LITTLE HAZELCOTT
Dartmoor holiday cottage
TEL:07779 999741 OR 07779 999562
Walks from Little Hazelcott
Short walks under 1 hour
Walk 1 - Manaton rocks
From the cottage, turn right and walk up the lane to the village green and the church. Enter the Churchyard via the Lych Gate, next to the War Memorial. Optional visit to the Church. Information freely available inside – the most notable feature is the wooden rood screen, with the Saints’ heads “defaced” by Cromwell’s troops in the Civil War. Go through the gate on the other side of the Churchyard and turn immediately right on the marked path. This leads over several stiles up to the summit of the ridge (Manaton Rocks – excellent views back to the Church and over to Hayne Down/Bowermans Nose and to Haytor). Manaton Rocks is where a troop of Cavaliers hid for several days after the defeat at Bovey Heath. Further down the ridge towards Water is the site of a Royalist battery. Having admired the view, continue on the path down the opposite side, with views to North Bovey and Moretonhampstead. The path enters woods and circles round to a road. Turn left on the road and follow it back down to Little Hazelcott.
Walk 2 - Manaton and Water (1 hour, plus pub visit if desired) From Little Hazelcott walk up the lane just past the Village Hall and follow the lane on the left, through the gate. The lane continues through another gate and down to a small stream on the right. At the bottom of the lane (signed left to Horsham and right to Water), turn right across the stream and follow the lane past Cleave Hill, noting the views over Lustleigh Cleave. Enter woods (old pine plantation) and continue to path junction outside Water Mill. Follow path to right around the Mill and come into the settlement of Water. Bear left down the road and take the right turn which leads through to the main road, below Kestor Inn. Optional stop for obvious reasons. Take the lane opposite across the main road (Deal Lane) and continue up the hill past Deal Farm and along to the crossroads at Hayne Cross. Turn right and continue past Mill Farm up to the crossroads at the bus stop where you will see the village green. Follow the lane down and back to Little Hazelcott.
Medium length walks (under 2 hours)
Walk 3 Manaton to Horsham Steps and return via Water (1 ½ to 2 hours)
From Little Hazelcott walk up the lane and from the Village Hall enter Slinkers Lane on the right 50 metres up road. The lane continues through a gate and down to a small stream on the right. At the bottom of Slinkers Lane, turn left and take path around Horsham to the left and then through gate to the right (signposted Horsham Steps). Follow path steeply down to River Bovey (ignoring path to left to Foxworthy). Turn left at river (NB excellent picnic spot here, plus bathing in river) and follow to end above rocks. The path over the river is indicated by worn steps (the river flows under the rocks and some dogs are scared of this). Go across and the path turns left upstream. Follow it and take the right turn (left to Foxworthy) and continue through the ancient woods to a junction, signed to Hammerslake (left) and Water via Clambridge (right). Turn right and proceed to river. The old clam bridge is fenced off with a new bridge to the left. On the other side of the river, take a decision on length of walk!
For a shorter walk, go straight on up the steep hill to the Water Mill. Follow path to right around the Mill and come into the settlement of Water. Bear left down the road and take the right turn which leads through to the main road, below Kestor Inn. Optional stop for obvious reasons. Take the lane opposite across the main road (Deal Lane) and continue up the hill past Deal Farm and along to the crossroads at Hayne Cross. Turn right and continue past Mill Farm up to the crossroads and follow Neadon Lane back down to Little Hazelcott.
For a longer walk, after crossing the clam bridge, turn left downstream following the River Bovey, eventually reaching the Old Manaton Road, having crossed the Becka Brook.
Turn right and and right again over a timber bridge and follow the old road all the way to the top of the plantation where there is a junction – left to Becky Falls, right to Beckhams and Water.
Decision time again! If running out of time, turn right, up through a gate, into a lane and go past Beckhams and join the road from Water Mill. Turn left to Kestor and follow as above the rest of the way.
If you want an extra 10 minutes, turn left to the footpath through Becky Falls and beyond to Mellowmead Field. This gives you a view of the Falls, but not the main one. Please note that there are several private paths here and you must follow the public footpath (signed). If you want to visit Becky Falls and its shop/restaurant, then you have to pay an entrance fee at the carpark on the main road. At the other side of Mellowmead Field, you will be on the main road below the Kestor. Follow as above for directions back to Little Hazelcott.
Walk 4 Manaton to Water, River Bovey and return via Becky Falls (1 ½ to 2 hours)
From Little Hazelcott go up the lane to the Village Hall, turn left and enter the first lane on the right, through the gate. The lane continues through a gate and down to a small stream on the right. At the bottom of the lane (signed left to Horsham and right to Water), turn right and follow the lane past Cleave Hill, noting the views over Lustleigh Cleave. Enter woods (old pine plantation) and continue to path junction outside Water Mill. At the path junction outside the Mill, turn left (signed Lustleigh via Clambridge) and follow the path to the river. Please note that the path is part stream bed and will be damp. In wet weather it will be more than damp. At the bottom, admire the old clam bridge, but, if you want to cross the river, use the new bridge to the right! Excellent picnic area. To return, stay on the Water side of the river and take the path downstream from the new bridge. This will eventually bring you to the Old Manaton Road. Turn right and climb through the plantation. At the top, turn left at the sign to Becky Falls and follow the public footpath through Becky Falls and beyond to Mellowmead Field and thence to Water. This gives you a view of the Falls, but not the main one. Please note that there are several private paths here and you must follow the public footpath (signed). If you want to visit Becky Falls and its shop/restaurant, then you have to pay an entrance fee at the carpark on the main road. At the other side of Mellowmead Field, you will be on the main road below the Kestor. Turn left at the pub (Deal Lane) and continue up the hill past Deal Farm and along to the crossroads at Hayne Cross. Turn right and continue past Mill Farm up to the crossroads and then follow the lane down past the Village Hall to Little Hazelcott.
Half day walks
Walk 5 Bowermans Nose and Jays Grave (2 to 2 ½ hours dependent on route)
From Little Hazelcott walk up Neadon Lane to the Hall, go past the green and cross the main road, signposted to Leighon. Go down the hill, past Mill Farm and enter field on right (public footpath to Hayne). Cross field diagonally to Hayne Lane. Please note there may be stock in field. If you have dogs, or do not wish to disturb the stock, then do not enter field, but follow lane to Hayne Cross (at Sandy Meadow) and turn right. Go up lane to Hayne and follow path to left through trees and enter the moor at the gate. Follow main path to summit of Hayne Down. At top, turn right along ridge and find Bowermans Nose (rock stack and the key geographical feature in Manaton). Retrace to saddle and follow path on other side to gate on road (Moyles Gate). The bridle path to Jays Grave is through the gate and immediately right through fields. Alternatively, do not go through gate but follow open moorland up the wall on left and through a hunting gate at the top of the ridge. Keep towards the wall on the left and follow to road outside Jays Grave. Jays Grave is immortalised in song and always bears flowers. Please ask at the Kestor for the story! From Jays Grave, you have 2 options to return. The first option is to retrace to Moyles Gate, turn left on the road and keep going down the hill, through a gate and up the hill to a main road outside Ebworthy. Turn right following the road to a sharp right hand bend. Take the footpath on the left, which leads through fields back to Manaton Church. For a slightly longer return, at Jays Grave turn left along the road and come to Hound Tor. Excellent burgers and ice cream at the car park. Turn left out of the car park and follow the lane down to a cattlegrid. Keep going and going, past Great Houndtor and Southcott back to Hayne Cross. Straight on past the village green and down the lane back to Little Hazelcott.
Walk 6 Bowermans Nose, Hound Tor, Becka Brook, Leighon and Southcott (3 hours)
Follow directions in Walk 5 above to Moyles Gate. Go through gate and along lane to Hound Tor. At road junction turn straight up moor, passing Hound Tor on left. For a short diversion, there is a well preserved burial chamber (kistvein) on the right, about halfway up the path. From Hound Tor, go straight down the other side and admire the mediaeval village below the tor (Greator Rocks to the right). Keep on the path past the village up to the top of the ridge and pass through a gate. Steep down the other side, through 2 gates to the Becka Brook, with clapper bridge and ford. Keep on the main path through the woods and rocks and emerge onto moorland. There is a high ridge above you (Haytor Down) but follow the main path to the left (signed to Leighon). Enter a lane and turn first left past Leighon House. Keep going until the bridge across Becka Brook. A lane goes left – ignore it and pass the last house on the left. Immediately after there is public path to the left. Take it and follow through first woods and then fields to a lane at the top. Through the gate, turn right and follow past Southcott to Hayne Cross. Straight on to Manaton Green or right turn to Water and the Kestor Inn. If going to Kestor, then on departure, turn right and follow the main road for ½ mile to Manaton Green.
Walk 7 Lustleigh via (A) Horsham Steps and Hammerslake or (B) Water and Pethybridge (4 hours plus more if stop at pub(s))
From the cottage walk up to the Village Hall, turn left and enter the first lane on the right, through the gate. The lane continues through a gate and down to a small stream on the right. At the bottom of the lane turn left to Horsham OR right to Water.
(A) For Horsham Steps take path around Horsham cottage to the left and then through gate to the right (signposted Horsham Steps). Follow path steeply down to River Bovey (ignoring path to left to Foxworthy). Turn left at river (NB excellent picnic spot here, plus bathing in river) and follow to end above large rocks. The path over the river is indicated by worn steps (the river flows under the rocks and some dogs are scared of this). Go across and the path turns left upstream. Follow it and take the next right turn (left to Foxworthy) and continue through the ancient woods to a junction, signed to Hammerslake.
Follow this path to emerge on the road at Hammerslake. Turn right along road and then left downhill into Lustleigh.
At T junction at bottom, turn left to Lustleigh centre (Church). The Cleave Inn is the other side of the church. Alternatively, there are tearooms. Enjoy either.
(B) For Water turn right and follow the lane past Cleave Hill, noting the views over Lustleigh Cleave. Enter woods (old pine plantation) and continue to path junction outside Water Mill. At the path junction outside the Mill, turn left (signed Lustleigh via Clambridge) and follow the path to the river. Please note that the path is part stream bed and will be damp. In wet weather it will be more than damp. At the bottom, admire the old clambridge, but, if you want to cross the river, use the new bridge to the right! Excellent picnic area.
Cross river and keep going to junction turning right signed for Lustleigh via Pethybridge. Follow this path uphill towards Pethybridge. Through a gate at the top (Heaven’s Gate) follow the lane down to the road, cross the road and into Pethybridge. Follow signs down and into Lustleigh. At T junction at bottom, turn left to Lustleigh centre (Church and Pub).
To return retrace either route. Alternatively, stay on main road out of Lustleigh and return via Rudge, going up a very steep hill to road at top. Enter lane opposite and at the top of the ridge, follow public footpath to left, which winds through a farm yard, Higher Hisley. Keep going on this path along a ridge and down to the River Bovey. Cross on the old pack bridge and through a gate to the Old Manaton Road. Turn right and climb through the plantation. At the top, turn left at the sign to Becky Falls and follow the public footpath through Becky Falls and beyond to Mellowmead Field and thence to Water. This gives you a view of the Falls, but not the main one. Please note that there are several private paths here and you must follow the yellow-dotted public footpath (signed). If you want to visit Becky Falls and its shop/restaurant, then you have to pay an entrance fee at the carpark on the main road. At the other side of Mellowmead Field, you will be on the main road below the Kestor. Follow road to cross roads. Turn right for the village green and Hall and follow the lane down to Little Hazelcott.
Walking with guides
If you want to learn more about the landscape and history of Dartmoor book a walk with a Dartmoor guide.
Both Paul Rendell http://paulrendelldartmoor.co.uk and Emma Cunis https://www.dartmoorsdaughter.com are highly recommended.