Explore a medieval village on Dartmoor
HOUND TOR, DEVON
WALK DETAILS
Start/finish: Swallerton Gate Car Park, near Hound Tor on the B3387, Manaton, TQ13 9XG
Distance: 1.4 miles (2.3km)
Difficulty: 2/5
Public transport: Sporadic buses to Swallerton Gate including the Haytor Hoppa from Newton Abbot train station – summer service only
Whether they’re walking or learning, kids love an inspiring and achievable goal, and summits don’t come much more enticing than the rocky granite stacks of Hound Tor, viewed from the start of this walk. A wide, grassy path leads straight up to the rocks, inviting enough that even younger children will often happily run all the way. Once you’re there, you’ll find endless nooks and crannies to explore and, for the more adventurous, clambering to the very top brings the reward of panoramic moorland views.
Legend has it that Hound Tor’s distinctive shape is the mighty hunter, Bowerman, and his pack of fearsome hounds, turned to stone by a coven of disgruntled witches. Bowerman’s Nose, a distinctive rocky outcrop that resembles a face, stands at Hayne Down, about 1 mile (1.6km) away.
Continuing over the top of the hill from Hound Tor brings you to the peaceful and atmospheric remains of a settlement of 13th-century traditional Devon longhouses. These would once have housed a family at one end and livestock at the other, and you can still pick out small but recognisable details as you wander around. The land here was first farmed in the Bronze Age and the village is thought to have been abandoned in the early 15th century.
1 From the car park, cross the road and head in a south-easterly direction up the grassy moorland towards the obvious rocky summit of Hound Tor. Head straight through the middle of the main stacks and continue in the same direction down the hill on the other side.
2 Carry straight on down the hill until you reach the medieval village with its stone-walled enclosures. This is a fascinating place to explore and a wonderfully peaceful spot for a picnic.
3 For the return walk, leave the medieval village and head straight for Greator Rocks – the long rocky ridge just to the south of the settlement. Turn right as you reach the Rocks and follow the path along its base. Follow this path back up the hill towards Hound Tor, passing to the left of the Tor as you reach it and picking any of the obvious paths back down to the road and car park.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO NEARBY
The imposing rocks at Haytor are only a couple of miles from Hound Tor and the ascent to the top is another deservedly popular walk for families of all ages. The loop from Hound Tor to Haytor and back is about 4 miles (6.4km) and is suitable for older children. There are some superb paddling spots and a rope swing at Becka Brook, but this route does require a map and some navigation, particularly in poor weather.
The National Trust’s Parke estate lies on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, just outside the small town of Bovey Tracey. Free to access, the estate rambles around the River Bovey, with a selection of waymarked walks of different distances to suit everyone. There’s an excellent child-friendly cafe and regular family-focused events, from Apple Day to Parkrun.