Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle Walk
Devon
Scorhill is one of Dartmoor's finest stone circles, a wide ring of granite uprights set on open moorland above the North Teign River, and this circular threads it with the medieval clapper bridges at Teign-e-ver and a wander through the lanes around Gidleigh. It is a dog friendly walk on access land that gives strong, confident dogs plenty of off lead potential between livestock encounters.
Dartmoor ponies and sheep graze freely along the route, and on access land dogs must be on a short fixed lead of no more than 2 metres between 1 March and 31 July to protect lambs and ground-nesting birds. Underfoot is open moor grass, rocky tor outcrops and a couple of fords across the Wallabrook and North Teign which can be tricky for small dogs in spate. Parking is at the small Berrydown / Scorhill car park, signed up the narrow lanes from Gidleigh village, with no facilities on the moor itself.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 7.0 km (4.3 miles)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Duration
- 2 hr 30 min
- Walk Type
- Moorland, Historic, River
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- None on the moor; pubs and a tea room in nearby Chagford.
- Parking
- Free Berrydown/Scorhill car park beside the cattle grid, capacity around twenty cars.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle Walk dog friendly?
Yes, this is a solid choice for dogs, earning a rating of 8 out of 10. The route crosses open access land, which gives dogs real freedom to roam, and takes in some genuinely spectacular moorland scenery around Scorhill Stone Circle and the ancient Teign clapper bridges.
Can dogs be off lead at Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle Walk?
There is good off-lead potential here for strong, confident dogs, but it comes with an important seasonal restriction. Between 1 March and 31 July, dogs must be kept on a short fixed lead of no more than 2 metres on access land, to protect lambs and ground-nesting birds. Dartmoor ponies and sheep graze freely along the route year-round, so you'll need to be ready to lead up whenever livestock are nearby.
What should I know before visiting Dartmoor: Scorhill Stone Circle Walk with my dog?
The terrain is classic open moorland — moor grass, rocky outcrops, and a couple of fords across the Wallabrook and North Teign rivers, which can be challenging for smaller dogs when the water is running high. There are no facilities on the moor itself, so bring everything you need, including water. Parking is free at the Berrydown/Scorhill car park beside the cattle grid, and if you need refreshments afterwards, pubs and a tea room can be found in nearby Chagford.
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