Dartmoor · Thursday 23 April 2026

Norsworthy Bridge
and five tors

Ten miles with Adrian and Barry, linking ancient stone rows, wooded valleys and five tors in wind that occasionally made standing upright an achievement.

DistanceAbout 10 miles
Time out9.30am–2.50pm
StartNorsworthy Bridge
ConditionsDry, sunny & very windy

Hike at a glance

Distance
About 10 miles
Time
9.30am–2.50pm
Parking
Free parking at Norsworthy Bridge.
Open what3words: ///applause.studs.boom
Difficulty
Hard — Ten miles with sustained climbs, uneven granite ground and open moorland; roughly five hours including breaks.
Tea/Pub stop
Burrator Inn after the hike.
Map planning
Open OS Maps
  • Royal Oak, Meavy
  • Burrator Inn, Dousland
  • Rock Inn, Yelverton

Estimated grades based on the full route in clear, dry conditions: Easy — mostly level, straightforward paths; Moderate — some climbs or uneven ground; Hard — sustained effort, steep or rough ground, or remote navigation; Very hard — exceptional distance or repeated steep climbs. Weather, mud, tides and visibility can make a walk much harder.

Details from this walk’s report. Times reflect this outing; check parking and access before travelling.

The full report

A cracking day around Burrator

The sun was out, the views were superb and the wind seemed determined to remove all three of us from the top of Dartmoor.

I set off at 9.30am from Norsworthy Bridge with Adrian Down and Barry for a cracking day out on the moor.

We climbed steadily towards Down Tor, taking in the magnificent Hingston Hill Stone Row before heading across to Combeshead Tor. From there we dropped into the valley and followed the wooded paths, where the trees and streams provided a welcome change from the exposed moor.

The next ascent took us to Sheepstor. We stopped there for around 20 minutes to refuel and enjoy the views before descending towards the woods once more.

After the break came the long climb to Leather Tor and Sharpitor. The effort was rewarded with tremendous views across Burrator Reservoir and the surrounding hills.

The wind was the real challenge—gusting close to gale force and making it difficult to stay upright. Dartmoor was apparently testing our balance as well as our legs.

Despite the strength of the wind, the weather stayed dry and sunny. Whenever we found shelter it felt surprisingly warm, although that warmth vanished rather quickly each time we stepped back onto an exposed ridge.

We finished by descending to the road and returned to the car at 2.50pm, tired but very pleased with another brilliant Dartmoor outing.

Of course, no hike is complete without a pint at the nearest pub. On this occasion the honour went to the Burrator Inn—a thoroughly sensible final checkpoint.

The five tors

Granite landmarks around Burrator

The clockwise-feeling loop linked five distinctive tors, with woodland and reservoir views between the exposed climbs.

Down TorFirst steady climb from Norsworthy Bridge.
Combeshead TorReached after Hingston Hill Stone Row.
SheepstorThe 20-minute refuelling stop.
Leather TorA long climb back onto high ground.
SharpitorSuperb views across Burrator Reservoir.
Plan the walk

Practical information

A varied Burrator circuit with exposed tors, rough moorland and sheltered woodland paths.

Distance and time

Approximately 10 miles. We left Norsworthy Bridge at 9.30am and returned to the car at 2.50pm.

Route

Norsworthy Bridge, Down Tor, Hingston Hill Stone Row, Combeshead Tor, the wooded valley, Sheepstor, Leather Tor and Sharpitor.

Terrain and difficulty

Moderately hard, with sustained climbs, uneven granite ground, open moorland and woodland paths. Expect roughly five hours on foot including breaks.

Conditions and kit

Dry and sunny but extremely windy. Wear grippy boots and carry windproof and waterproof layers, food, water, paper map and compass plus offline navigation.

Safety note

The tors and ridges are very exposed. Strong gusts can make balance difficult, so keep away from steep edges, shorten the route if necessary and check the Dartmoor forecast before setting out.

Pictures from the route

Open moorland, mossy woodland, granite tors and wide views over Burrator Reservoir.

Wide view across Burrator Reservoir and the surrounding Dartmoor hills
The reward from high ground: a broad view over Burrator.
Granite outcrops of Down Tor beneath a clear blue sky
The steady opening climb towards Down Tor.
Open moorland view towards Burrator Reservoir
Burrator appearing beyond the open moor.
A hiker walking beside the ancient Hingston Hill Stone Row
The magnificent Hingston Hill Stone Row.
A small stream flowing through mossy woodland
Shelter and spring colour in the wooded valley.
Ponies beside a rocky stream in Dartmoor woodland
Four-legged company beside the woodland stream.
A person standing on the granite summit rocks of Sheepstor
Sheepstor under an almost cloudless sky.
Adrian and Barry on the steep rocky slopes above Burrator
Adrian and Barry tackling the rocky climb.
John, Adrian and Barry together above Burrator Reservoir
John, Adrian and Barry with Burrator behind.
A hiker holding his hat in strong wind on a rocky Dartmoor tor
Near gale-force gusts required a firm grip on the hat.
Back at Norsworthy Bridge

Five tors, ten miles and one essential pint

A superb circuit with ancient history, woodland, reservoir views and enough wind to make every summit memorable. The Burrator Inn provided the proper ending.

Explore more Dartmoor hikes

Location & getting there

Norsworthy Bridge, Burrator, Devon

Parking & travel: Free parking at Norsworthy Bridge.

Find Norsworthy Bridge car park on a map

This map locates the place named above; use the report’s route links to follow the walk.