6k Run Shaugh Prior: Experience Stunning Views at Dewerstone Rock

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 5.8km loop through Shaugh Prior offers a quintessential Dartmoor trail experience, blending technical woodland climbs with the sweeping freedom of the high moor. Starting from either Cadover Bridge or the Dewerstone car park, you’ll tackle a solid 150m of ascent that earns this route its "hilly" reputation. The terrain is entirely unpaved, transitioning from the mossy, atmospheric singletrack of the Dewerstone woods—where granite boulders and ancient oaks line the Plym Valley—to the wide-open, grassy expanses of Wigford Down. Expect some muddy sections after rain and a rewarding sense of verticality as you climb toward the summit of the rock.

Steeped in local folklore and industrial history, the Dewerstone is one of Dartmoor’s most iconic landmarks. Legend has it that the "Dewer" (the Devil) would hunt the moorland with his pack of spectral hounds, luring unsuspecting travelers over the precipice. Beyond the myths, keen-eyed runners will spot remnants of the area’s quarrying past and the Iron Age hillfort that once guarded the confluence of the Meavy and Plym rivers. Today, it is a haven for peregrine falcons and climbers, offering some of the most dramatic views in the South West. Running here feels like a journey through time, as you pass prehistoric cairns before descending back toward the peaceful waters of Cadover Bridge.