Walk: White Tor, Devon

Explore mysterious remains left by our distant ancestors on wild and beautiful Dartmoor with this circular walking route.

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Published: February 18, 2020 at 4:24 pm

White Tor, which stands above the Tavy valley, offers a spectacular vantage point across Dartmoor National Park.

On the broad summit, among a multitude of rocks and clitter, there are stone structures that were originally assumed to be part of an Iron Age hill fort but are more likely a Neolithic enclosure – the uncertainty adds to the mystery. It’s wonderful to explore the layers of history to be found on Dartmoor, a true palimpsest.

Various shots at Staple Tor on Dartmoor National Park at night with stars, in Devon UK
Dark skies above Great Staple Tor ©Getty

A six-mile walking route to the summit of White Tor in Dartmoor National Park.

1. Over Great Staple Tor

My walk starts from the Pork Hill car park on the B3357, and heads for Staple Tor with its rock towers, then nearby Roos Tor and across a wild stretch of moorland to the Langstone Moor stone circle. This is a low, prehistoric structure close to an ancient settlement of hut circles. One can imagine people living on this silent hillside, commanding a fine prospect down the Walkham Valley, a view which in the misty autumn-light may hardly have changed over the centuries.

horse
Dartmoor horse ©Getty

2. To White Tor

To the half-left, forming part of this same archaeological landscape, stands the Langstone menhir, a noble stone with telltale shell-holes: the military, which trains on Dartmoor, once abused it as a target. Then you deviate from the track to clamber to the summit of White Tor. From here you can see the folding slopes of Tavy Cleave and follow the horizon clockwise round the curve of Standon Hill, the long sweep of Lynch Tor and beyond to Fur Tor and Cut Hill in the heart of the moor. Westwards you can see into Cornwall and the lumpy hills of Bodmin Moor, then round to the sparkling sea at Plymouth Sound. It is a view of which I never tire.

3. Beneath Cox Tor

Below is the inconspicuous Stephen’s Grave where George Stevens is buried. He committed suicide because a girl was unfaithful to him and it is said that, at the moment he was buried, linen which was hanging out to dry at nearby Higher Godsworthy was caught in a freak wind and lost for ever.

cox tor at sunset
Sunset from Cox Tor ©Getty

From here you follow the path down to Wedlake Farm, passing more prehistoric huts and crossing the Colly Brook by a ford. Then it’s back up the hill with the slopes of Staple and Cox Tor rising comfortably on either side, and down to the car park.

Map

White Tor walking route and map.

White Tor map
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