Family walks in Haytor and Hound Tor in Dartmoor

Long before we lived in Devon we had decided that Dartmoor was at the top of the list for exploring. Having spent 2 days on holiday there one wet August, we were quick to realise that we had only just scratched the surface. Since moving here we have returned for numerous family walks in Haytor and Hound Tor.

Family walks in Haytor and Hound Tor in Dartmoor

Both Haytor and Hound Tor can be reached easily by car, and there is plenty of available parking so you don’t have to walk far if you have young/reluctant walkers!

What are the Tors?

A tor is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. In the South West of England, the term is commonly also used for the hills themselves.

Visiting Hound Tor

Hound Tor is an English Heritage site which is free to visit and parking is also free. The car park is a Go Stargazing Site. The location has been identified by the Go Stargazing team as a good location for stargazing based on local light pollution levels, distance from nearby towns and cities and offers a safe place to park. How amazing is that! The car park itself has plenty of spaces, although please be mindful that in busy holiday periods, parking may be more limited.

Hound Tor Car Park TQ13 9XG – What 3 Words ///forks.newstand.relies

No cafe or toilets, so wild wees or a potty is a must! Dogs are allowed on the lead due to the wild ponies and grazing animals.

Exploring Hound Tor and the Medieval Village

The walk from the car park to the Tor is a 1/2 mile short and slightly steep grassy hill path. Well worth the climb up for the 360-degree views of Dartmoor alone. Once you’re up there you can explore various rocks of all sizes, play hide and seek or find the many hidden geocaches if you have the geocache app downloaded.

To the south-east of the tor, on a north-eastern-facing slope are the remains of a deserted medieval village. a definite must-see if you’re visiting. It was fascinating to see the layout of the village and imagine how life must have been back then.

Visiting Haytor

Haytor Lower car park TQ13 9XT RingGo code: 5740 Haytor Middle car park TQ13 9XT RingGo code: 57402. Haytor Upper car park TQ13 9XT RingGo code: 57403

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Here you will find a National Park visitor centre which can provide you with walking routes, toilets and an electric vehicle charging point.

Exploring Haytor

Haytor is accessible up a short slope with plenty of climbing opportunities from low-level toddler-friendly scrambling to the downright scary top of the Tor climb. Keep an eye out for rare butterflies and birds. You can also explore the nearby Haytor quarry and even have a wild swim. As always we recommend a wild swim if you are not on your own.

Can you Combine Walking up Hound Tor with Haytor?

Yes, you can combine Hound Tor and Haytor together over a long 7.5-mile circular walk. This would be harder for little legs but our tweens and teens walked it comfortably. It’s a varied route with some moderate climbs, old quarries, woodland trails and fascinating geology. We recommend doing some walking research if you want to combine both tors together. Obviously, phone signals can be unpredictable and the signposts are limited, so having a walking route downloaded and/or a physical map is a must!.

We would love to hear if you do go on any family walks in Hound Tor or Hay Tor. Please let us know in the comments below if you have any walking tips for the area!