Lydford Gorge Circular

Terrain difficulty: Moderate- several climbs

Ease of navigation: Easy-Moderate Clear paths, signs lacking in some places

Animal Dangers: Minimal- but watch out for bullets!

 

Route

Park in the 2nd National Trust car park after the village centre coming from the A386. As this is a National Trust car park for the use of visitors to Lydford Gorge please only park here if you intend to visit the Gorge (included in the route of this walk). If you are going to skip the Gorge please park in the main village car park instead.

From the car park head back onto the road and turn left and look for the bridleway just over on the other side of the road. Ignore the footpath which you may notice first, it is just after this.

Follow the bridleway up a track before it turns left and brings you out onto the open space of Black Down. The bridleway passes close to the source of the River Burn should you wish to view the trickle begin. The bridleway turns sharp right and begins to climb gently uphill. This is a well trodden easy path which you follow up to the A386. Head through the underpass and continue to follow the bridleway. Up to Wheal Jewell Reservoir. Just before the reservoir another bridleway merges on your left, which should be ignored. Follow the path, passing the reservoir on your right and ignore two bridleways which head off to your left. The Bridleway becomes a track and comes out onto a lane.

At this junction turn left and follow the lane for 3/4 mile. The lane turns sharp right and then forks. Take the left hand fork and follow the lane around a left hand bend. At the next corner take the footpath on the left. Follow this path keeping the field boundary on your right as you pass through four fields to reach open moor land again.

Here you are about to enter an Army Training Ground called Willsworthy Range. Access is usually permitted unless live firing is taking place. Guaranteed Public access is available every weekend except the weekend of the 2nd Sunday in the month. Specific access dates can be found at www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk. Please double check here for safety and comply with all safety notices posted in the area.

Continue to follow the footpath as it crosses two tracks and heads over to the left of the rifle ranges. The path forks here, take the left hand fork passing the military buildings before heading out to meet the road.

Turn right and head down the road for 200 meters, taking care of traffic. Take the first footpath you come to on the left as it heads down a track by a house. Follow this track all the way down to the old railway which it runs alongside for a short distance before coming out on the Lydford Road. Here turn right then left off the road into the first car park for Lydford Gorge.

Here you can pay your entry into Lydford Gorge and make use of the gift shop & facilities. From here follow the National Trust leaflet for the walk to the waterfall. I recommend taking the lower riverside path as you will also get to enjoy the cauldron.

From the falls head up the side of the gorge on either path and at the top leave through the visitor gate to return to the 2nd Car Park and your car. 


 

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