, enjoying stunning views
DISTANCE: 5.5 miles or 4.5 miles if you omit Shipley Tor (moderate/difficult)
NEAREST REFRESHMENTS: South Brent
CAR PARKING: Shipley Bridge (SX 681629)
Shipley Tor is an awkward tor to reach as the land to the south and east is private, so you have to double back on yourself to reach it, but it’s an impressive tor, split by a boundary wall, so definitely worth a visit.
Park at Shipley Bridge (SX 681629). It gets very busy here so if you want a parking space I’d advise arriving before 11am.
There are a number of old industries dotted around this area including peat works, tin mining and the structure in the car park is the remains of 19th century naphtha works which were later used for processing china clay from Bala Brook. Both these ventures failed.
The first part of this walk is pretty and follows a surfaced road next to the river Avon.
You’ll also walk pas the ruins of Brentmoor House on your left. It was a mansion, abandoned and then demolished in 1968. There are lots of pretty pink rhododendron bushes around here in the summer months.
Over half a mile up from the car park you’ll cross a bridge over the river. Immediately on your right is a footpath which splits into two. Take the right hand path and follow it until it opens out into a boggy area.
The path forward is directly in front of you and sometimes not clear to see, depending on how thick the ferns are. Edge around the boggy area and find the path. This first section is narrow and can get overrun with ferns. There’s also some overgrown clitter which is marked on OS maps as Woolholes. The path goes diagonally up and then parallel to the river before joining a better path. This takes you on a slow diagonal up to just below Shipley Tor (SX 684 632).
This tor, at 300m, gives lovely views towards Ugborough Beacon and back along the valley to Black Tor and beyond. Once you’ve enjoyed the views then retrace your steps back to the main path and then up to dam, also noticing Ryder’s Rings in the distance which you’ll walk through later.
When you get closer to the dam the path splits with the right hand fork going uphill, but take the left one, cross a bridge and head up towards the buildings below the dam. Before you reach them the path goes up left. This is a steep rocky section, so follow it up until you reach the edge of the dam. You’ll continue to go straight up here and then left, following a dry stream bed, but before you carry on, break your route by gazing across peaceful waters of the reservoir.
Avon Dam (SX 680 654) was completed in 1957 and the reservoir covers around 50 acres.
As previously mentioned, continue the route straight up and to the left. You’ll briefly lose the stream bed but continue diagonally upwards and you’ll find it again. This path will follow the contour of the hill around and into Zeal Gulley (SX 675 648).
This is a little boggy, so cross where you can, then follow the track around the contour. It is a little narrow and steep for a short stretch. You’ll eventually arrive at what looks like a boundary wall, but is the edge of Ryder’s Rings (SX 679 644). The path cuts through the centre of them and also gives you fantastic views to Shipley Tor and Black Tor.
Ryder’s Rings is a Bronze Age stone hut circle settlement with two enclosures.
Continue following the narrow track and which will get you closer to Black Tor.
On the last stretch of ferns the path splits into two. The lower path leads below Black Tor and back down onto the main path to the car park. Take the upper path to Black Tor (SX 680 635) and enjoy the views from here.
Leave the tor in a south west direction, there is a small path. This skirts the edge of the ferns and you keep roughly on the same level until you spot a building. Keep it in front of you, and then follow the edge of the ferns down to the left, picking up a track where you can. This will put the building on your right.
The building is the Avon Filtration Station and it has a surfaced road leading up to it. You’ll meet this road, then turn left and follow it down to the main path and back to the car park.
The last thing of note on this walk at the intersection of the paths is the Hunter’s Stone which dates from 1948 and has the names of Masters of the Dartmoor Foxhounds inscribed on it.
© Gillian Adams 2020
For information on where to stay, eat and visit on Dartmoor, please see www.visitdartmoor.co.uk
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