Belstone Cleave and Cosdon Hill

The pretty little village of Belstone – an attractive mix of cob and thatch cottages and granite-built Victorian houses – sits 1,000ft (305m) up on the northern edge of Dartmoor. Much of the parish is open moorland, within which can be found a number of granite tors and archaeological monuments.

On the slopes of Belstone Common, the Nine Maidens stone circle dates from Bronze Age times – though legend has it that it represents a group of maidens turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath.

The infant Taw is particularly lovely as it rushes through rocky Belstone Cleave. The Henry Williamson Bridge, passed on the outward route, is inscribed with words taken from his famous novel Tarka the Otter (1927) which succinctly sum up the character of the river at this point:

‘Amid rocks and scree that in falling had smashed the trunks and torn out the roots of willow, thorns and hollies…It wandered away from the moor, a proper river with bridges, brooks, islands and mills.’

A short extension to the walk from Point 5 will take you to the Finch Foundry, now in the hands of the National Trust. A working foundry from 1814 to 1960, it produced around 400 tools for agricultural and mining purposes daily during its heyday. There was a grinding house on the site in the 13th century, powered by water leated from the Taw – you can see a sluice gate and leat at Cleave Mill on the opposite bank around Point 4 of the route – and in the 19th century a smithy was set up by the Finch family. Apart from tools the site also produced serge for army uniforms, made from local wool. There are daily working demonstrations (booking in advance is advisable).

The walk starts from The Tors Inn. Pass to the left of the building, and on reaching the Great Green bear left off the lane across the grass, dropping to soon pick up a track that descends to the River Taw. Bear right to cross it via a footbridge.

Turn left past the ford, then right away from the river, with a wall to your left. After 100yds (91m) bear left on a narrower path that ascends through gorse; after a few paces, where a wall comes into view ahead right, bear slightly left downhill (straight on also leads to the footbridge at Point 3). The path runs along bracken-covered slopes, eventually dropping steeply, then follows the riverbank (very rough in places). Pass craggy Ivy Tor.

Reach a path junction at Skaigh Bridge. Turn left across the river, signed to Skaigh, and climb to a T-junction. Turn right along a woodland path.

Take the next obvious path right and pick your way through trees, bearing left towards the river and the Henry Williamson Bridge. Cross over, and continue along the rocky riverside path to pass a weir and gauging station. Continue on more even ground and through a small gate. Cottages come into view on the opposite bank.

Reach a footpath junction. (To visit the Finch Foundry turn left here.) On the main walk, turn right on a public bridleway to the moor (also Tarka Trail and Taw–Teign Link) and ascend steeply, soon turning sharp right and climbing through Skaigh Wood. The path levels a little, broadens under oaks, and passes through a gate.

Follow the bridlepath left and climb under beeches, with a wall to your left. Follow the wall uphill. Eventually go through a gate on the edge of Cosdon Hill.

Turn right on a grassy track, taking the right fork where the wall ends. After 100yds (91m) look left uphill to see a tall Belstone/South Tawton boundary stone; keep ahead to join a broad, grassy path that descends from that stone, and continue gently downhill. The path crosses the Ivy Tor Water and eventually starts to descend, aiming towards the church tower. Meet a walled enclosure, and follow the wall downhill. At the bottom edge, by a gate, bear left on an indistinct and rocky path that descends to the footbridge.

Cross the River Taw and retrace your steps up the track, bearing left to cross the lane and return to The Tors Inn.