Cut Hill - Dartmoor

This walk incorporates: Littaford Tor, Longaford Tor, Higher/Lower White Tor, Browns House Ruin, Flat Tor, Cut Hill, East Dart River

Walk Introduction

This walk sets out to reach and explore one of the highest peaks on Dartmoor, namely Cut Hill (603m). It is not a remarkable feature on the map but once there it is a stunning view-point to all directions. This is where I must point out that Cut hill sits squarely inside the Dartmoor 'Army Firing Range' and because of this can only be accessed at certain times of the year. Please check before you proceed. I do not recommend that this walk be taken lightly, it is a solid trudge and you are likely to get wet feet regardless of how well you tred. I also recommend that you take a full pack and advise someone of where you are going, it is about as remote as it gets at Cut Hill. I actually planned and executed this walk with an overnight camp to ensure that I didn't over-burden myself. There is an ideal spot at the head of the East Dart.

Walk Details

This is pretty much a straight march North from Two Bridges (OS ref: 609 751) to Cut Hill (OS ref: 598 827). Allow a good three hours to get to Cut Hill (solo), more if you are travelling as a group and consider that 3-hours on means at least 3-hours off! The features past Lower White Tor (OS ref: 619 792) are useful for navigation as the terrain gets pretty featureless after this. Watch out for bogs on the second half of the walk. There is no easy way out of this walk if it goes wrong, so go prepared!

Diary Details

Boxing-day 2005, a cold and overcast day with a lightish easterly wind. Temp: 2 Celcius (max.) The walk took 3 hours to Cut hill, plus a further 40 minutes to the camp site at the East Dart river, travelling solo, at quite a pace. Walk distance: 10km to Cut hill, 3km to campsite, plus 8km back to Two Bridges. Comment: Snow flakes settled as camp was set up, tent pole snapped. Forgot: Teabags, Spoon, Gaffer-tape. Total walking time: 6-7 hours.

View toward Littaford Tor	View on approach to Littaford Tor	View at Littaford Tor (OS ref: 615 772)
View from Longaford Tor	View from Longaford Tor	Longaford Tor (OS ref: 615 779)
Longaford Tor (OS ref: 615 779)	Longaford Tor (OS ref: 615 779)	Frozen pool at Longaford Tor (OS ref: 615 779)
Browns House (Ruin) (OS ref: 615 798)	Flat Tor (OS ref: 609 816)	View North from Cut Hill (OS ref: 598 827)
View East from Cut Hill (OS ref: 598 827)	View West toward 'Fur Tor' from Cut Hill	View South from Cut Hill (OS ref: 598 827)
View North from Cut Hill	Peat cuttings at Cut hill peak (OS ref: 598 827)	Peat cuttings at Cut hill peak (OS ref: 598 827)
East Dart River, near Cut hill stream	East Dart River, near Cut hill stream	East Dart River (camp) (OS ref: 614 820)
East Dart River (camp) (OS ref: 614 820)