Belstone Common

Belstone Common is one of the most northerly parts of Dartmoor and it overlooks Okehampton. There is a lot of rocky clitter all over the place and 2 fine tors. Belstone is sometimes thought of as where the famous Belstone Fox resides. Unfortunately there is not much of the fox anymore for the casual visitor but the landscape is quite excellent.

Park at Belstone village (SX 620932) and take the track out of the village heading west past the church. You'll come to a moor gate which takes you straight onto the moor at Watchet Hill. Climb up past the Nine Stones circle towards Belstone Tor and then onwards towards Higher Tor. If you wish you can carry on to Oke Tor and as far around Taw March as you'd like. However, this walk took the shorter course by heading on down to the marsh and then back to Belstone via the southern approach.

Belstone lies near to the Army firing range. If any red flags are flying then don't walk over towards Oke Tor. This is a pretty straightforward walk of about 5 miles.

	We've just left the village of Belstone behind and we're on the slope of Watchet Hill looking northwards.
	Climbing up the north slope of Belstone with Watchet Hill below.
	The first main granite clumps of Belstone at SX 615924
	Clitter below the Belstone Tor.
	Looking south from Belstone Tor towards Higher Tor.
	Belstone Tor - SX 614921
	Irishman's Wall - SX 614919. The story goes that this wall is the remains of a set of walls built by Irish labour around 1800 for 2 gentlemen of the area. However, the locals didn't much care for this enclosure and one night turned out in force to knock large parts of the wall down. The enclosure was never completed.
	Another view of Irishman's Wall with a logan (or rocking) stone beside it
	A closer look at the logan stone.
	Higher Tor from Irishman's Wall
	The drilled holes along this slab of granite are there to help in splitting the rock. It suggests what a laborious task granite dressing was in previous centuries.
	Higher Tor - SX 613917
	Another view of Higher Tor
	The boundary marker stone at SX 613915
	Looking southwards from SX 611914 towards Oke Tor
	Taw marsh
	The edge of Taw Marsh with Steeperton on the horizon.
	The Taw at SX 618909
	Walking back in to Belstone along the southern approach at SX 620931.