Sampford Spiney walks

A circular walk using a part of Dartmoor waymarked path across stunning moors, along streams and passing King's Tor for a nice overlook.

Dartmoor is known for its remote, rocky hilltops, known as tors. This short walk takes in three of the most easily accessible tors on the moor. The route gives walkers, new to the area, an example of open moorland and to 'bag' some tors. The route passes the popular Vixen Tor and the 'Windy Post Cross'.

This walk, although relatively short, may play tricks with the mind. The first is seeing Cox Tor, the first objective, directly north of the car park. It appears higher than it is due to the open vista to the west. Once reaching the top, you are rewarded with panoramic views across much of the west and moorland. The route then leads through an old Stone Age, Stone Circle settlement to Roos and Staple Tor. With the perception of distance playing a trick, the Tors appear a long way away. Then dropping down to a leat, past Merrivale Quarry (disused), and making the way back following the leat to Windy Cross before reaching the start. With the start point being visible for much of the walk, the temptation to shorten a planned route becomes willpower.

This is a short route that leads onto moors, up to Sharpitor (A), and then onto Leather Tor, two rocky tors, with views overlooking the Burrator Reservoir. Around this area the moorland ponies tend to gather, as nice as they be, it is best to NOT pay them attention, as they can bite, as they have learned, hanging around near the road, they may get fed. What is not considered is getting hit by a car.

Dartmoor, as many rivers rise high up on the moors, they cascade down through the moors and valleys. There are not many waterfalls on Dartmoor that can be accessed so easily, but this route offers a short, easy access route to a popular waterfall on the River Meavy, and it also has the added attraction of a nearby Bronze Age Stone Row and Cairn.

Retracing the old moorland railway line before passing many Stone Age hut circles, a stone row, and an old firing range. Passing an area where conservation work involving re-wetting of the moors is being done. Passing a small waterfall and then following a leat before returning to the parking area

An easy moorland route, which starts at a popular roadside layby. Venturing onto the moors and following a well-used route down to the old disused railway line, following it to a bridge. At the bridge, the route then climbs up to a tor cluster before descending past a Stone Age Settlement to the start.

It's an easy family walk leading to a stunning 360° viewpoint from Great Miss Tor and a lovely place to enjoy colours of sunset as well.

The Stone Rows at Merrivale are perhaps one of the most visited on the moor, primarily due to easy access, and being so close to a road. This route takes in many relics of the moors' industrial past, from the water supply, quarrying on the moors, and the railway.

The Devon village of Yelverton is the start and end point for this walk that includes a circuit of the Burrator Reservoir. The route includes some typical country lanes of the area and views to some of Dartmoor's Tors.

A circular walk in woodlands along River Walkham until the confluence and then, in meadows with beautiful views over Dartmoor Tors far away.

Yelverton is a junction for many moorland trails; this route follows some of the West Devon Way and the Drake's Trail. Following a section of the disused railway and an old mining track. A circular route with a convenient 'watering hole' at the halfway point. This route can also be completed by bicycle; it also has the potential to extend along the Plym Valley Trail to Plymouth and beyond.

Burrator Reservoir, on the Western fringes of Dartmoor National Park, is a local beauty spot in itself, which has many guided routes through the trees and water line. This walk follows a well-defined track up onto the higher moors, then makes its way back on another well-defined path, through the village of Sheepstor, and finally follows the lane around the Reservoir, passing many interesting artifacts along the way to see and wonder.

Norsworthy Bridge at the end of Burrator Reservoir has many moorland walks leading off. This walk leads up to Down Tor, and then walking on to the Down Tor Cairns, Stone Row, Stone Age Enclosure, and the Menhir, before leading to Combshead Tor and Cuckoo Rock. The trail then leads down to a forestry track, which leads back to the start.

A circular walk around Burrator Reservoir, through woodland trails, and up to Sheepstor Tor, the high point of the area, through some "Bluebell woods" (when in season).

A walk up to Down Tor, with views over Burraton Reservoir, following a well-used trail up to the tor, and to be rewarded with the view, especially as the sun sets, reflecting off the water. Although this walk leads up to the top of the tor, there are opportunities to go off route to head north, down the hill to the river, and then follow that downstream to the start.