Chasing the Hounds (Tor)
8 people attending
17 places left
Wake up the walking boots from their Winter Hibernation with a thrilling walk around atmospheric Dartmoor.
Starting at Haytor, this circular route will take in old granite quarries, ancient abandoned medieval villages and a pack of hounds and their master turned to stone.
After starting at Haytor, we'll cross the open moor and then cross Becka Brook and up to HoundTor deserted Medieval Village.
After the village, we head up to Hound Tor itself. After seeing the Hounds, we'll head north to catch up with their master at Bowerman's Nose before dropping down into Manaton where, if desired, we can relax at Kestor Inn.
After Manaton, it's back up towards Haytor via the pretty Becky Falls and then home.
[All photos - taken by me]
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking. The ground is likely to be wet and boggy in places.
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
Packed lunch and water is essential.
The weather on Dartmoor can be very changable all year round so a hot drink would be advisable.