Walk for Widecombe - Walkers' information
Walkers' information
10am-12pm - Walk for Widecombe starts and walkers may begin at any point from 10am-12pm. Transport will be provided for those walkers who would like to park in Widecombe and be taken to the start. The routes will be marshalled throughout and participants will be welcomed into Widecombe whenever they finish (at their own pace).
Starting at Bennett’s Cross near Warren House Inn, on the B3212 this is a walk that takes in some of Dartmoor’s finest scenery, with views towards much of Devon as it transverses Hamel Down to arrive in Widecombe.
Covering six miles on well-defined tracks, the walk starts with a gentle climb across the shoulder of Birch Tor to the first landmark at Hookney Tor. From the Tor a short, steep, decent takes the route through the dramatic Bronze Age settlement of Grimspound. A short climb to the cairn on Hameldown Tor reaches the highest point of the walk at 529 meters above the beach at Teignmouth.
The path now starts the gentle decent towards Widecombe with views to the dramatic tor punctured skyline towards Haytor, west to Princetown and vistas across Devon.
Things to note:
- Hameldown Cross; Dartmoor’s highest cross, but probably not now in its original position.
- The burial sites at Broad, Single and Two Barrows.
- There is a chain of beacons on Dartmoor running from the edge of the north moor down to the edge of the south moor. Hameldown Beacon is, roughly, in the centre of this chain.
- A number of wooden poles that were erected along the top of Hamel Down in 1940, in order to prevent enemy aircraft from landing on it.
Widecombe Church Tower comes into view, but the path angles away from the village. Don’t panic, there is a plan! As the track meets the stonewalls bounding the fields above Widecombe, keep close by the wall until another path breaks to the left, away from the Two moors Way to start the final descent from the moor. Before going through the gate and taking the stone track to the metaled road at Bowden Farm, it is time to say goodbye to any sheep or ponies that have ‘adopted’ you on your walk. Please close the gate after you.
Descend into Widecombe village; you will reach level ground near the playground and alongside the proposed site of the new village hall. Follow the directions to finish your walk in the Showfield, collect your memento, find some refreshments and enjoy the afternoon’s entertainment.
Shorter route option: For pushchairs, wheelchairs and those who don't want to complete the main route, we have a two mile road circuit that will be marshalled.
Starting from the village green, head towards the Showfield and follow the road past the village school to Lower Dunstone and turn left.
At Chittleford take the left fork towards Venton and head back to the village passing the Rugglestone Inn. Turn left to finish the walk in the Showfield.
Arrangements:
Walkers will be taken by bus from the centre of Widecombe to the start point. The buses will run from 10:00 until 11:30.Alternatively, if you have a chauffeur, you can be dropped-off at the start. The ‘start’ will be open from 10:00 until 12:00. Please note that parking is very limited within the vicinity of the start.
The route will be marked/marshalled at key points.