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Stannon Tor

Stannon Tor gets its name from the Anglo Saxon word stennen meaning stony. And stony clitter lies all around showing that many years ago Stannon tor was a large one before the rocks started to fall down. Just below the tor is the Sheepfold - well worth visiting if not to just see the quality of the building work. The rest of the walk takes in a circular tour to Sittaford and back to the Dart waterfall. This is a good walk taking in a lot of great scenery.
Start at the Postbridge car park SX 646788, but walk up the B3212, cross over the bridge (the new one!) and take the first left. This takes you into a muddy field from where you can head on up the East Dart valley by skirting around Hartyland. Walk up to Hartland Tor and then head north along the ridge. Mid way along turn eastwards to take you past the Sheepfold and up the stony slopes to Stannon Tor. Then follow the contours northwards alongside White Ridge, cross the Lade stream and walk up to Sittaford Tor. Then take the SW track that takes you to Winney's down brook from where you can follow the leat track which will take you to the Dart waterfall. Cross the river and then head back to Postbridge via Broadun and Drift Lane.
The ground in this walk is easy with a little climbing and scrambling required. No boggy areas. No military areas. A 6 mile walk. Allow 3 - 4 hours for a pleasant pace. This is a good Sunday afternoon walk that isn't too strenuous but thoroughly enjoyable.
 
The Postbridge car park packed out on a spring Sunday afternoon.
The start of the walk looking northwards from SX 647792. The big house in the middle distance is Hartyland.
The west facing view from Hartland Tor. The oval structure on the opposite hillside is Roundy park. The trees of Archerton are on the horizon.
The ridge north of Hartland Tor. On the left is the east Dart valley. Straight ahead is Sittaford tor. This is good walking ground.
Looking north east from SX 641807 over towards the Sheepfold and Stannon Tor above.
The Scotch Sheepfold - SX 645809. This was originally built as a potato enclosure by the Hullet brothers in the early 1800's so as to make starch. When the business failed it was taken over by a Scotsman and converted into a sheepfold.
Another view of the Sheepfold.It has been used since 1825 for holding collected sheep and for lambing. It is a very well built structure and well sheltered from easterlies.
Some of the large stones that clitter down the slope of Stannon Tor. On the other side of the East Dart valley lies Broad down. You can see the gorge within which lies the Dart waterfall. We'll return along this side.
Stannon Tor - SX 647811. Quite a view from up here (460 m).
Another shot of Stannon Tor. Archerton lies behind and in the far distance are the hills of south Dartmoor.
A cairn at SX 643817. The angle of the picture may make this tricky to see but the cairn just lies behind the foremost stone.
A hut circle at SX 642819. There's a lot of these old remains on this hillside.
The East Dart valley from the western slopes of White Ridge.
The upper part of the Lade Hill valley from SX 641828
Sittaford Tor - SX 634830
The south facing view from Sittaford Tor. The valley down below is the Lade Hill valley. Postbridge is in the far distance.
Looking south west from Sittaford Tor. 538 m altitude.
Sittaford Tor from the south west track.
Looking down the valley of Winney's Down brook from SX 629818.
A sudden hailstorm strikes. Those white specks are hailstones.
The storm heads on south towards Postbridge.
A view of the steep sided East Dart valley just downstream of the waterfall.
The view from the Broadun newtake wall. Higher White Tor is on the horizon. Archerton bog is on the left.
A deserted Postbridge carpark at 19.30. Quite a contrast from a few hours beforehand.
 


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