Haytor to Emsworthy Mire Loop

This 5-mile (8 km) circular walk starts and finishes at the National Park Visitor Centre at Haytor. Allow about three hours to follow stone tracks and the old granite tramway to Emsworthy Mire, then climb back across open moorland past Saddle Tor. Boardwalks bring you close to the pools and wetland plants, with a broad view toward Haytor Rocks on the return.

From the visitor centre, cross the road and walk downhill about 200 m. Near SX767773, take the northwest track beside a water leat. Pass a fenced enclosure and the granite spoil heaps of Haytor Quarry, then follow the tramway until it fades. Those stone tracks are firmer than what follows. After the gate into Emsworthy, expect rough, unmade paths, wet ground and short boardwalks through mire and wet woodland. Follow the signed circuit around the reserve and return to the same gate. Look around the pools for sphagnum moss and insect-catching sundews. A red-roofed farm ruin recalls the moorland farm abandoned in the 1870s; nearby fields turn purple with bluebells in early summer.

From the mire gate, follow the stone walls southeast to Saddle Tor, then take the grassy path northeast to the right of Haytor Rocks and descend to the visitor centre. The saddle is the place to pause for the surrounding moor and the granite outcrops. The route is a moderate three-hour walk, but boggy footing and unmade moorland paths slow it down. Dartmoor weather can be unpredictable, and the open route is easy to misread. Use a detailed map and compass rather than relying on a small route map alone.

Start and finish at the National Park Visitor Centre at Haytor, grid reference SX765771. Dogs are allowed; keep them on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July during lambing and bird breeding season. If you want a shorter walk, a separate 4 km (2½-mile) circuit starts at the Saddle Tor car park and takes about 1½ to 2 hours, though it still crosses wet mire ground.