Dartmoor at its best - a rocky granite tor view a great view, vast open moorland and an ancient cross.
The terrain is over moorland and the first hill up from the car park is of medium difficulty, but otherwise an easy four-mile walk.
DISTANCE: 4 miles (easy walk overall but the first hill is of medium difficulty)
NEAREST REFRESHMENTS: The Forest Inn at Hexworthy or a tea room at Dartmeet.
FACILITIES: As above.
CAR PARKING: A small car park at Combestone Tor
Today I walked an invisible path - you could only see it once you were on it - this could have come straight out of a Harry Potter novel! My thought for the day is that sometimes the path in front of you may not necessarily be the correct one.
I parked at Coombestone Tor (SX 670718) which is very picturesque in itself and worth a little wander around.
According to the map the path goes straight up to the cross so I dutifully followed this up and over the top on a long slow incline, wondering when I would come upon the cross. It was then I realised I wasn’t quite where I was supposed to be.
However on a beautiful and sunny day a little misdirection never hurt and I soon came to a path which crossed the one I was on. I went straight over and admired the speedy lapwings and tried unsuccessfully to get a good photo.
I kept going and soon found myself on another path, so went left which gave me a nice view of Holne Moor and I also spotted some old boundary stones.
Before you get to the ridge you can bear left on a path which will take you to Horn's Cross.
Horns Cross (SX 669711) is bang in the middle of the path and used to be part the Maltern Way - one of the oldest tracks on the moor.
There is also a stone row further down so I did a small detour to it and then back up. Unfortunately there was lots of bracken and I didn’t spot them! I have since looked online and seen some photos and hardly anything of this row is intact which is a great shame. Instead I had some lovely views of Vennford Reservoir.
Then it was back up to Horns Cross to follow the now visible path back to Coombestone Tor and the car. Once I was at the car park I looked back and the path had returned to its invisible state.
View Horn's Cross circular map
© Gillian Adams 2010
For information on where to stay, eat and visit on Dartmoor, please see www.visitdartmoor.co.uk
To view my Dartmoor walks ebook click here, and my Dartmoor colouring book click here
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