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Home> Walks> England> Devon> Princetown

Princetown

Recommended by
Walk directions

Leave the car park past the toilets and turn right to pass the National Park Visitor Centre. Cross the road and follow the lane to the left of the Plume of Feathers Inn. After 100yds (91m) a small gate leads to a broad track which ascends gently to South Hessary Tor, from which there are splendid views to Plymouth Sound, ahead, and of the prison behind.

Follow the track as it drops gently, passing boundary stones. It crosses two other tracks (after the first look right to spot the Devonport Leat) before descending to Nun’s Cross (2.5 miles/4km from the start). Nun’s Cross Farm (originally thatched c.1870) can be seen to the left.
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Location
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain  - Tracks, leat-side paths and rough moorland
  Landscape  - Open moorland
  Dog friendliness  - Keep on lead around livestock and birds
  Parking  - Car park behind National Park Visitor Centre
  Toilets en route  - By car park (fee)
Walks in Devon Dog-friendly walks in Devon
About the walk
Princetown, 1,395ft (425m) above sea level, was founded by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt in the late 18th century, and named in honour of the Prince Regent, to whom he was both a friend and private secretary. Tyrwhitt persuaded the government to build a prison here for French prisoners from the Napoleonic...
Read more
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About the area
Devon sums up all that is best about the British landscape, with its magnificent coastlines, two historic cities, the world-famous Dartmoor National Park and south Devon’s glorious English Riviera. A fashionable and much-loved holiday destination, hiking and cycling in the National Parks is extremely popular among visitors, with a great choice of off-road routes.
Explore Devon
Area image

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Hotel
Two Bridges Hotel
★★★
awardaward
"A pleasant stay made enjoyable by friendly hosting...."
  • Family rooms: 2
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
Holiday Park
Langstone Manor Holiday Park
★★★★★
awardawardawardaward
"Lovely, sheltered site in a woodland valley on glorious Dartmoor...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Cafe/Restaurant
  • BBQ
Room Only
Brimpts Farm
★★★
award
"The team at Brimpts Farms offer a natural and genuine welcome...."
  • Rooms 13
  • Wifi
  • Lounge with TV
  • Open parking
Nearby places to stay
Two Bridges Hotel
Two Bridges is a wonderfully relaxing hotel set at the heart of the Dartmoor National Park, in a beautiful riverside location. Three standards of comfortable rooms provide every modern ...
★★★    Rating
Langstone Manor Holiday Park
A range of self catering accommodation from a light and airy manor house apartment, modern static holiday caravans with full facilities, spacious, well-appointed cottages to well-draine...
★★★★★    Rating
Brimpts Farm
A popular venue for walkers and lovers of the great outdoors, Brimpts Farm is peacefully situated in the heart of Dartmoor and has been a Duchy of Cornwall farm since 1307. Bedrooms are...
★★★    Rating
Overcombe House
Overcombe House is in Dartmoor National Park and offers eight en suite bedrooms, two of which are on the ground floor. All guests can be assured of a friendly welcome, and an award-winn...
★★★★    Rating
Harford Bridge Holiday Park
Harford Bridge Holiday Park is a sheltered park offering riverside and other spacious level pitches for touring caravans, motor homes and campers on the western edge of Dartmoor. Also s...
★★★★★    Rating
Bedford Hotel
Built on the site of a Benedictine abbey, the Bedford Hotel is an impressive castellated building that has been welcoming visitors for over 200 years. Very much a local landmark, the ho...
★★★    Rating
River Dart Country Park
Set in 90 acres of magnificent parkland that was once part of a Victorian estate, with many specimen and exotic trees, River Dart Country Park is a peaceful, hidden-away touring park oc...
★★★★    Rating
The Horn of Plenty
With stunning views over the Tamar Valley on the Devon and Cornwall border, The Horn of Plenty maintains its reputation as one of Britain's best country house hotels. Bedrooms are well ...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Two Bridges Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Bedford Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
The Horn of Plenty
   AA Rosette Award
Elfordleigh Hotel
Places to eat nearby
Two Bridges Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Bedford Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
The Horn of Plenty
   AA Rosette Award
Elfordleigh Hotel
The Mayflower Brasserie
   AA Rosette Award
Àclèaf
   AA Rosette Award
Dartmoor Lodge Restaurant
Gidleigh Park
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Route details
3hrs
Dog-friendly
Difficulty:
Hard

Gradient:
Gentle


Distance:
7.5 miles (12.1kms)

Ascent:
328ft (100m)

Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby  
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Princetown

Recommended by
Walk details
3hrs
Dog friendly
Difficulty:
Hard
Gradient:
Gentle
Distance:
7.5 miles (12.1kms)
Ascent:
328ft (100m)
Walk directions

Leave the car park past the toilets and turn right to pass the National Park Visitor Centre. Cross the road and follow the lane to the left of the Plume of Feathers Inn. After 100yds (91m) a small gate leads to a broad track which ascends gently to South Hessary Tor, from which there are splendid views to Plymouth Sound, ahead, and of the prison behind.
1 of 8

Follow the track as it drops gently, passing boundary stones. It crosses two other tracks (after the first look right to spot the Devonport Leat) before descending to Nun’s Cross (2.5 miles/4km from the start). Nun’s Cross Farm (originally thatched c.1870) can be seen to the left.
2 of 8

Turn 90 degrees right at the cross to pick through old tin workings to find the tunnel where the leat emerges. It’s near the ruins of a building under a beech tree. Walk along the right bank of the leat, soon passing a granite cross.
3 of 8

Just before a bend meet a track and cross the leat via Older Bridge. Continue along the left bank, with wonderful views of Burrator reservoir to the left. Cross back to the right bank before descending to the valley of the Meavy. One option is a bridge beside blocks of granite as the Burrator reservoir plantations come into view. The descent to the Meavy is steep and rocky.
4 of 8

Cross the aqueduct; the leat turns left. Take the grassy path right leading slightly uphill away from the river (there is a wealth of tin working evidence in the valley – worth an exploration). Bear left and climb steeply up to Black Tor on the hilltop.
5 of 8

Go straight on past the Logan Stone, one of several on Dartmoor balanced in such a way that they can be rocked on their base, and on across open moorland to the road, with views of Brentor, Swelltor Quarries and the disused railway line ahead. Turn right at the road.
6 of 8

Pass a blocked-off parking place and continue along the verge. The road descends past a small parking space; as it rises again bear left by a granite block across rough grassland, aiming to the right of the mast on North Hessary Tor.
7 of 8

At the railway track turn right towards the edge of town. Keep left at a fork, eventually passing a small gate to join a road, with Dartmoor Brewery left. Bear right to the car park.
8 of 8
Location
Starting point
Nearest postcode:
Additional information
  Terrain - Tracks, leat-side paths and rough moorland
  Landscape - Open moorland
  Dog friendliness - Keep on lead around livestock and birds
  Parking - Car park behind National Park Visitor Centre
  Toilets en route - By car park (fee)
Walks in Devon Dog-friendly walks in Devon
About the walk
Princetown, 1,395ft (425m) above sea level, was founded by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt in the late 18th century, and named in honour of the Prince Regent, to whom he was both a friend and private secretary. Tyrwhitt persuaded the government to build a prison here for French prisoners from the Napoleonic...
Read more
Been on this walk placeholder

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more
Walking in Safety placeholder

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more
Get an AA guide placeholder

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more
About the area
Area image
Devon
Devon sums up all that is best about the British landscape, with its magnificent coastlines, two historic cities, the world-famous Dartmoor National Park and south Devon’s glorious English Riviera. A fashionable and much-loved holiday destination, hiking and cycling in the National Parks is extremely popular among visitors, with a great choice of off-road routes.
Explore Devon

Nearby places to stay

View all (8)
Hotel
Two Bridges Hotel
★★★
awardaward
"A pleasant stay made enjoyable by friendly hosting...."
  • Family rooms: 2
  • Free TV
  • WiFi available
Holiday Park
Langstone Manor Holiday Park
★★★★★
awardawardawardaward
"Lovely, sheltered site in a woodland valley on glorious Dartmoor...."
  • Launderette
  • Ice pack facility
  • Cafe/Restaurant
  • BBQ
Room Only
Brimpts Farm
★★★
award
"The team at Brimpts Farms offer a natural and genuine welcome...."
  • Rooms 13
  • Wifi
  • Lounge with TV
  • Open parking
Nearby places to stay
Two Bridges Hotel
Two Bridges is a wonderfully relaxing hotel set at the heart of the Dartmoor National Park, in a beautiful riverside location. Three standards of comfortable rooms provide every modern ...
★★★    Rating
Langstone Manor Holiday Park
A range of self catering accommodation from a light and airy manor house apartment, modern static holiday caravans with full facilities, spacious, well-appointed cottages to well-draine...
★★★★★    Rating
Brimpts Farm
A popular venue for walkers and lovers of the great outdoors, Brimpts Farm is peacefully situated in the heart of Dartmoor and has been a Duchy of Cornwall farm since 1307. Bedrooms are...
★★★    Rating
Overcombe House
Overcombe House is in Dartmoor National Park and offers eight en suite bedrooms, two of which are on the ground floor. All guests can be assured of a friendly welcome, and an award-winn...
★★★★    Rating
Harford Bridge Holiday Park
Harford Bridge Holiday Park is a sheltered park offering riverside and other spacious level pitches for touring caravans, motor homes and campers on the western edge of Dartmoor. Also s...
★★★★★    Rating
Bedford Hotel
Built on the site of a Benedictine abbey, the Bedford Hotel is an impressive castellated building that has been welcoming visitors for over 200 years. Very much a local landmark, the ho...
★★★    Rating
River Dart Country Park
Set in 90 acres of magnificent parkland that was once part of a Victorian estate, with many specimen and exotic trees, River Dart Country Park is a peaceful, hidden-away touring park oc...
★★★★    Rating
The Horn of Plenty
With stunning views over the Tamar Valley on the Devon and Cornwall border, The Horn of Plenty maintains its reputation as one of Britain's best country house hotels. Bedrooms are well ...
★★★★    Rating
View all (8)
Places to eat nearby View all
Two Bridges Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Bedford Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
The Horn of Plenty
   AA Rosette Award
Elfordleigh Hotel
Places to eat nearby
Two Bridges Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
Bedford Hotel
   AA Rosette Award
The Horn of Plenty
   AA Rosette Award
Elfordleigh Hotel
The Mayflower Brasserie
   AA Rosette Award
Àclèaf
   AA Rosette Award
Dartmoor Lodge Restaurant
Gidleigh Park
   AA Rosette Award
View all
Stay in the area  
Eat or drink nearby