4k Run Dartmoor: Scenic Loop Around Cox Tor and Staple Tors

Route Overview & Local Insights

Embark on a quintessential Dartmoor fell run with this 4.4km loop starting from the Pork Hill car park. Classified as a category SL (Short/Local) course, this route packs a punch with 144 meters of ascent across rugged, unpaved terrain. You’ll navigate primarily through springy grassy trails, though the approach to the summits requires nimble footwork as you weave through granite boulders and "clitter" slopes characteristic of the Staple Tors. The steep, hilly profile makes it an excellent session for building functional strength and technical descending skills on natural, varying surfaces.

Steeped in geological and archaeological history, the area around Cox Tor and Great Staple Tor offers some of the most dramatic skylines in West Devon. From the summit of Cox Tor, runners are rewarded with panoramic views stretching across the Tamar Valley into Cornwall. This landscape has been shaped over millennia, with the Staple Tors showcasing some of the finest examples of perched granite towers in the National Park. Keep an eye out for hardy Dartmoor ponies and local livestock that frequent these high commons, and remember that the weather can shift rapidly on these exposed ridges even during short runs.