Scorhill & Kestor Rocks loop from Gidleigh — Dartmoor National Park

Embark on the Scorhill & Kestor Rocks loop from Gidleigh, a moderate hike spanning 4.6 miles (7.3 km) with an elevation gain of 711 feet (217 metres), typically completed in about 2 hours and 9 minutes. This route offers a diverse landscape, from wooded valleys with seasonal bluebells to serene pine forests and open moorland. You will enjoy magnificent views across Gidleigh Common towards Dartmoor's northern tors, with Kestor Rock providing sweeping panoramas of the moors and the town of Chagford.

Prepare for varied terrain, including dedicated hiking paths, roads, and both natural, paved, and unpaved surfaces. Some sections require sure-footedness, especially where steep paths weave through trees or after river crossings, and parts of the terrain can be boggy, particularly northwest of Thornworthy Tor. If you bring your dog, be aware of free-roaming sheep, horses, and cattle on the open moors.

This trail is rich in history and unique natural features, showcasing some of Dartmoor's most impressive ancient monuments. You will encounter the striking Scorhill Stone Circle, one of the finest on Dartmoor, and the distinctive Tolmen Stone in the North Teign River, steeped in local lore. The route also passes through Shovel Down, a Premier Archaeological Landscape with prehistoric ritual monuments, and crosses beautiful clapper bridges over the Walla Brook and North Teign River.