Guided Walking for Families at Haytor

• A unique feature of Guided Walking for Families is the selection of up to 3 guided walks each walking day
• Our friendly and experienced leaders will guide you on the walks and are there to assist with any queries you may have
• Evening activities are fun for all the family – enjoy indoor and outdoor activities, and there’s also a kids-only games room
• Make the most of the nearby family-friendly attractions

 Easier Walks      Medium Walks    Harder Walks

Holidays for 2012

7 night holiday - Sat 11 Aug

Itinerary for 7 night holiday - arrive Sat 11 Aug

Sunday: Exploring north of Haytor to Bowerman’s Nose

Easier Walk: Enjoy exploring the area around the disused Haytor Quarry and the old granite tramway, the Templar Way, before taking in Smallacombe Rocks, Holwell Tor, Saddle Tor, Top Tor, Pil Tor and the massive outcrop of Haytor Rocks. 6½ miles with 825 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We cross Templar’s tramway to Smallacombe Rocks before heading north over Black Hill to Hayne Down and the granite pillar of Bowerman’s Nose. We return via prehistoric and medieval ruins, over Hound Tor, and back to Haytor Rocks. 8¾ miles with 1,475 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: A similar, but reversed, route to the Medium Walk, with the addition of Bell Tor, Honeybag Tor and the enigmatic Jay’s Grave, burial place of a pregnant and rejected woman from the late 1700s. 10¾ miles with 1,825 feet of ascent.

Monday: Man’s moulded moor

Easier Walk: Walking in the middle of Dartmoor we head from Merrivale past Vixen Tor and Pewtor to Sampford Spinney and Ward Bridge, over the River Walkham.  We pick up the dismantled railway line to finish at Princetown. 7½ miles with 875 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: East of Merrivale we track south through prehistoric sites and through the Walkham Valley and the Devonport Leat – built in the 1790s to provide water for the naval dockyards – to Hart Tor and into Princetown. 9 miles with 1,050 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: Starting west of Merrivale we take a circuit of Cox Tor, Roos Tor and Great Staple Tor, exploring the remains of a blowing house, before heading over Pew Tor to Stamford Spinney. Then to Devonport Leat and on to Princetown. 10¾ miles with 2,100 feet of ascent.

Tuesday: Wembury, the South West Coast Path and Plymouth Hoe

Easier Walk: From Blackstone Rocks and the marine conservation area of Wembury beach we pass Wembury Point to Plymouth Sound, ending with a short ferry crossing to Plymouth Barbican and the Hoe. 6¾ miles with 550 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: We follow the same route as the easier walk but spend more time exploring the countryside around Wembury. 8½ miles with 650 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: After looking out over the River Yealm at Warren Point we make our way to Wembury and the marine centre, before following a similar route to the other walkers to Plymouth Barbican and the Hoe. 10 miles with 850 feet of ascent.

Wednesday:

With no guided walks organised, this is a great opportunity for your family to explore Dartmoor or South Devon independently - see the Local Area tab for places that you may enjoy visiting.

Thursday: High moor and Okehampton

Easier Walk: On the wild northwestern edge of Dartmoor we contour above Meldon Reservoir and over Longstone Hill, traversing Red-a-Ven Brook and Black Down before ending in Okehampton. 6½ miles with 750 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: Crossing Sourton Tor we head for High Willhays, the highest point in Britain south of the Brecon Beacons. We descend to Okehampton via Rowtor. 8¾ miles with 1,600 feet of ascent. 

Harder Walk: From the track bed of the Rattlebrook railway – built in 1878 to transport peat – we pass over Gren Tor, Hunt Tor, Kitty Tor.  We cross the West Okement River before reaching High Willhays and Yes Tor, then descend to Okehampton. 10 miles with 1,875 feet of ascent.

Friday: Two Moors Way to Grimspound and Widecombe-in-the-Moor

Easier Walk: The highest pub on Dartmoor, Warren House Inn, is the start of our walk today. In tin mining country we contour around Challacombe Down to a Bronze Age village, walking along the top of Hamel Down before finishing at Widecombe-in-the-Moor. 7 miles with 550 feet of ascent.

Medium Walk: From Leapra Cross we follow the Mariners’ Way, over Chagford Common, Birch Tor and Hookney Tor to Grimspound and on to Widecombe. 10 miles with 1,225 feet of ascent.

Harder Walk: From the very centre of the National Park at Postbridge we head north over Hartland and Sittaford Tors and pass the Grey Wethers stone circles. We descend to Warren House Inn and enter Widecombe via Grimspound. 12½ miles with 1,925 feet of ascent.  

Local transport

On some days the walks start and finish at our Country House, Moorlands. On other days you’ll be transported to other parts of Dartmoor and South Devon. The cost of all transport to and from the walks is included in the price of your holiday.

In the evenings

Your leaders will inform you about the choice of walks for the next day and answer any questions you may have. After a sociable evening meal you could join in an evening activity created specifically for all the family - enjoy a quiz, a game of rounders or outdoor treasure hunt or use the Country House facilities - the kids will love the adult-free play zone.