Nearly 2,000m of footpaths restored at Haytor

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has completed repairs on nearly 2,000 meters of footpaths around Haytor Rocks on Dartmoor, enhancing access for climbers and walkers while protecting the local landscape. 

Funded by the BMC’s Access & Conservation Trust’s Mend Our Mountains campaign, along with Farming in Protected Landscapes, the project aims to reduce erosion from heavy footfall and weather, which has degraded these popular trails in recent years.

The paths around Haytor, Saddle Tor, and Rippon Tor draw thousands of outdoor enthusiasts annually, leading to significant wear on the terrain. 

The nearby car parks see upwards of 75,000 vehicles each year, contributing to the path erosion and loss of vegetation that the repairs seek to address. 

The restoration work included filling eroded gullies, installing cross-drains to divert water flow, and reinforcing paths with 200 tonnes of local growan granite and 20 tonnes of granite slabs.

Dartmoor National Park Ranger Stuart Hooppell highlighted the meticulous care taken to blend repairs into the natural landscape. 

He said: “Over the years with the rain and the footfall we've seen gullies form, so, as delicately as possible, we've been making repairs so they provide a good surface for walkers for many years to come, as well as, don't stand out - we don't want to create a huge footpath that's not in keeping with the surroundings. So we're doing it as carefully and delicately as we can so it blends in. It will look a bit raw for a day or two, but in time it will settle down.”

He also noted the delicate work required around historical features, like ancient boundary earthworks called reaves, and environmental considerations, including preserving habitat for solitary bees.

The new paths, robust and well-defined, are intended to keep visitors on marked routes, which will help protect ground-nesting birds, livestock, and sensitive vegetation from disturbance. 

BMC Senior Policy & Campaigns Manager Cath Flitcroft underscored the project’s importance: “It’s important that the BMC Access & Conservation Trust’s Mend Our Mountain campaign supports this project to repair the erosion caused by footfall from climbers and walkers at Haytor Rocks. There is no doubt that these works are vital to the preservation of the landscape and enjoyment of the area’s climbing and walking by BMC members and the wider public.”

For those looking to explore Haytor Rocks, the area now offers safer, sustainable paths that open up access to stunning vistas and recommended climbs, making it a top destination for both locals and visitors.