Walking on Dartmoor from Belstone - Belstone Tor and wild swimming at Shilley Pool

We got incredibly lucky with the weather for this early autumn walk from Belstone in Dartmoor National Park. After walking through the very pretty village of Belstone we headed out on to dartmoor and enjoyed srambling over the rocks on our way up to Belstone Tor. After stopping for a rest at the Irishman's wall we dropped down into the Taw valley (after a quick scamper up Higher Tor).
Crossing the Taw by the ford we then headed up to the stone circle near Little Hound Tor where we stopped for lunch.
Thinking (wrongly, as it turned out) that it might be dry we cut the corner towards Kennon Hill to pick up Blackerton Brook which we then followed to Shilley pool for a wild swim and a slide down the rocks.
After cooling off we headed back towards Belstone skirting round Cosdon Hill and dropping into the relative cool of the wooded Taw valley which took us back to Belstone and a refreshing drink on the green outside the Tors Inn.

A fabulous day in great company.

Link to the Ordnance Survey route map here: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/1765...

Car Park - https://maps.app.goo.gl/cz7poUzzSCwGT...

#outandabout
#dartmoor
#belstone