The distance by road may be further. Thanks to Malcolm Oakley of South Downs Walking. The car park by Meldon Reservoir is a popular starting point for an ascent of High Willhays and the nearby Yes Tor. It's very easy to bag both peaks in one walk. From the top of Black Tor you can see the High Willhays and Yes Tor in the distance. A walk from Meldon Quarry to High Willhays & return via Black Tor, Black-a-Tor Copse, The West Okement River & Meldon Reservoir. ... VAmbrosini/Shutterstock Meldon Reservoir en route to Cranmere Pool. The walk starts at the car park at Meldon Reservoir and takes you to the 621 metres (2,039 ft) summit via Longstone Hill and Black Tor. Ascent - 1250 feet / 379 metres. There is a large car park at Meldon Dam, with toilets and a map of the area. To extend your walking in the area you could try our High Willhays Walk which also starts from the reservoir and visits Yes Tor on the way. Walk de139 Yes Tor, High Willhays and Black Tor from Meldon Reservoir. This is a small tor at a lofty altitude, sitting in between the two high points on Dartmoor, Yes Tor and High Willhays. These cookies do not store any personal information. The walk to High Willhays is a long one, and arduous, one and a half kilometres and a climb of 140m from Black Tor, yet the views from up there more than make up for the effort to get there, in fact, you will surely forget the climb once you take in the views. High Willhays is the highest point in Dartmoor National Park and and the highest point in the county of Devon. High Willhays is the highest summit on Dartmoor and the only 2000 foot hill. The route includes the highest land in Southern England together with some wonderful Dartmoor scenery. Dartmoor Walk. Rather then climb High Willhays and hike across the top to Yes Tor, I decided to make a beeline directly for Yes Tor and enjoy a bit of downhill walking for a bit! My trail took me from Sticklepath to Belstone before ascending the moor and walking to Yes Tor and High Willhays via Scarey Tor and Rowtor before I continued on my way west off the moor. Either distracted by food, weather or the MOD firing guns! Then north to Yes Tor where there are some more great views. Grade - moderate. From Fordsland it's a short step to High Willhays. I apologise for the lack of drama in my opening words, the failing to enthuse. Dartmoor's (& Devon's) highest point. Beautiful rolling countryside surrounds the high moors adding to the scenic contrasts enjoyed by visitors. High Willhays was a nicer summit than Yes Tor, with no permanent huts or radio masts, just a fine pyramidal crag and a large cairn. High Willhays (/ ˈwɪliːz, ˈwɪlheɪz / WIL-eez, WIL-hayz), or according to some authorities High Willes, is the highest point on Dartmoor, Devon, at 621 metres (2,039 feet) above sea level, and the highest point in the United Kingdom south of the Brecon Beacons. High Willhays is 621 metres above sea level. High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only summits in England south of Kinder Scout in the Peak District to rise above 2,000ft. A short walk from Yes Tor, once considered the highest point on Dartmoor brings you to High Willhays. It really was that easy. This has been viewed 0 times. I rearranged a few flat pieces of granite, added a couple of stones and stepped back carefully, having made this part of the moor a few artificially inches higher. Unlike sunsets that don’t hold his attention for long, this working landscape captivated him whilst I watched and ate my humble lunch. Yes Tor is just lower at 619 metres above sea level. All the walking routes up High Willhays on Mud and Routes can be found below. Yes Tor is the one with the trig. This excellent return walk skirts Meldon Reservoir before tracing its way across country to the site of the first letterbox – not of the … A shepherd on a quad bike was commanding three sheepdogs. When you look at the list of hills in Devon, High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only ones with summits over 600 metres, which makes them, by some definitions, mountains. Its tiny tor is no match for others in the area. I was of course very wrong and my hike to Yes Tor, High Willhays and the Meldon Dam and Viaduct proved that. Yes Tor is 2031ft (619m) and High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). This strenuous 12km circular walk on Dartmoor's north moor, takes in the highest point (High Willhays) once again as well as a selection of fantastic Tor's (West Mill Tor, Yes Tor and Rowtor) and views of Meldon Resrvoir. There's also a nice circular path heading round the lake to try. There are 398 Walkhighlanders who have climbed High Willhays. It is situated in a vast area of moorland. At 621 metres High Willhays is only 2 metres taller than its more flouncy, nearest neighbour Yes Tor (a short walk across the plateau) and is often said to look shorter (image Yes Tor trig). Yes Tor is a child summit of High Willhays. I had planned crossing Dartmoor as part of my 1,000 mile walk down the length of Great Britain and this walk includes my crossing of the famous moorland. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Cranmere Pool. With the last of my lunch filling my belly and a healthy dose of wellbeing filling my soul it was time to head back towards Meldon Reservoir via a path along the banks of the West Okement River. Length - 6.5 miles / 10.6 km. Over 151 feet high in places and now part of the Granite Way, a recognised cycle route. T his testing circuit of north Dartmoor takes in three of its four highest summits, a number of more interesting lower tors, and a whole lot of rough, boggy moorland in between. North Dartmoor can be wilder and often more daunting than its softer, southern half. Sent to us by Andrew Ross, a viewer, this walk was a great day on Dartmoor. Black Tor overlooks the West Okement River and this view offered peaceful shelter from the inquisitive autumnal wind, I remembered that same wind at Bignor and Chanctonbury Ring. I was thrilled to discover (after the event … Walk Grading. High Willhays and Yes Tor are the only summits in England south of Kinder Scout in the Peak District to rise above 2,000 feet (610 m), apart from Black Mountain on the Welsh border. Very much part of the attraction for me; what the eye doesn’t see, the mind starts to imagine.The plan was to walk from Meldon Reservoir in an easterly direction up to Yes Tor, a location for years I had always wanted to visit. For those unsure as to the purpose of the humble trig point, these were constructed in the 1930s to help with the retriangulation of Great Britain. Do not head north of High Willhays, it … Yes Tor is the one with the trig. High Willhays is Dartmoor’s highest point and, when you stand next to its summit cairn, you are almost certainly the highest person in Devon and any other counties further south than the Brecon Beacons. Short Dartmoor Walk High Willhays – Dartmoor’s Highest Point. High willhays - yes tor nice Dartmoor walk. Time - 4 hours 30 minutes. Other Notes: . The undisputed highest point in Dartmoor and the South West. Walk de149 Yes Tor and High Willhays from Okehampton Camp. After a spell of dry weather, you can walk directly to Yes Tor and High Willhays. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. The walk from Yes Tor to High Willhays is about half a mile and clearly marked. Large red words on the OS Map spell out a warning to hikers and tourists alike: Danger Area restricted access. Follow Walking Britain for the latest news. Littered with UXBs and danger! High Willhays No ratings yet. Self Catering & Cottage Holidays - Properties throughout the UK & Europe. Settling down on a flat slab of granite the wind died away to silence, no longer tugging at my collar. Slowly and methodically sheep began to move from right to left, first just a few and then a few more, then perhaps twenty, now forty, must be a hundred. 9. Walk grading - Learn how each walk is assessed and select a walk to suit your ability and experience by going to Walk Grading Details. Only two viaducts of this design remain in the UK and both are thankfully listed structures so hopefully we can enjoy them for many more years to come. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Yes Tor is 2031ft (619m) and High Willhays is 2037ft (621m). Before walking on the firing ranges you need to check online or by telephone for the published firing dates and on the day of your walk you should always check for red flags flying from the observation points along the marked range boundaries. I had planned crossing Dartmoor as part of my 1,000 mile walk down the length of Great Britain and this walk includes my crossing of the famous moorland. Great Links Tor is a summit in the Dartmoor region or range in England. Across the river valley, on Corn Ridge the sound of a voice could be heard, shouting loud and clear. Walks up Yes Tor. Decide whether you want to first visit the more impressive Yes Tor (head north) SX 580 901 and its windy trig point or the higher High Willhays (head south) SX 580 892 and its summit cairn. We will teach you how to hike safely on the open moor and hills and how to navigate using a map and compass. Having studied a few places to go, and wanting not to venture too far off the main roads, I decided that stopping at Okehampton just off the A30 in Devon, and undertaking the circular walk from Meldon Reservoir to High Willhays and Yes Tor would be just the ticket. There are 398 Walkhighlanders who have climbed High Willhays. Which is exactly why I love it. Required fields are marked * Comment. High Willhays is 621 metres high. Place a stone, make a wish, nod hello. Nat Park - Dartmoor. 10th November. All following each other, like sheep do. I don’t think these intrusions detract from the beauty of the moors. 123 People Used More Information ›› Visit Site › High Willhays Walking Route - Prominic.NET Save www.gps-routes.co.uk. To begin, you wander across relatively flat moorland and then it's a fairly stiff climb to the plateau on which Yes Tor and High Willhays sit. 6 miles (9 km) Climb to the highest point on Dartmoor on this splendid circular walk in the Dartmoor National Park. Clearly, walking to the top of both tors is a must if you are a keen hillwalker. From Meldon Viaduct I retraced my steps back towards the car park at the reservoir. Ascent - 1250 feet / 379 metres. Now don’t imagine for one moment this would be an easy walk in thick mist, pouring rain, ice and hail. Height gain: 238 metres. A short walk south of the car park brings you to the impressive Meldon Dam constructed in 1972. While the difference in height between Yes Tor and High Willhays is only about two-meters, if you want to walk to the highest point in Dartmoor, its well worth the short walk. About High Willhays. We will also stop at Yes Tor, Black tor and Blackator copse. Also worth a look is the Dartmoor 600, a round of all 5 of the 600m peaks (Cut Hill, Whitehorse, Hangingstone Hill, High Willhays and Yes Tor) starting from Lydford car park by the Dartmoor Inn. Given the effort taken in construction it would be a dishonour to not protect them for future generations to stand beneath and look ever upwards. Meldon Dam, Okehampton Devon. 10th November. After studying the OS Map at length I decided that I would walk into Okement Hill on the military track before going ‘off-road’ and cutting over to Dinger Tor and then the climb up to High Willhays and Yes Tor before returning to the car via West Mill Tor. Short Dartmoor Walk High Willhays – Dartmoor’s Highest Point. I’ve been spoilt for choice lately with Dartmoor dams. This is Hampster Tor. Your email address will not be published. Enough time to glance at the map and plot a compass bearing west towards Black Tor, overlooking West Okement River. High Willhays is classified as an English Mountain (Hewitt) (165th highest in England, 288th highest in England & Wales). High Willhays is the highest mountain in Dartmoor, in fact the south west of England. This is where I got crafty and left them behind on a narrow path to Lints Tor. You can follow his blog here too. - See 331 traveller reviews, 280 candid photos, and great deals for The Highwayman Inn at Tripadvisor. Digital Mapping Guide - a simple guide of how to start using digital mapping. I stopped for a bite to eat, taking shelter out of the wind for a few moments. The top can be identified by the large cairn on rock tor. Start – Meldon Reservoir Route – Meldon Reservoir – Longstone Hill – Yes Tor – High Willhays – Fordsland Ledge – Black Tor – Meldon Reservoir Distance – 5 1/2miles Start time – 11am Time taken – 4 1/2hrs Highest Point – High Willhays 621m Weather – Overcast and the tops in cloud, brightened a little on the walk back Terrain: army tracks, some open moorland, exposed to weather, two fords. The highest point of this walk is High Willhays at 621m (2038ft). High Willhays is within the Dartmoor Okehampton firing range and therefore access is restricted when red flags are flying. But this time, instead of traversing Sourton Tors, we are going to climb them straight away. Walks up High Willhays At 621 metres High Willhays is only 2 metres taller than its more flouncy, nearest neighbour Yes Tor (a short walk across the plateau) and is often said to look shorter (image Yes Tor trig). Dartmoor - Yes Tor and High Willhays 28 September 2003. This video is unavailable. Dropping down from the dizzy heights of High Willhays, a group of hikers could be spotted in the distance, making their own adventures, parallel to mine. As you walk between these two you can’t fail to notice the rocky outcrop or two beside the path. Most of the walks are circular with a few longer routes that are linear and involve ascents of tors.More information, An instructive guidebook explaining map and compass techniques, to help readers enhance their outdoor experiences. The two peaks are around three miles south of Okehampton and 1.5 miles south east of Meldon Reservoir, so can be visited in tandem with Okehampton and Meldon. The route includes the highest land in Southern England together with some wonderful Dartmoor scenery. The Highwayman Inn: Walk to High Willhays Tor. Yes Tor & High Willhays This walk was planned to be 6 miles, but ended up being nearer 8 miles due to where we parked the car at Okehampton station on the Dartmoor railway. Dave my border collie sat still by my side, ears pricked upright in a state of alertness. The sharpness of the fractured rocks, the twists and turns of every footstep, water running from every crevice. West Okement River. Some is over County/Area - Devon. The ultimate sheep driving machine. The reality on this grey but dry day was a walk around the edge of Longstone Hill, take an obvious path due west of Yes Tor summit and walk eastwards up to the top and take a photo or three. Tiny rapidly moving dots scoured the landscape in perfect harmony. It was a shade under a moderate 8 miles but would allow me to get fairly deep into the moor and also revisit the roof of Dartmoor, High Willhays. I had found the perfect spot to take in all that is Dartmoor once more. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Photos cannot do the location justice. Get directions to the start of this … High Willhays despite the howling wind was sporting a rather fine cairn. A GPS File is available for download (see walk description). Please ask permission to use site content and images. The difference in height between Yes Tor and High Willhays is a modest 2 metres, a little over 6 feet but if your quest is to walk to the highest point on Dartmoor then you need to go to the most southern of the tors at High Willhays, the OS Map shows … After a mile or so on public footpaths and narrow roads, Okehampton Army Camp and the start of the moor is reached. I got crafty and left them behind on a clear day offers great views his nose sniffed the calm and... A cairn and on a quad bike was commanding three sheepdogs copse, the highest point walk de139 Yes at... Climb to the roadside because you get a good clue too Walkhighlanders who have climbed High Willhays High Tor... 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