Up and down the upper East Dart valley

The upper East Dart valley is one of the most inaccessible parts of Dartmoor but is probably the inner heart of the moor. East Dart head consists of a large bowl that drains a substantial part of high Dartmoor. There are 3 or 4 tributaries of the river that join up and merge at the southern edge of the bowl. East Dart head can be a very lonely and eerie place to be. The pictures of this walk were taken on a bright April afternoon. It would be a very different experience on a dull and misty November morning.

Start from Drift Lane SX 646788 at Postbridge and walk over Broadun to Sandy Hole Pass. Skirt around the wet ground of Broad Marsh, rejoin the East Dart at Kit Steps and walk upstream past Kit Rocks on the east bank. The ground now gets a little more overgrown and you are certainly more isolated. It's about 1.5 miles from Kit Rocks to the bowl of East Dart Head. Once there you can walk around the bowl and then return on the west side of the stream. You may need to cross over from time to time since parts of the west bank can be wetter ground. Before you get back to Kit Steps you may want to search for the Cut Lane tinner's hut. At Kit Steps cross over to the west bank and follow the path back to Broadun via Sandy Hole Pass and the waterfall.

This walk is about 12 miles and is not trivial. The upper East Dart is very isolated and it would be easy to get confused in misty weather. A map is absolutely essential and it is strongly advised to do this walk for the first time in good conditions. This walk took place in early spring when the grass was easy to walk over. By late summer the ground would be more overgrown and harder to walk. Much of the upper area lies within the army training grounds.

	The view from Drift Lane of the East Dart valley with the remains of the prehistoric enclosure of Roundy Park in the foreground beyond the modern stone wall.
	The East Dart as seen from the north slopes of Broad Down. In the mid distance are the rocks surrounding the waterfall.
	A closer view of the East Dart waterfall. This is an ideal goal for walkers from Postbridge.
	Sandy Hole Pass. This natural cleft was deepened centuries ago by medieval tinners and the sand that they produced as the result of their tinning extractions gives the pass its name.
	The NW view from the end of Sandy Hole Pass over the East Dart valley. On the horizon is Cut Hill with Broad Marsh in the mid ground. The landscape looks particularly light brown owing to the dead leaves of the moorgrass. In a month's time this will be much greener.
	Broad Marsh from the north end - AX 614820. The rocky cleft of Sandy Hole Pass is in the distance.
	The northwards view of the East Dart from SX 613822.
	Beside the East Dart at SX 613826. The rocky outcrop is Kit Rocks.
	The remains of an old tinner's hut beside the East Dart at SX 609842.
	The East Dart. The thinning stream is getting to be a trickle by this point.
	The tinner's hut at SX 610845. This hut is not shown on the OS maps.
	Approaching East Dart head - SX 609851.
	One of the heads of the East Dart - SX 609853. This is the most easterly one.
	The view of the East Dart from the head. Black Hill is on the skyline.
	Another view of the East Dart.
	A view of the large sweep of the East Dart basin from the side of Black Hill. On the skyline is the watershed that divides this area from the Taw and West Okement heads.
	Looking southwards down the start of the East Dart valley. All we can see of the nascent river at this point is a slightly darker line of vegetation.
	Looking southwards down the upper East Dart valley from the edge of Black Hill at SX 607850
	The East Dart from SX 609841 with the tinner's hut beside it.
	The East Dart with Kit Rocks behind it.
	Cut Lane Tinner's Hut - SX 611825 - situated in wet ground in an isolated part of Dartmoor.
	The East Dart just down stream of Kit Falls at SX 614820. On the right hand bank are the remains of medieval tin streaming. On the left hand side lies Broad Marsh.
	The curve of the East Dart at SX 617818. Much of this landscape has been created as a result of tin streaming. On the skyline is the edge of Winney's Down.
	The sunset view towards Archerton Bog from the slopes of Broadun. Higher White Tor is on the horizon.