High Willhays Group Walks | Join a Walk
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Elevation
622m
2,041 ft
Prominence
537m
Coordinates
50.6852, -4.0112
SX580892
OS Map
191
Explorer: OL28N
The summit boasts a prominent trig point and a large stone cairn, a perfect spot for a well-deserved rest and a selfie (but leave the selfie stick at home).
High Willhays is primarily composed of granite, formed from molten rock that cooled slowly beneath the Earth's surface. This geological feature makes for rugged landscapes and stunning vistas.
From the summit, you can see distant hills such as Yes Tor, the sprawling Dartmoor countryside, and on a clear day, even glimpses of the North Devon coast.
The name 'Willhays' is thought to derive from 'Will' (a man’s name) and 'hays' (an old term for hedged enclosures), but who Will is remains a bit of a mystery.
High Willhays is the highest point in Devon, making it a notable landmark for both locals and visitors alike, attracting hikers year-round.
This popular route starts at Meldon Reservoir car park, following the reservoir path before ascending Longstone Hill. The path continues to the summit of Yes Tor, offering stunning views, and then leads to High Willhays, the highest point on Dartmoor. The descent loops back via Red-a-ven Brook and Meldon Quarry.
Starting at Okehampton Camp, this route takes you on a steady climb through military training land to Yes Tor. From there, you continue to High Willhays, enjoying expansive Dartmoor views. The descent follows the same path back to Okehampton Camp.
Begin at Meldon Quarry and follow the path along the West Okement River. The route ascends steeply to Black Tor before continuing across the ridge to High Willhays. The return follows the same path, offering dramatic views along the way.
This longer route starts at Meldon Reservoir, heading towards Sourton Tors before crossing the high moor to Dinger Tor. From there, a final push takes you to High Willhays. The return route loops via Yes Tor, descending back to Meldon.
A scenic route starting at Black-a-Tor Copse car park, following the West Okement River through ancient woodland. The path climbs steadily past Black Tor to reach High Willhays. Descend via the same path, enjoying views of the valley.
Meldon Reservoir car park (SX563886) offers ample parking and is within a short walking distance to starting routes.
The nearest bus stop is in Okehampton, from where you can take a taxi to Meldon Reservoir or hike about 3.5 km.
There are no facilities on the hilltop itself, but Okehampton offers cafes, shops, and public toilets to stock up before or after your adventure.
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Some common questions about the hills answered
Many walkers use Walkmates to join or organise walks with others. You can check for group walks around High Willhays through the maps
Activity varies by location and time, but Walkmates lets you see whether others have shared walks or shown interest in this area. Find other people through the walking friends search walking friends for High Willhays search or of course create your own walk for High Willhays
Yes. If there aren’t any walks listed already, you can create a walk and make it available for others to join.
If you're signed up to Walkmates, you can create a walk to High Willhays.
There are often multiple ways to walk this hill, depending on experience and route preference. Walkmates helps you explore walks and routes that others have shared.
Yes. You can suggest or create routes to share with others. Walkmates focuses on the social side of walking, so routes are used to help people organise walks and explore areas together, rather than as detailed navigation tools or route libraries.
Other uses really appreciate knowledgeable walkers sharing their routes. Share your favourite route to High Willhays here
We always strive to keep the information on Walkmates as accurate as possible. If you find an error, please let us know through the contact form and we'll aim to correct it as quickly as possible
Grid Ref: SX580892
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