Peek Hill

Peek Hill is a modest west Dartmoor hill with a spectacular view over the Burrator resevoir and surrounding countryside. Peek hill consists of metamorphic rock that lies over the granite dome of Dartmoor. It's an example of the moor's metamorphic aureole. The hill is very near a main road and is very popular with weekend visitors from Plymouth and Tavistock. The walk also takes us into part of the reservoir plantation - the Stanlake plantation. The walk follows the Devonport leat. Ironically, one of the reasons that the Burrator reservoir was built was because the leat froze over in the bitterly cold winter of 1891.

Park on one of the main road car parks (SX 557707) and walk over to Sharpitor up a modest gradient. Admire the views and then head SW to Peek Hill and Lowery Tor. Then along to Leather Tor (you can't miss it). Clamber down the boulder slope towards the wood below. Find the stile and a short walk will take you to the leat. Then follow the leat in a northerly direction until you exit the plantation. You can get back to the carpark following a number of paths.

This is a straightforward walk of a couple of miles. You're never far from a main road and there's no wet or marshy ground to consider. But take care when walking down the clitter of Leather Tor..

	We've nearly climbed up to Sharpitor so time to turn around and look at the view. The pool in the middle distance is next to our car park. The pool is known as Goadstone Pond and although 'tis like a dew pond it rarely dries out.
	The northern clitter of Sharpitor.
	The northern view from the top of Sharpitor.
	The beautiful SE view from the top of Sharpitor. Leather Tor lies in the middle distance and on the horizon is Langcombe Hill.
	Sharpitor showing the saw like crest of the tor rather than a sharp point.
	The disturbed cairn just to the west of Peek Hill. The lands of Eastern Cornwall lie behind.
	Good views from Peek Hill. This is looking over towards Down and Hen tors.
	Peek Hill. This hill consists of metamorphosed mudstone and it lies above the granite. marks the meeting of granite with metamorphosed country rock.
	Lowery Tor - SX 555696. Strangely, this substantial granite tor is not shown on OS maps. There's a lot of clitter on the hillside below. Burrator Reservoir is in the middle distance with Sheeps Tor on the left.
	Another view of Lowery Tor. Unlike nearby Peek Hill this is made of granite.
	The path that leads from Lowery Tor to Leather Tor
	Leather Tor with Sharpitor behind.
	Extensive clitter below Leather Tor suggests just how big leather Tor would once have been.
	The stile that takes us into the Stanlake plantation.
	Softwood in the Stanlake plantation. These trees were planted after the reservoir was built in 1898. Originally this land would have been fields farmed by the now vacant and ruined farms. Remains of the old enclosure walls are now heavily covered by moss.
	An example of a tare and feathered stone. This is where granite bloxks are split by drilling a series of shallow holes with a jumper, in these were placed punches called tares which were supported by tongues of metal called feathers. The tares were hammered until the stone split. This technique was used after 1800.
	Water in the Devonport leat hurtles down beside this part of the track.
	A leat control weir.
	This is where the Devonport leat enters the Stanlake plantation.
	One corner of the Stanlake plantation
	The B3212 - one of the two main roads that cross Dartmoor.