Arch Tor

Arch Tor is easily viewed from the Postbridge - Two Bridges road. However, not many motorists would even notice it and with good reason. It is small and diminutive - one of Dartmoor's smallest tors and hardly worth visiting particularly since it lies in the middle of the broad sweep of monotonous grassland that makes up Chittaford Down. However, it is easy to get to and it gives us the chance to walk around the wet bog of Archerton. There are good views and it is a surprisingly pleasant place to walk around.

Start at the Postbridge car park SX 646788 and take the Drift Lane path. Turn left at the gate and cross the hillside until you get to the remains of a leat (the Powder Mill leat). Follow it up a gulley that skirts around Archerton House and then walk south over grassland via the newtake wall until you get to Arch Tor. Then follow the hill contours NW until you get to Hollowcombe Bottom. You can then skirt around the bog crossing some wet ground on the north until you get back to Braddon Lake. Then head back to Postbridge via Drift Lane.

This is a straightforward walk of about 4 miles. No real wet ground unless you choose to walk through Archerton bog!

	Drift lane, Postbridge. This is an old drover's route for taking sheep and cattle over the northern moor to Okehampton.
	Another view of Drift Lane.
	Looking north from SX 640795 up the East Dart valley. Hartland Tor is on the right with the edge of Broad Down on the left horizon.
	Here you can see part of the old Powder Mill leat as it curves around one of the gulleys that drains Archerton Bog. SW view from SX 635794
	A closer look at the gulley.
	The NE view from the top of the gulley.
	Archerton Bog with Broad Down on the horizon.
	The newtake wall that separates Archerton Bog from the grassy expanse of Chittaford Down.
	The grassy waste of Chittaford Down. Bellever is just peeping up from behind the conifers of Lakehead Hill and on the horizon lies the start of South Dartmoor. Arch Tor lies straight ahead.
	Arch Tor. - SX 633782 - one of Dartmoor's smallest tors.
	The main (only) pile of Arch Tor.
	Arch Tor with Postbridge in the background.
	Looking NW from Chittaford Down towards Hollowcombe Bottom. Higher White Tor is on the left horizon.
	Another NW view.
	Remains of a kistvaen at SX 627788.
	The newtake wall as it goes down into Hollowcombe Bottom.
	Looking south as Hollowcombe Bottom opens up.
	The edge of Hollowcombe Bottom looking up to the falls of the Cherry Brook at the head of the combe.
	An easterly view over Archerton Bog from SX 628795
	Bright green usually means wet bogs to be careful of.
	An overspill from Archerton bog.
	The NE view from SX 633796. On the opposite hillside is the Bronze age circle of Broadun Pound which contains the remains of over 40 huts - one of the largest old settlements of Dartmoor.
	Looking up the East Dart valley with Roundy Park in the foreground.
	Looking down the East Dart valley as it starts to flow along the short plain to Postbridge.