Princetown, Hart Tor, Cramber Tor and South Hessary Tor

The Start, in the village car park- W3W >>>

(S/E) From the start, head west along Station Road, picking up the moorland path on the left. As the path opens up onto the moors, turn left, up, and southeast up to the main road. Crossing the road when it is safe to do so. At the village sign (E) the route is off the moor, heading in a southwesterly direction. Stepping out onto the moors, a worn path will become apparent, which will lead to.

(1) Hart Tor, (B) the route descends southeast to the stream, a large boulder can act as a guide. At the stream heading south, climbing the hill to Cramber Tor (C), approaching Cramber Tor the ground will level with a slight rise to the left. Misplaced? Overshooting the checkpoint, near Cramber Tor, continue south to the leat. At the leat follow it up stream to a bridge with a substantial track, the track will appear on the right whilst walking up the leat, turn left, and then left, which will lead north and towards South Hessary and (3).

(2) From Cramber Tor head east to slightly south, approximately 500m, meeting a gulley, at the top north is Cramber Pool. From Cramber Pool head approximately 500m east to slightly north, to a trig point. Continue along the same direction. At the trig check point (3) is on the designated footpath, keeping height may, be more of a northeast. At the track head north and handrail.

(3) South Hessary Tor (S) continue heading north, the track will start to descend, and the village will become visible. If the weather is clear, there will be a view of the Prison. Continue through the square, if you can get past the Plume of Feathers! to (S/E).

Before you start:

• Download the route to the Visorando app; it will save mobile battery, and ensure the route is not lost should the mobile signal be lost, a battery bank is always a good idea to carry.
• The walk is on open moorland; appropriate footwear, clothing, and a drink.
• Paid the appropriate parking fees, locked the vehicle, and securely stowed the key.

Start: Princetown village green - W3W >>>

Transport: There is a bus Service passing through Princetown. Timings of the buses should be confirmed, allowing for the return trip

Parking: Vehicle parking - The village has a pay-to-stay car park, and there are two EV charge points

Timing: The time taken is estimated, to allow extra time, when appropriate, for exploring and personal pace.

Note: Ensure that the highway code is followed and that dogs are kept under control. Farmer do have special powers with dogs worrying moorland animals.

Wellbeing: Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the conditions. Although this is only a short walk, keep hydrated.

Accessibility: There are moorland gates. Walking across open moorland can have divots, rocks, and wet areas. If climbing tors, extra care should be taken.

Refreshments: Cafes, Public Houses, and local shops. If climbing tors extra care should be taken.

Handrail: is a linear feature that has been identified as a road, wall, etc

Princetown -

• Home of Dartmoor Prison, now closed, the museum is still open.
• Cafes, Public houses, toilets and shops.

(E)

1. Marked on the map is Soldiers Pond, named after three soldiers who died during the winter of 1853. There is a plaque in the village churchyard. Read more>>
2. Just as the road drops down the hill on the left, there is a small circular mound. This was a lookout post for the home guards during WW2
3. One of the lodge houses - again during the war, A home guard lived in one, a prisoner escaped from a working party and stole the guard's rifle. Thankfully, he was soon captured.

(B) Hart Tor, looking north up through the valley, was a Stone Age settlement; remnants are still visible. There was once a firing range, used during the period when sadly the soldiers died, and as the young river Meavy flows down through the valley, conservation is in progress, with re-wetting the marshland, by placing obstructions into the river to slow the flow.

(C) Cramber Tor, the tor on the side of a hill, so why did a small rock on the side of a hill get named? Answer- It is a rocky outcrop that exceeds the height of the contour lines on an Ordnance Survey map.

(S) The iron marker on top of the tor is a marker for the Forest of Dartmoor, an area in central Dartmoor which was once assigned a Forest by King Edward 3, the Black Prince. A forest in its true sense is not a wooded area, but a hunting ground, in Dartmoor's case, with special laws. To this date the bounds of the forest are beaten, a Perambulation, to stake claim.