Following the Yellow Brick Road

(S/E) Heading south past the Plume of Feather Inn, and following the well-defined path up the hill, to the moor gate.

(1) Continue along the path, past the hedge on the left, to where the moor opens up on both sides of the track. There is a ditch and an old hedge to the left, which will run alongside the path.

(2) South Hessary Tor. Continue after the tor, the hedge on the left will end, passing several boundaries, and marker stones, some with 'PCWW' and a date engraved on them. As the track starts to drop down, another track crosses the path. Looking southeast, and the large open expanse, known as Foxtor Mire (A). Continue heading south to a remote moorland farm (disused). Nun's Cross or Siward's Cross will be by the track.

(3) Nun's Cross, a waymark cross. Take the route back to (S/E).

Before the walk

1. Ensure the walk matches your needs.
2. Check the weather forecast.
3. Be prepared with suitable clothing and footwear.
4. Personal medication
5. Consider something to eat, and always keep hydrated; take a drink.
6. Use the Visorando app, download the walk to your mobile. Consider a battery backup and or a printed route.
7. Let someone know where you are. The app has a share route function, ‘Share my Location’.

• Parking: Vehicle parking - The village has a pay-and-display car park
• Timing: The estimated time allows for extra time, when appropriate, for exploration and personal pace.
• The Route: Is there-and-back, and set for the 'first time' moorland walker, with option to return at any point
• Accessibility: This route has been assigned "Easy" due to a reasonable footpath and the distance.
• Facilities: The village has most amenities.
• Option: There is an option to shorten this route

Start: This walk's starting point, by the Duchy house- W3W >>>

During the walk

• The Route: keep to the defined paths
• Follow the Country Codes: The Countryside: Respect its inhabitants, and other Countryside users
• Leave no trace: leave only footprints, but take away great memories
• Farmland: The moors are farmland. Leave gates as found. Farmers do have special powers regarding dogs worrying, even on open-access land.
• Dogs: Keep under control, and bag it and bin it, don't sling it.
• Self-care: Know your own limitations; walking is an adventure and can involve risks. Be responsible and know when to turn back, rather than get into difficulties
• First Aid: Treat blisters before they occur,

Enjoyed the walk:

1. Where you can: Support the local economy: have a pint, a pasty, or a cuppa.
2. Feedback from this walk: Please leave your thoughts

Report any findings; see app ' ! '

Along the route

• South Hessary: The iron rod on the tor is a marker for the ancient Dartmoor Forest, a civil parish boundary.
• PCWW stone, boundary stone marking the water catchment for the city of Plymouth, water feeding the nearby reservoir of Burrator, visible due west.
• Nun's Cross, the farm, now used as a bunk house for outward bound students
• Siward's Cross/Nun's Cross; Moorland crosses were used to mark routes between, in this instance, Buckfast and Tavistock Abbey, part of the Abbot's Way, now a long-distance challenge walk of 25miles.

(A) Foxtor Mire is a large, bog area, which inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write The Hounds of the Baskerville, with the mire being called Grimpen Mire, where the deadly hound lived.

Nearby

• Plume of Feathers, the oldest pub on the moors, with food, camping, and a bunkhouse
• Fox Tor cafe and camping bunkhouse
• Dartmoor Prison museum