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Hookney Tor

Hookney is an easy-to-walk-to tor. Although you're not far from civilisation this walk provides excellent views over the Dartmoor landscape and gives the walker a feel for the Dartmoor environment. The name Hookney derives from the nearby settlement of Hookner - (known as Hokenteon in 1307). One of the highpoints of the walk is the view over the prehistoric settlement of Grimspound. If you wish to extend the walk then there are many possibilities. Carrying southward onto the well defined Hameldown is one. Another is to head off eastwards towards King Tor.
Park (SX 698835) alongside the main Moretonhampstead to Princetown road. Basically it's a walk south to Hookney and walk north back to the car park. Obvious paths, a bit of climbing but nothing very difficult.
A straightforward walk - ideal for a Sunday afternoon jaunt. Allow 2 hours or more. A little climbing with basically good ground - although appropriate footwear is needed. But be wary of poor weather. It could get confusing if the mist comes down. No army grounds near.
 
The car park at SX 698835. This substantial car park is very accessible and located alongside the main Moretonhampstead - Postbridge road. Good NW views too.
One of the relatively well preserved huts of the Challacombe Cross settlement - SX 698830. The stones you see are a ring of wall slabs that gave a solid foundation for the timber structures of the hut.
Another hut of the Challacombe settlement. There were about 5 huts in this settlement. To the left (hardly seen) there are remains of the adjoining fields that supported the settlement. In the background lies Meldon Hill near to Chagford.
The NE view from Shapley Common - SX 700824
A nice Dartmoor stone wall at SX 699817. Hookney Tor is on the horizon.
Grimspound from Hookney Tor. Grimspound is a prehistoric enclosure consisting of around 20 huts and a substantial retaining wall. Probably occupied around 1300 BC (same time as Mycenae in Greece).
One of the granite piles of Hookney Tor - SX 699813
Another view of Hookney Tor.
A marker stone at SX 698815. The view looks north over towards Shapley Tor.
Shapley Tor (SX 699821) is an extended tor with a number of blocks scattered over the common. It lacks a real focal point. This is one of the main blocks.
Another of the rocks of Shapley Tor.
Shapley Common looking north from SX 697827. This is a substantial area that has been used for sheep grazing for many centuries (Shapley - sheep ley).
 


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