Route Details
Start point: Princetown car park behind the Old Duchy Hotel SX 589 734
Getting there: B3212 from Yelverton or Moretonhampstead and B3357 from Tavistock or Ashburton (via Dartmeet).
Facilities: Toilets by the car park. Pubs & cafés.
This route takes you to Nun’s Cross and back via South Hessary Tor. Follow the public bridleway south from behind The Plume of Feathers inn.
Directions
- Exit the National Park car park and head towards the front of the Old Ducjy Hotel.
- Cross the road (B3212) and head down the tarmac lane adjacent to The Plume of Feathers Inn.
- After 40 metres or so join the gravel path following the Public Bridleway sign and pass through the pedestrian gate 20 metres ahead of you.
- After another 300 metres, pass through the second gate and follow the path all the way to Nun’s Cross across the open moor.
- Return via the same path.
An alternative route back is to branch off the bridleway (just under 1 km south of Nun’s Cross) to Peat Cot car park (at grid reference SX 602598) and return to Princetown via the surfaced road through Tor Royal.
Interest
The open, windswept upland moors are characterised by large expanses of grass and heather, peat blanket bogs and valley mires. These provide habitats for wildlife such as skylark, meadow pipit, common lizards and fox moth caterpillars.
The open moorland results from a long history of human management and its diversity is maintained by cattle, pony and sheep grazing. On clear days in the distance you can see Plymouth Sound.
Once you have absorbed the landscapes, head back down the bridleway and into Princetown for refreshments.
