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Kes Tor and Rock Basin

Kes Tor and Rock Basin

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Kes Tor and Rock Basin

Hiking

5.0

(67)

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Dartmoor National Park

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Location: Chagford, West Devon, Devon, South West England, England, United Kingdom

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Cathrin

August 15, 2024

Hiking

It is a distinctive rock, not only for its magnificent views, but also for its huge rock pool at the summit, formed by the weathering of weakened feldspar crystals. Before geological processes were fully understood, rock pools were described in folklore as the work of the Druids, who needed a camp as close to the sky as possible to "store sacred water and collect the blood of human sacrifices".

More info here:

visitdartmoor.co.uk/things-to-do/moors-tors/kes-tor

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Gemma Jones 🇬🇧🥾

February 2, 2020

Hiking

If a Dartmoor tor could reveal what it has seen down through the millennia then Kestor surely would have some stories to tell. Its rocky outcrops survey directly over a …

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Nearby routes

Best routes near Kes Tor and Rock Basin

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Scorhill & Kestor Rocks loop from Gidleigh — Dartmoor National Park

7.32km

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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.

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Moderate

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