via Bellever Tor, Lower Cherrybrook Bridge and Crock of Gold cairn circle and cist.
Planning ahead
This is a fairly serious expedition across the open moor and needs two cars and drivers unless the Dartmoor Explorer bus is operational. One car should be left at Princetown, the other taken to Postbridge with both drivers. It would be possible to split the walk into two, using Lower Cherrybrook Bridge as the intermediate car park.
Setting off
The lay-bys either side on the crest just as you enter Princetown from Plymouth are entirely suitable to leave a car; there is no charge. Immediately short of Postbridge, take the Bellever turn on the right and at once enter the car park on the right; this is also free. The walk starts up the obvious major track just to the left of the car park. Take the first track off this, diagonally to the right. After 100m, take the narrow path to the left leading through the wood to a long strip of open moorland between woods, one and a half km to Bellever Tor. This area was heavily occupied during the Bronze Age. You emerge from the woods at a Settlement, Kraps Ring. Entering this, the path is signed turning right and then back left to continue the original direction.
Points of interest
Note that your general direction is usually just west of due south, but the path is well worn and easy to follow; at first on the right of the open area before cutting diagonally left after nearly a km, to join a main path up to the Tor. On your way, do look particularly for a short stone row running east-west and, a little further on, a cairn circle and cist. This cist has a capstone in place.
From the top of Bellever Tor, a very good coffee stop, go straight on over the top along the obvious track leading down. At a gate, enter the field to your right and follow the open ground along a curved wall until you can exit by a gate. You now need a bearing of 220˚. You cross a nice open area with a faint but main track near the bearing for another just over half a km. You will pass above Smith Hill Farm the other side of the Cherrybrook and reach a car park at Lower Cherrybrook Bridge on the Princetown to Dartmeet road.
A spot of lunch
Just 100m up the road towards Princetown, cross over and use a stile into an open grazing area with some gorse. The same bearing takes you out of the top corner, past farm buildings on your left, onto a tarmac lane; follow this to a nice lunch spot by the bridge over the West Dart river. Over the bridge, allow yourself a deviation from the bearing to the right to avoid an awkward ascent. Emerging into the clear, continue on the bearing through rough grass to a ladder stile about 300m ahead. A good view ahead shows the main track you are aiming for at a low point with old tin workings beyond, half a km in front... still on bearing!
The finish line
The last three km of the route follow the aforementioned track. About half a km on, you will note rocks about 20m to your left. Walk across to inspect the famous Crock of Gold, a deep-set cist and surrounding stones. The final part is no longer straight, but is well signed to take you to the main road through Princetown, 200m from the Fox Tor café; strongly recommended for your afternoon refreshment.
Ron Smith