Walk 2085 - printer friendly version

Cosdon Hill & Oke Tor from Belstone Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 10.7 miles / 17.4 km

Ascent - 1900 feet / 576 metres

Grade - moderate

Start - OS grid reference SX621938
Lat 50.7274080 + Long -3.9551951
Postcode SX621938 (approx. location only)

This Dartmoor walk explores some of the many granite tors in the north-eastern part of the National Park. In fine weather navigation skills required are minimal. However, with poor visibility you will need a good sense of direction. A relevant OS 1:25,000 map is essential.

The start is the small car park on Brenamoor Common (grid ref. SX621938) at the northern edge of the village of Belstone. After parking exit the car park and turn left into the village. Keep straight ahead at the first road junction and then bear left at the next passing the chapel on your left. At grid ref. SX619934 go left onto the signed Tarka Trail. Cross the footbridge over the River Taw and bear left still on the Tarka Trail continuing into Belstone Cleave. The path crosses the river (grid ref. SX628937) and continues along the north bank for some way before re-crossing to the south bank (grid ref. SX631938). Just after this footbridge take the path on your right to leave the Tarka Trail. The path leaves the woodland (grid ref. SX637938), becomes a bridleway and crosses two fields before turning left through woodland and becoming a clear track, which takes you to a metalled road at Ford Farm (grid ref. SX644935).

Here take the second bridleway of two bridleways on your right and continue south and then east to reach a junction of tracks (grid ref. SX645931). Turn left here and follow the bridleway south reaching open country after 800 metres. The onward route then continues between walled fields to enter open country again and the Stone Row at grid ref. SX644915). From here turn left and make for the summit of Cosdon Beacon with its trig point (grid ref. SX636915) following a clear path that is not marked on OS maps.

The next objective is Little Hound Tor which lies to the south. Again there is a path which is not marked on OS maps. Continue roughly southwest to Hound Tor (grid ref. SX628890). The route then turns west to Steeperton Tor (grid ref. SX618887) from where a steeper descent west leads to a clear path heading north to Oke Tor (grid ref. SX612900). From the summit continue north along a clear ridge descending to reach a wider track. The final summit of the day is Belstone Tor (grid ref. SX614920) which is reached on a clear path crossing the Irishman's Wall before the highest point. The final descent of the day takes down clitter strewn slopes to reach the Tarka Trail near Nine Stones stone circle. All that remains is to continue into Belstone village and return to the car park.

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