Tavistock 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.

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.

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 small and easy walk mainly in Denhman wood lets you discover old Denham bridge (17th-century) and the banks of the River Tavy.

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.

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

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.

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.

This pleasant hike partly using Tamar Valley discovery trail along the River Tamar provides a way of visiting World Heritage sites around Tamar Valley including Oker Tor mine and Calstock Roman Fort site.

A lovely circular walk from Calstock, first along the river Tamar leading to the famous Cotehele Quay before heading mainly to woodlands and meadows.

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.

This is a small (but often wet and slippery, be careful with children!) spectacular hike along the River Lyd in a loop. You will discover the deepest river gorge in the south-west using several impressive footbridges over the gorge and you will see a beautiful waterfall too.

A circular walk with beautiful views over Dartmoor Tavy Cleave.

This circular walk leads up through the valley of Tavy Cleave, where the river Tavy cascades down, and the Cleave towers above. Following the Wheal Jewel Leat, before making a path over and around the boulders along the riverbank. At Dead Lake, the route makes its way up and along the top of the Cleave, with impressive Tors, and spectacular views down the valley.

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.

The walk starts at Lydford and makes its way up onto open moorland. It is a day walk. On a clear day, there will be far-reaching views, and on a not-so-clear day, refreshing navigation skills. This walk will lead you into open moorland. From (4) to (7), the route doesn't follow paths on the map. It is strongly recommended that you follow the route using the GPX on the Visorando app, with the backup of a map and compass. Do not attempt unless you are a competent 'remote' walker, with good navigation skills, and you are prepared for any eventualities.This walk leads into one of the Dartmoor Firing ranges. See Practical Information for information.This route can be used as a navigational exercise for competent walkers. NOTE: Dartmoor's weather can change in an instant; one minute it's sunny, and the next, thick with fog, it can be dry, then heavy rain.

The wild open speces of Dartmoor can be appreciated on this walk. The route takes you past a number of rocky tors, visits an area used for peat cutting and follows a section of the Rattlestone Peat Railway. All in all a walk full of interest.

Crossing the River Plym and climbing up through the woods to the top. At the top of the rocky outcrop, see the far-reaching views of Plymouth Sound, passing through stone circle clusters, and a waymark cross. Crossing the river again at Cadover, then following the old 'Pipe Track' back down to Shaugh Bridge.

This is a walk up and along the river Plym, leading to Ditsworthy Warren House. A remote, now disused farm. The house was used during the filming of War Horse, a film directed by Steven Spielberg. Around the area, there is still evidence of old mine workings and Rabbit Warrens. Then walking across Ringmoor Down, across old field systems, and then onto Brisworthy Plantation, before meeting the country lanes back to the start.

Shavercombe Falls is a small but pretty waterfall at the head of a valley. This route up the River Plym passes many remnants from the past, often overlooked due to a lack of awareness, from the unusual landscape along the way to unusual place names.

This route leads out over open moorland, climbing to a high point with far-reaching views over south Devon. Not far from where the River Yealm rises, it tumbles over a series of moorland rocks forming steps down the valley, and although still a young river, the water cascades over the rocks. During heavy rain, the runoff from the surrounding moorland awakens the stream to an impressive waterfall. The route back passes many Stone Age Settlements, Stone Row (optional), and the 'moonscape' of the now disused China Clay Works.