Blackingstone Rock

About this route

Blackingstone Rock is a large tor situated in the eastern part of Dartmoor National Park.  It exhibits many of the typical features of the Dartmoor Granite.  Of particular note is that the coarse-grained granite contains very large crystals of feldspar.  The term ‘feldspar’ encompasses a group of pale coloured rock-forming minerals; Blackingstone Rock has examples up to several centimetres long.  The tor also displays characteristic jointing.

Getting Around

On foot: There is a flat route to the base of the rock using a footpath from the layby at SX 785 856.

By bus: There are regular bus services to nearby Moretonhampstead from Exeter and Newton Abbot, for more information visit the Travel Devon website.

By road: From Exeter take the B3212 towards Moretonhampstead, after passing through Doccombe turn left towards Blackingstone and Blackingstone Rock at Cossick Cross junction.

Facilities
Car park with information display boards beside the road.
Terrain
Uneven, steady ascent using footpaths.
Accessibility

Interesting information

The site is managed by Dartmoor National Park Authority.  There is a display board describing the tor, including an outline of the geology, in the car park. There are superb views from the top of the tor which sits more than 1,000 feet above sea level.

Please do not climb straight up to the top of the rock from the car park as this causes erosion and may damage rare lichens.  There is a flat route to the base of the rock using a footpath from the layby at SX 785 856.  There is access on foot to the open area around the rock; this is best accessed using the path which runs northwest around the tor and ascends gently.

Photo looking up at the granite rocks off Blackingtone Rock on Dartmoor
Blackingstone Rock by Guy Wareham

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