Gripper's Hill

Gripper's Hill (SX 685656) is not the most gripping place on Dartmoor. It is on the SE edge of the moor and is a rather featureless and bland hill that overlooks the Avon Dam and from where there are some good views over towards Huntingdon and Eastern Whitebarrow. Nonetheless, to get there makes for a good walk that could be very pleasant on a summer's evening. If you keep to the west side of Dockwell Ridge then there is more to see as you walk above the path that leads to the Avon Dam. Gripper's would be an ideal start to a longer walk along the ridges of South Dartmoor - ie. Pupers, Snowdon and Ryders. It's worth visiting Shipley Tor which is only really accessible from the north. Shipley Tor is a pleasant tor with some very good views and is worth a small walk all by itself.

Park offroad (SX 701633) near Dockwell farm. Walk down the field into a small valley and then bear NW alongside Dockwell Ridge. Head for the top of the hill and then bear straight north towards Gripper's Hill. Return back a similar route but bear round to the west side of Peathy's Path and Dockwell Ridge. There are good views over the Avon valley below from here. Make for Shipley Tor and then follow the drystone wall back (eastwards) towards Dockwell.

An easyish walk of about 3 -4 miles. No rough ground although there are a few granite boulders around Shipley Tor that may be awkward in full undergrowth. There's lots of awkward gorse around - particularly on Dockwell Ridge. Obviously, if the mist comes down then you'll need to get a grip on the situation.

No army ranges anywhere near - so you can walk here whenever you like.

	The gateway at SX 701633.
	A wooded track that leads to Dockwell Farm.
	A field of bluebells.
	The stony ground of Dockwell Ridge.
	Looking east towards the Harbourne valley from the east side of Dockwell Ridge.
	The west view from the top of Dockwell Ridge. The old settlement of Ryder's Rings can be easily seen with the characteristic cairn of Eastern Whitebarrow on the hill summit. This view can take you back through the millennia if you try to imagine what those early settlements would have been like.
	A boundary stone at SX 685646. There's a whole line of these that traverse the hillside. They mark the boundary between Brent and Dean moors.
	The west view from Gripper's Hill. Straight ahead lies the Avon Dam with Eastern Whitebarrow on the horizon.
	The rather nondescript southern view from Gripper's Hill.
	The view over the Avon Dam and valley from above Smallbrook Plains.
	The view over the Avon Dam from Peathy's Path (SX 685646).
	The Avon valley from Dockwell Ridge. Black Tor is on the skyline whereas in the trees below lie the remains of Brentmoor House.
	Heading on towards Shipley Tor. The Avon valley is down on the right.
	Shipley Tor - SX 685632. A farm wall is built up around the tor, which is why this tor can only really be approached from the north.
	The west view from Shipley Tor. The road in the background is the one that leads up to the Avon Filtration Station.
	Looking east from Shipley Tor. This wall marks the edge of the moor as the bluebell filled field well shows.
	The SW view from Shipley Tor overlooking Shipley Bridge down below and Hickley Ridge behind.
	The trackway at SX 693637 that leads on towards Dockwell.
	The gate that marks the moor's edge at SX 695636.